Jodi as first-time producer, on meeting with Regine
Getting into production is something Jodi
Sta. Maria realized sooner than expected.
Jodi, along with B617 Management & Enterprise, Inc. and Dreamscape Digital, produced the new iWant original series, “My Single Lady,” starring Jodi, Zanjoe Marudo, and Ian Veneracion.
“There was one day na parang nagko-contemplate ako kung meron pa akong puwedeng ibang gawin. I mean, I love my job as an actor, I love my craft, but I would always tell myself na parang
there’s more to life than just being an actor. “So, nag-isip pa ako ng mga ways kung paano pa ako magle-learn, kung paano ako mag-go-grow.
So I thought of producing kasi it is the closest to what I do,” the actress said in an interview.
Hesitant
Jodi’s initial plan to venture into producing was sometime this year but things went so fast she ended up realizing her dream in 2019.
“Kasi ang plano ko muna is mag-aral muna ako before ako mag-venture into production,” she said. “Noong nagpaalam nga po ako sa manager ko na si Mother Biboy (Arboleda) about it, nabanggit din nila sa Dreamscape, at in-offer nila ’yung
project. Pero ang sabi ko po ay hindi pa ako ready to do it kasi parang ang feeling ko ay hindi pa ako equipped. But then very supportive naman sila na bigyan ako ng mga tao, ng team na makakasama ko habang pino-produce ko ’yung ‘My Single Lady.’”
Another reason she wore the hat was that it allowed her to generate jobs for people.
Reunited
On the series, Jodi is reunited with her “The Achy Breaky Hearts,” “All You Need Is Pag-Ibig,” and “Pangako Sa ’Yo” leading man Ian Veneracion.
“Ang tagal na kasi naming nagkatrabaho (ni Ian). Hindi na kami magkatrabaho pero magkaibigan pa kami. Sa akin, nakakatuwa na makita siya sa isang series na ganito, na hindi siya drama, hindi siya heavy, kumbaga napaka-light lang niya,” she said.
“Parang na-realize ko na, ‘Ah, puwede pala siya sa comedy. May timing pala siya…”
On “My Single Lady,” Jodi plays hardworking Chona, a single mother to six-year old Red (Alfonso Ynigo Delen) and a Regine Velasquez fan.
Amid various jobs and PTA meetings, a spark starts when she meets sweet, reliable electrician BG (Zanjoe), who then vies for her affection. The situation becomes complicated, however, as running mayor Chester (Ian) — Red’s missing in action father — returns to the picture and wants to be involved in his son’s life. Although adamant at first, Chona eventually allows father and son to bond upon seeing how Red really wants to get
to know his dad.
Songbird on set
Regine plays an important role on the series and Jodi seemingly moved heaven and earth so the singer could participate.
“Pinuntahan namin siya (Regine) sa house niya. Nag-message muna ako sa kanya kasi gusto din namin siyang kunin
for a part. Tinext ko siya. Sabi ko, ‘Hi,
Ate Reg, this is Jodi. When is the best time to call you?’ Sabi niya, ‘Ha? Jodi or Judy Ann Santos?’ At first hindi siya naniniwala na ako ’yung nag-message sa kanya. Tapos nag-message ako ulit sa kanya. ‘Yes, ate, it’s me.’ ‘Jodi, the actor?’ doon nag-start hanggang nag-ask kami ng meeting and then binigyan naman nila kami ng schedule.”
“Nu’ng meeting, sinabi rin namin sa kanya na ’yung songs niya ay gagamitin din namin. ‘Ate Reg, isa ka sa pundasyon ng istorya. Hindi ka talaga puwedeng hindi um-oo dito.’”
Although it occurred to her that there would be a big problem if Regine couldn’t join the series, Jodi kept fingers crossed.
“Ang pinag-uusapan nga namin,
‘Direk, paano kung hindi siya pumayag because sobrang busy rin niya? Paano mangyayari? Paano natin papalitan?’
“Nagbigay siya sa amin ng schedule para ma-shoot namin siya. We’re very thankful kay Ate Reg na pinagbigyan niya ang programa.”
So, what’s the best thing about being a single lady?
“It is a blessing, it can actually be a good thing na natututo kang mag-rely sa love na meron si God for you. ’Yung love na meron ka for yourself than depending on the love of a man. It is a nice stage wherein you can grow and discover a lot about yourself.”