RHEN ESCANO has been doing a string of sexy films for Vivamax like “The Other Wife”, “Paraluman” and the lesbian series, “Lulu”.
But in “Rooftop”, which will be shown in SM theatres starting April 27, she doesn’t get to do any disrobing at all.
“Yes, mananakot naman kami rito,” she says.
“Ryza Cenon, Marco Gumabao, Ella Cruz and Marco Gallo play students who accidentally kill someone while they’re having fun in their school’s rooftop.
"We covered the crime but then our victim, played by Epy Quizon, returns to haunt and take revenge on each of us.”
“Rooftop” is written, directed and photographed by Yam Laranas, who’s well known for hit horror flicks like “Sigaw”, “The Road” and “Aurora”. So how is it working with him?
‘I’ve worked with Direk Yam sa ‘Paraluman’ which is more of drama. E, mas kilala siya talaga sa horror at ito talaga ang genre niya.
"First horror film ko naman ito and I’m glad na sa first horror project ko, siya ang director ko kasi tinulungan niya talaga ako. We’re all lucky na siya ang director namin dito.”
She says she had doubts about her performance in the scary scenes.
“Ang feeling ko, parang hindi ko nagagawa nang tama ang mga eksena ko. I was asking Direk Yam kung effective ba akong mapa-feel talaga sa audience na matatakot sila sa scene na ito. Sabi ko, kasi ako, direk, parang wala akong napi-feel.”
It’s also her first time to work with the other members of the cast.
“So noong una, medyo nangangapa pa kami. Sa lahat, si Ella Cruz ang naging ka-close ko while shooting the film. Binigyan pa niya ako ng souvenir na bato, a crystal na pampasuwerte raw sa buhay ko.
"I told Direk Yam na nahihirapan akong i-build up yung feeling ng sobrang takot ng character ko. But sila ng buong team niya, they all helped us in the scary scenes. We were able to hit all the right notes to scare the viewers.
"Magaling yung buong creative team kasi magaganda ang visuals nila.”
If “Rooftop” has a message for the viewer, what would it be?
“The movie is also about friendship in a barkada at yung nangyari sa amin, parang may test for us: what are you willing to do for your friends kapag nalagay kayo in danger?
"Magpapaka-selfish ka ba or you’ll work as a team na walang iwanan para maging solid ang samahan nyo?
"It also says na as a friend, kung may ginawang mali ang kaibigan mo, dapat maipa-realize mo sa kanya kung ano ang nagawa niyang mali, para maitama niya at nang hindi lahat ng buong barkada nyo, e mapahamak.”
