ANDREA DEL ROSARIO, star of the serious relationship drama, “May-December-January”, says she never thought she’d be offered to do another lead role.
“I mean, let’s face it, I’m 44,” she says. “My days as a Viva Hot Babe doing lead roles like in ‘Lupe’ are over.
"I’ve accepted that I now do character roles. I did ‘Love You Stranger’ on GMA and now I’m in ‘Dirty Linen’ on ABS-CBN.
"I never thought darating uli sa akin ang ganitong lead role. When Boss Vic del Rosario called me and told me I’d do this film, siempre, yes agad ako.
"I mean, the script is written by Ricky Lee, a National Artist no less, saan ka pa, di ba?”
The film’s director, Mac Alejandre, says Andrea is their first and only choice.
“She perfectly fits the role of Claire as one hot mama na kahit may anak ng grown-up, may appeal and desirable pa rin sa mga bata,” he says.
“She’s mother to Gold Aceron and falls in love with his best friend, Kych Minemoto, but she later finds out that Gold, who’s gay, is also in love with Kych.
"The mother is the fulcrum of the film and Andrea, all throughout the shoot, she’s always in character.
"Kahit mahahaba ang eksena, including the love scenes, she never complained. Sa bagay silang tatlo nina Gold and Kych, kahit mahihirap ang scenes, wala kang maririnig sa kanila.
"I am so happy with their performance. Lahat sila may sariling moment where they shine.”
We ask Ricky if he’s happy with the movie.
“Yes, I’m very happy with the movie. It captured our vision tungkol sa mga ordinaryong tao, tungkol sa nanay, anak, yung best friend.
"But extraordinary ang emotions na pinagdaanan nila. We’re so happy with Andrea.
"Kuhang-kuha niya ang lalim ng character. We’re also happy with Gold and Kych. They really surprised us ni Mac. They all deliver in their respective roles.”
We ask Andrea how is it working with her two young co-stars.
"I feel so lucky na sila ang nakasama ko kasi they’re like old souls, pareho silang dalawa. Magagalang sila, very professional, at parehong magaling.
"They’ll both go a long way in their careers. I’m also lucky to have worked with the tandem of Sir Ricky and Direk Mac.
"Our movie is one of the best I’ve made and I will definitely include this in my portfolio of my works if and when matuloy ako to try having a career abroad.”
Ricky and Mac say their friendship started in 1983 when they collaborated on a short film which they developed into a full length movie, “Kaputol”..
They also did "Tagpuan", for which Mac won the best director award in a filmfest in India.
In another film they did, “Silip sa Apoy”, Mac won recently the best director plum in a filmfest in Romania.
“Kami ni Mac, sa concept pa lang ng isang project, we collaborate na then we do it every step of the way,” says Ricky.
“He respects me so much that even in making the trailer, he consults me. Nagkakaintindihan kami.
"The process is very easy but also difficult kasi kapag easy, we have to make it difficult to take it to another level.
"HIndi kami basta nakokontento para mas mapaganda pa namin. Kasi nothing good comes easy.
"Itong ‘May-December-January’, I told him I wrote it playing to his strengths, so I know it will turn out well.”
How has being named a National Artist affected him?
“Nawala yung sarili ko, napalitan ng title. Ako kasi, I want to have a low profile.
"I don’t want a lot of attention. But now, I get a lot of invitations at lagi, I’m introduced as National Artist.
"Pero natutuwa na rin ako kasi napunta ang attention hindi lang sa akin but to writers in general.”
Ricky has a lot more projects with Mac for Viva, one of which will be shot in his hometown in Daet, Camarines Norte.
“Nagkakasundo kami ni Ricky because we’re on the same page,” says Direk Mac. “For this movie, it’s clear from the start that it is a very mature story about love and relationships.
"Ang pag-ibig ay pagbibigay, hindi puro pagkabig. Wala rin siyang kinikilalang gender.
"Yung mother dito, nagparaya but she doesn’t call it sacrifice because hindi naman siya talaga sacrifice kundi pagmamahal. When we give because of love, we become fulfilled.”
So be fulfilled. Watch “May-December-January” in actual movie theaters.
It will have its premiere night at SM North on Monday, October 10, and opens in cinemas nationwide on October 12.