Coming right up: Revenge
Actors Glaiza de Castro, Jak Roberto and Lauren Young are putting the finishing touches on a series with characters that demand eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Actors Glaiza de Castro, Jak Roberto and Lauren Young are putting the finishing touches on a series with characters that demand eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Retribution for breakfast, lunch and dinner. How bitter is that, huh? Glaiza de Castro admits this theme makes “Contessa” one of her most challenging projects yet that she has no qualms getting guidance from an acting coach during tapings.
It helps as some scenes just demand too much emotion from them, the actress added.
“Kasi may isang beses akong ginawa na nag-break down ako sa wake ng asawa ko tapos hindi ko mabitawbitawan. Even after the take umiiyak pa rin ako ng umiiyak. Kaya ’yung
coach, siya ’yung tumutulong na ‘Oh bitaw na, bitaw na’ para bumalik kami sa reality,” she said in an interview in Iloilo during the Dinagyang Festival. Glaiza admitted it’s her first time to work on a story about vengeance. After this, don’t be surprised if she might not want to do another. “Akala ko ’yung ‘Encantadia’ mahirap na siya pero mas mahirap pala ’to sa totoo lang,” she said. “Kasi mas emotionally challenging siya dahil ’yung mga eksena namin almost every scene ay umiiyak, breakdown, emotional eh. Sa ‘Enca’ mas fierce pa ako.” “Siguro nakakachallenge lang sa ‘Enca’ physically kasi may mga fight scenes, costumes. Ito kasi more on internal ’yung mga hugot.”
Her leading man Jak Roberto agreed. “Minsan nga ni hindi mo na kailangang humugot sa personal na buhay mo. Du’n pa lang kasi sa pagkakasulat ng writer magagawa mo na ’yung scene kasi sobrang madadala ka na,” he noted. In the story, Glaiza is Bea who gets framed up for the death of her husband on their wedding day. Eventually, she seeks justice for what happened. On the other hand, Jak plays Bea’s bestfriend, the son of a policeman on the case of Glaiza’s character.
Getting ready
In preparing for the role, the 30year-old actress revealed they’re constantly developing their characters as well as discovering their strengths and weaknesses.
“Ang maganda nu’n parang every time na pupunta kami sa set para kaming may workshop. Para kaming nag-aaral so palagi kaming may nadi-discover na bago,” Glaiza said.
She added that doing a series is different from doing a movie wherein the ending is known by the actors from the start.
“Dito sa TV kasi unpredictable siya so hindi mo alam kung ano ’yung pupuntahan ng character sa week one, sa week two, so surprise siya lagi.”
Lauren Young, who plays kontrabida here, promised to give a uniquely nuanced performance.
“Siyempre I will bring something new to the table – totally new kasi totally different character ito kasi it’s a new story line. Even though I’m constantly doing kontrabida roles, it is my job to make it different for each one,” she explained. “It’s our job as actors to try and find ways to spice it up and make it different.”
Full of lessons
Although it is a revenge-themed drama, Lauren shared it is not the typical
“kawawa lagi ang bida” as it is really a story of women empowerment.
“It’s, like, I am woman. I will stand on my own. I will fight for what is right,” she said.
Glaiza also opts to look at the show in a more positive light. Rather than revenge, she said it’s about justice. “Kaya siguro medyo contradicting sa akin gamitin o na tanggapin ’yung subject or word na revenge kasi parang personally hindi nakasalalay sa akin ’yung paghihiganti talaga. Parang binibigay ko na lang kay Lord,” she explained.
“Lahat ng mga tao o lahat ng mga bagay na nararanasan kong masakit wala sa kamay ko na bawiin ’yun. Kasi ’pag nag-revenge ka ang root nu’n anger, ang root nu’n negative agad. But when you seek for justice you’re trying to look a more diplomatic way of seeking for answers or taking things or accepting things,” she added. Despite the soap’s heavy subject, they try to make work fun and purposeful. “Mahirap siya kasi paano mo isusustain simula umaga iiyak ka na hanggang sa gabi iiyak ka pa rin. Pero kung gusto mo ng success, kung gusto mo na matupad ang mga pangarap mo kailangan mo talagang mahirapan,” Glaiza said.
Also in the cast are Gabby Eigenmann, Geoff Eigenmann, Chanda Romero, Phytos Ramirez, Wil Ashley, Leandro Baldemor, Bernadette Allyson, and Ms. Tetchie Agbayani, among others.
“Contessa” is set to premiere in March.