Janine wants roles far different from her IG persona
By STEPHANIE MARIE BERNARDINO
When people see Janine Gutierrez’s photos on her Instagram account, many of them think she’s just all about fashion, travel, good times —essentially the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
But make no mistake about it: Janine is a good actress, now with trophy to show for it.
In an interview right before the screening of independent film “Babae At Baril,” the 30-year-old stunner talked about winning best actress at this year’s QCinema International Film Festival in the Asian Next Wave Competition.
“I wasn’t expecting to win. Happy na ako to have been nominated,” she said. “Nagpunta lang ako ng awards night to support the team kasi ’pag mga ganitong pelikula na indie, maliit lang ’yung crew, maliit lang ’yung staff, lahat. So parang naging pamilya na rin kami and napalapit na rin ako sa director, AD, sa producers. Bilang ‘Thank you’ kaya ako nagpunta ng awards night. Thank
you na rin for making me part of the movie.”
When her mom, actress Lotlot de Leon, found out about Janine’s triumph, the former was so happy.
“Sabi niya ‘I knew it!’ pero feeling ko sinabi niya lang ’yun
(laughs),” Janine said. “’Di naman niya talaga alam. Siguro bilang nanay
lang, proud lang talaga siya sa akin.
And I told her about the story when I read the script.”
The psychological thriller is about a saleslady whose life takes a turn when she finds a peculiarlooking gun.
Janine was raring to do the out-of-the-box character from the get-go.
“Medyo natutuwa ako kasi ngayon medyo nagagawa ko ’yung mga gusto kong klaseng pelikula and I feel super, super, lucky,” she said. “Alam ko kasi na matagal na ’tong script na ’to, ’yung ‘Babae At Baril,’ so sobrang nagpapasalamat ako na umabot siya sa akin.”
The actress recalled being approached by another actor after she received her trophy. “Nakakatuwa nga kasi nu’ng awards night nu’ng QCinema — international kasi siya so may mga judges from other countries — nilapitan ako ng isang — I’m not sure which country — pero sabi niya in English ‘Oh maganda ka pala.’ Sa movie kasi parang ang layo daw (ng looks ko),” she said. “Siyempre naman awards night ’yon, nakadress tayo, nagsuklay tayo!” The award puts more pressure on her shoulder but in a good way.
“Kasi parang dapat ’yung susunod mo hindi na chaka (laughs). Dapat hindi ka na bumaba sa ganu’ng quality...”
‘Idealistic’ What’s next for her? Though she said there’s no teleserye lined up for her yet, she will return on the big screen anew along with Paulo Avelino.
She teased the film “If We Don’t Make It” is “different” in that it’s “mas young, mas happy, mas kilig!” “Mainstream naman siya. Excited ako, it’s another love story,” she added.
So it’s a millennial story, we asked.
“Medyo. Characters are 30 years old, mag-bestfriend nu’ng college,” she divulged.
“Ito ’yung parang alam mo ’yung kasabihang ‘Timing is everything,’ parang ganu’n. ’Di ba minsan single ka, may girlfriend siya. May BF ka, single siya.”
How does she find Paulo? “I used to watch his movies bago ko pa siya na-meet. Favorite ko ’yung films niya like ‘I’m Drunk, I Love You,’ ‘Heneral Luna, ‘Goyo.’ “And nu’ng nalaman ko na game si Paulo sa movie, super excited ako kasi alam ko na mapili din siya sa projects niya and hindi siya tatanggap ng hindi niya gustong gawin. So parang lalo ko na feel na ‘Ah okay maganda nga ’yung script!’ Parang na affirm ’yung decision ko.”
Janine is also happy working with real-life couple director Prime Cruz and writer Jen Chuaunsu.
“Kasi pinanuod ko ’yung movie (‘Isa Pa, With Feelings’) ni Direk Prime, ’yung kay Maine (Mendoza) and Carlo (Aquino), ang ganda! Nagandahan ako sa pelikula, naiyak ako kaya now I’m more excited to work with direk.”