YASSI PRESSMAN is happy to be back in a movie, “More Than Blue”, a local adaptation of a hit Korean film where she is paired for the first time with JC Santos, co-starring Diego Loyzaga and Ariella Arida.
This is directed by Nuel Naval, who did the hit local adaptations of Korean films “Miracle in Cell No 7” and “Miss Granny”, and will be shown streaming on Vivamax starting November 19.
The last movie Yassi starred in, “Para sa Broken Hearted”, was three years ago.
“I’ve been waiting and wanting to do a movie for a long time,” she adds. “Dapat 2019 pa ito, pero na-delay dahil sa pandemic and sa schedules namin nina direk Nuel Naval and JC. This is now one of my favorite projects.
"It’s about making a big sacrifice for the person you love. I can’t wait for the viewers to see my new film as they will surely fall in love with the characters in a love story that is about love and sacrifice.”
What’s her role?
“I play Cream and JC plays K. We’re both orphans kasi I lost my parents in a car accident at siya naman, abandoned by his mom after his dad died of cancer.
"We grow up as the best of friends but no romantic involvement. Then K discovers that, just like his dad, may cancer din siya but he keeps it a secret and instead, finds a guy who’d be in the best position to take good care of me when he is gone.”
Through K, she’d meet John Louis, played by Diego Loyzaga, a rich and successful dentist. Cream falls in love with him and K is happy that he is leaving her to be with someone truly trustworthy.
But John Louis’ ex-girlfriend, Ariella Arida, wants to reconcile with him, resulting into some complications.
“When I read the script pa lang, iyak na ako ng iyak. But I got nervous kasi Cream is very different from my character Alyanna which I've played for many years in ‘Probinsyano’.
"Cream has a very happy personality, lives day by day and she can be very spontaneous, but it can be both a curse and a blessing kasi iniiwasan niya ang problema when she should confront it and try to process it.
"Hindi puede yung attitude na walang problema. Ang lalim ng bawat eksena in ‘More Than Blue’ and it’s good si JC ang kaeksena ko kasi nalalagyan niya ng tamang kahulugan ang bawat scene.
"It’s about love na sobrang ganda, pero ang sakit. This is our first film together but we’ve worked na in ‘Probinsyano’ kaya comfortable na kami with each other.”
How about with Diego Loyzaga?
“I also had lots of scenes with Diego. He said he was very nervous, but as the days went on during the shoot, he opened himself for all of us and everything went well.
"Marami kaming memorable scenes nina JC and Diego in the movie. There’s one I really like, but I couldn’t reveal it kasi spoiler.”
What’s the most dramatic scene for her?
“May emotional scene kami ni JC na punumpuno na kami ng emotions sa loob namin, nasa throat ko na, nagcho-choke na ko, gusto ko na siyang ilabas, at di ko na kayang itago, pero dapat pigilin.
"After the take, kami ni JC, umiiyak pa rin kami pareho. Sabi ko kay Direk, hindi ko mapigilan, hindi ko kaya. Afterwards, nakatulog na lang kami sa sobrang pagod.
"Kawawa ang viewers namin dito kasi bawat scene, pabigat nang pabigat. Andaming layers na nilagay ni direk sa story. We shot it for 12 days and it went by so quickly because of the trust you’ve built with the people around you.”
Did she watch the original Korean film? “No, ayoko. Maski si Direk din. We want to have a fresh take on the material.”’
Cinemas are opening again on November 19. Would she like to see this being shown in an actual theatre instead of just on a streaming channel?
“Yes, of course! I’m really so happy with the reopening of cinemas where movies should really be watched, on the big screen.
"It’s very important for the industry as it would give more jobs to people in the entertainment business. It shows there’s really hope. Sana nga lang, ma-regulate nang maayos for the safety of everyone.”
