Anjo Yllana, Janno Gibbs, Xian Lim at Kim Chiu
PINAPLANO na ni Xian Lim ang pagsasamahan nilang project together ng kanyang girlfriend na si Kim Chiu na posibleng siya rin ang magdidirek.
Kung papipiliin daw sila ng TV host-actress kung anong genre o tema ng pelikula ang gusto nilang gawin nang magkasama, romcom pa rin ang type nila.
Sa nakaraang presscon ng Viva Films para sa upcoming movie nilang “Hello, Universe” na ididirek ni Xian, sinabi nitong gusto nila ni Kim na regaluhan ng bonggang project ang loyal KimXi fans.
Natanong nga siya ng press kung may plano rin siyang idirek si Kim, “She is very supportive of all the projects that I do. Masaya siya sa lahat ng ginagawa kong trabaho.”
Tungkol naman sa gusto niyang konsepto ng susunod nilang movie ni Kim, “Maybe we will stick to the core that we always do. Romcom. We met each other there, we fell in love there, too.
“Sa romcom, marami kang mahuhugot na emotions. When we tell stories, marami ng narinig na love stories sa akin si Kim. Maybe a project out of the country with both of us in it. Pinag-uusapan na namin ‘yun,” sey pa ng Kapuso actor at direktor.
Samantala, medyo nahihiya pa ang binata kapag tinatawag siyang Direk Xian, “Nakakapanibago talaga. But directing is something that I really want to do from the start of my acting career. I always wanted to be behind the camera and that’s exciting for me.”
Pero sa mga hindi pa aware, hindi ang “Hello, Universe” ang unang directorial job ni Xian. Ang first movie niya ay ang Cinemalaya entry na “Tabon” noong 2019).
Siya rin ang nagdirek ng seryeng “Pasabuy” (2021) para sa isang online streaming platform.
“Directing is something that I really need to do to satisfy the heart. Wow! I remember asking Direk Gil (Portes) so many questions at that time.
“He was really attending to all my questions and he really answered everything. That’s why I really have high respect to the people working behind the camera,” sey ni Xian.
“And the so much work that comes to the magic of filmmaking. That was more than 10 years ago when I wanted to become a director,” sey pa niya.
Nakatrabaho ni Xian si Gil Portes sa Cinemalaya entry na “Two Funerals” noong 2010).
Bibida sa “Hello, Universe” ang mga veteran comedian na sina Janno Gibbs, Anjo Yllana at Benjie Paras with Sunshine Guimary, Madeline Red, Joe Vargas, MJ Cayabyab, Gene Padilla and introducing Majo Lingat.
“Seeing the newcomers who are part of the cast, you know right away ibibigay nila ang lahat to this project. You can see the passion and enthusiasm in their eyes.
“Si Anjo and Janno, it’s such an honor to be working with them. Bata pa lang ako, iniidolo ko na sila. It is such an honor to be graced by their presence so they can bring their years of experience in the industry to this material that we have,” pahayag ni Xian hinggil sa cast.
“I requested for all the names. They will be perfect to play the part. I worked with these guys and I presented to them this riot of a film. A couple of days ago, we were talking with the production team.
“Ibang-iba from reading the material first, then binigyang buhay ng cast namin. Then, they read the material again, it had a new life. Talagang nakaka-inspire to be around these people.
“Hearing what the cast commented before we all started working, nakakatunaw ng puso. Ang hirap to put into words ‘yung nararamdaman ko. At the same time, I get really emotional.
“With all the hard work that the whole creative team, the producers put in, they really made sure that all the characters will shine in their own right.
“I made a promise to all the cast that they will look beautiful and they will look great because this is a different kind of film. Something new and something fresh,” sey pa ni Xian.
Ang “Hello, Universe” ay isang fantasy-comedy na may kaunting drama na na-conceptualize ni Xian ilang taon na ang nakararaan. Iikot ang kuwento kay Ariel (Janno), na mabibigyan ng chance na balikan at itama ang kanyang past sa pamamagitan ng genie na si Jessie (Benjie). Dadalhin siya nito sa isang alternate universe.
“We wanted to present something light, something fun with a different twist, at the same time. The story, in a nutshell, is about second chances.
“Hello, Universe is a feeling we say na, ‘I should have, would have, could have.’ Sana, kung ganito lang ang nangyari, ‘yung mga missed opportunities natin in life, regrets, all those things will come to mind,” aniya pa.
Inamin din ni Xian pinanood niya uli ang mga acting projects noon nina Janno, Anjo at Benjie, “I watched clips on YouTube. These are veterans. Haligi ng industry. Especially for us, the younger generation, we do look up to them. Icons na sila.
“When we watched their films again, we were coming up with different ideas. ‘Wait, parang hindi pa nila ‘to nagagawa.’ It will be nice to see and look something fresh in the eyes of Gen Z and millennials.
“I’m a huge fan of these icons. I’ve been vocal about it, especially with Kuya Janno, sobra akong huge fan ng trabaho niya,” pahayag pa ni Xian.
https://bandera.inquirer.net/288188/kim-suportado-ang-paglipat-ni-xian-sa-gma-makakatambal-si-jennylyn-sa-unang-kapuso-serye
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https://bandera.inquirer.net/309784/maris-binansagan-ni-john-lapus-na-next-romcom-queen-lelebel-na-kina-regine-toni-at-angelica