NADINE LUSTRE is back on screen in Vivamax’ drama-thriller, “Greed”, written and directed by Yam Laranas, all set to stream on March 16 on Vivamax Plus.
Nadine was last seen in 2019 in two films she did that year, the whimsical drama “Ulan” and the dance movie “Indak”.
In 2020, she made a move to terminate her contract with Viva, which didn’t take this sitting down so there was an intense legal dispute.
It was resolved late last year and it was agreed that Nadine will be honoring her existing contract that will expire in 2029 yet.
“Greed” is a suspense-thriller set in a remote village where a poor young couple, Nadine and Diego Loyzaga, dreams of a better life.
They finally get the chance to free themselves from poverty and the hardships of their rural life to start anew when they win the biggest prize in the lottery.
They decide to keep it a secret and plan to move to a different town. But a former neighbor, played by Epy Quizon, learns about their good fortune and tries to steal the winning lotto ticket from them.
What follows is a nightmare of a hunt fueled by dark intentions and selfishness, finally exploding in a shocking climax full of blood and violence.
For sure, Nadine’s fans have missed her by now and in “Greed”, it is certain that they will see a totally different Nadine who has won best actress awards before for “Never Not Love You”. “Greed” is Nadine’s first Vivamax Original movie.
So how is it shooting “Greed”?
“Very exciting,” she says in her solo presscon. “Na miss ko kasi ang acting so I’m happy, but noong una, parang weird, nanibago ako kasi matagal akong di nakaharap sa kamera.
"After a while, I warmed up na and I enjoyed working with Direk Yam Laranas as I’ve seen his past films like ‘Aurora’ at gusto ko talaga siyang makatrabaho. First time ko to work with him and I appreciate that he likes to think out of the box.
"He’s very adventurous with his script. It’s really well written. I’m glad it’s not another romcom but a thriller na bloody and violent, so nagustuhan ko kasi iba siya.”
How about Diego Loyzaga as her leading man?
“Si Diego, magkakilala na kami before, but we’re not close. Dito lang sa ‘Greed’ kami nakapag-bonding nang husto at naging friends. He’s so super easy to work with, pati si Kuya Epi Quizon na co-star namin.
"Kwentuhan kami pag break time at andami naming napag-usapan. I like yung positive energy na binibigay nila kapag take na, lalo na sa violent scenes.”
What’s her role in “Greed”?
“I play Kichie, a dalagang Pilipina na mahinhin. Sheltered siya sa probinsiya kasi very strict ang parents niya, very controlling. So nagrebelde siya, umalis sa kanila and went with Diego.
"Magkakaroon ng shift sa character niya kasi magiging courageous siya nang nag-umpisa nang magkagulo-gulo. She starts making the decisions for her and Diego and she will be a different person.“
What has she been doing while not acting?
“I released an album in October 2020 at yun ang naging main focus ko sa last two years. Andami ko ring inayos sa buhay ko, with my family and with my mental health.”
Would she say that the last couple of years tested her?
“It was difficult but with all the things I went through, I learned that when you are facing a crossroad, then you have to deal with it, face it at hindi puedeng basta itabi mo na lang siya. Huwag kang matakot kasi lalo kang mahihirapan. You have to be brave kasi mahirap talaga ang buhay.”
What kind of films would she like to do in the future?
“I want to do scripts na mind boggling, yung mapapaisip ka, even horror or yung psychopath ako. Something different so I can play various characters para mas lumawak ang aking range.
"At this point, tapos na ako sa love teams. It helped our careers then but now, graduate na ako. At my age, parang hindi na bagay sa’kin ang love team. But let’s see what happens.”
Will she be willing to do a movie with James Reid again? “It all depends on him kasi he’s now more focused on his music. Baka naman kapag may magandang project, bumalik siya sa acting.”
How about her? Does this mean she’s now willing to do more films?
“Yes, tuloy tuloy na pagbabalik ko sa acting scene. May bagong projects being offered to me now, new stories.
"Nakakatuwa kasi ibang klaseng movies na ang gagawin ko at hindi puro romance like before with a love team. I’m really excited to do more intense projects and stories.”
