RHEN ESCANO has made love with guys in “Untrue”, “The Other Wife”, and “Paraluman”.
Now, she’s paired with a real life lesbian, singer Rita Martinez, in an 8-episode Girls Love series, “Lulu”, written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo who’s best known for her debut film, “Huling Chacha ni Anita”, about a young lesbian’s coming of age story, and the sleeper hit, “Kita-Kita”.
“This is not something totally new for me,” says Rhen. “I also had a lesbian affair with Cindy Miranda in ‘Adan’, pero si Cindy, babae talaga, unlike Rita na out as a lesbian.
"Drama-thriller yung ‘Adan’, but this one is very light, romantic comedy siya. I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
Rhen plays Sophie, a perky young woman who is crushed when her boyfriend breaks up with her. She de-activates all her social media accounts and runs away to the beach to wallow in her sadness.
She’s so depressed she thinks of ending her life by drowning herself in the ocean, but when she’s about to drown, she changes her decision and tries to swim back.
Just as she is about to drown, along comes Rita as Abi and rescues her and that starts their romantic relationship.
Rhen is glad to do “Lulu” as she’s a true sympathizer of the LGBT community.
“Para sa akin kasi, love has no gender. Basta love is love, kahit boy-girl or same sex, kapag love ang na-feel mo, yun na yon, love yun.
"This is something new for me kasi puro mabibigat ang ginawa kong films before, but this one, romcom, so something new for me.
"Gusto ko rin namang lumawak ang kaalaman ko sa acting and doing a romcom is a different challenge for me. I also want to work again with Direk Sigrid na nakasama ko before sa ‘Untrue’.”
Dlrek Sigrid wants to thank Viva for greenlighting “Lulu”.
“Kasi mas maraming gumagawa ng Boys Love series kaysa sa Girls Love. Most recent yung ‘Pearl Next Door’ and “BetCin’ na tunay na mga babae ang gumaganap na lesbian.
"Here, Rhen is Sophie and I want to cast a real lesbian to be her love interest, si Abi, para mabigyan naman ng chance to star in a GL show yung totoong members ng LGBTQ community.”
How did she get to cast Rita Martinez? “Nagpa-audition kami at ang daming nag-audition. Maraming talented sa kanila. We chose Rita kasi first timer siya sa acting but she’s a natural.
"I want to create more work opportunities for the LGBT community para hindi yung laging supporting role lang sila dahil kaya naman nilang magbida.”
“Lulu” will have eight entertaining episodes and will start streaming on Vivamax every Friday on January 7, 2022.
