Erich Gonzales Comes with iWantTFC Original Series La Vida Lena

Rumors about this new show surfaced a couple months ago, and when they released the trailers, I was like, finally, there's a new Erich Gonzales led series. It's called LA VIDA LENA, an iWantTFC Original Series and will start to stream this November!

Erich says "When this was offered to me, it was initially titled Magdalena, I got hooked by the story because it is very challenging. Direk Jerry and Direk Jojo made it easier for me. This is not the first time I have worked with JC, but first time in a teleserye, also with Kit and Carlo. They are very professional and we help each other when we work. Well to be honest, aside from the swab tests we did before and after a location, we do facemasks, shield, locked in, they are very strict in working hours so we have enough rest for everyone. It is new, but we are well adjusted. We work from 8am to 8PM, and we do work as it is, regardless of locked in or not we can work professionally. I said yes immmediately to this because I know there would be a lot of people that would have work, when they approached me, I could feel how thankful they are, and that is priceless. I just had to recharge and do something else before I went into doing this new show."


Direk Jojo Saguin says "The most challenging part is just getting locked in, and you have to do everything in time and you are only given 12 hours to shoot. What's the difference? This is different story wise. It is centered on love and revenge, and it is challenging to Erich as an actress, and they have been able to deliver."


Direk Jerry Sineneng adds "This is a different setup, but it is good to work with seasoned actors and blend together their strengths making sure they don't overlap with their roles. I do get nervous at times, they deliver, so you have to choose wisely how to mix that all because they are good actors. "

Ms. Agot adds "I favor doing this kind of taping, we know the schedules, we have to finish everything in 12 hours and you can't be lounging around if you're on set. The cast and crew, we didn't force the closeness, we were just isolated and we felt now we can share each other's meals because we had to be together if we wanted it or not. It was such a fun group!"

 

Carlo Aquino says, "I am more patient now, I don't rush things.In the past I was always like that, having a baby taught me these things. I feel it made me more patient. Yes, when I saw my baby, I immediately knew that I am going to work for my family. I spend time with them, especially since she just turned 2 months, I always talk to her and I do cherish it now that she is still a baby, I'm afraid she will change her appearance when I get back from work and isolation."

JC de Vera says "I try to dedicate my 100% during this pandemic, I memorize things that I wasn't able to do when I was a kid, I play with my baby, even ask her to do household chores and that bonding doesn't stop. I always am there for my kid even on locked in taping, it made us closer because we understand the importance of being far away from family. I don't give that attention to others, just them at times."

Again, LA VIDA LENA, an iWantTFC Original Series will be streaming this November! Download the app and subscribe to see lovely Erich all over again!

Best.Partee.Ever. Having 6 Day Run On SM's Cine Lokal

Had so much fun this afternoon. I honestly haven't watched this film because I was busy during last year's QCinema International Film Festival but I'm so glad they are showing this on October 20 - 26 at SM Cine Lokal.

We talked to two of the actors in this indie film and they graciously answered our questions. The bubbly Shandii Bacolod had us on her loft to talk about the film. She's a Producer, Director of several films but she induldged herself in this project because this role and script was done  with her in mind, so after her busy schedules promoting a different movie, they went ahead with this project with JC De Vera and Jordan Herrera (who was there too by the way!). 

Shandii shared how this came about and said "The real life story is really in Mandaluyong, but it was nice to see they had relationships inside the prison. I talked to murderers, there were things that shocked us because there were people that the Director knew personally. Things are different inside, we also thanked the people there by giving them hygeine kits. There are kissing scenes, long and passionate, we have to abide by their curfew and only shoot within their limits, even the night scenes. It was so fun sometimes and I helped sometimes in blocking actors. JC is very happy, this movie wasn't really done with a script and we had to compromise because we need to improvise on the concept especially the first few days. The actors that were under Brilliante Mendoza had it easy, but JC tried to learn from actors while in the shoot. He was humble, cautious and curious about the characters in order to tell their story. We laughed a few times because I had to do Visayan scenes, Aaron Rivera and Jordan Herrera is so good in this film. I might have done theater before but this is different, our ensemble was so good."

She adds "Gays have a lot of issues in the prisons. The STD's, even AIDS and how he did come out inside the prison and how the family got shocked. The sex and intimacy without real privacy, it was shocking for some, when I went there the firs time I got a little rattled because we had real prisoners locked up during some scenes. JC even went the mile and had himself paddled for real. When he won in the awards night we really supported him. We were rooting for him!"

We then talked to Jordan Herrera right after he arrived from the airport and he was very gracious, very down to earth, a total dream boy for women (although he's happily married with kids), he shared his experiences in shooting this film and told us how difficult it was to actually do it. Imagine a real life prison, in a remote area where you can smell the stench of real life prisoners who have been convicted of various crimes including drugs and murder. They had to spend the whole day taking videos of those scenes and interact with them every once in a while. They had to often sleep and take refuge in the same location for a couple of days and for normal people that would really be unbearable. They stayed otherwise and mustered finishing the project when it seemed impossible. JC and Jordan witnessed the same relationships they had in the movie inside that same prison so they said it was actually easy to connect with each other, admitting awkward at times but since they knew how different it was to deliver that story, they did it. Jordan and JC eventually won awards and we even witnessed how they Shandii gave the best supporting actor trophy to him that evening. That made all the sacrifices they did in this movie FULFILLING according to Jordan and he wouldn't mind doing another one if he gets offered a sequel. 

I watched the movie and I must say, it's as REAL as it can get. It was nice to actually witness a love story unfold in the confines of that prison, and by any standards, I would agree that a LOT of people should watch it!

Make sure you don't miss this commercial run and the previews they plan to do in the future, because it's cute, very touching, to see grown men go through this too.

KUMAGCOW

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Erich Gonzales, JC De Vera and Enchong Dee for Once A Princess

JC De Vera, Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee for Once A Princess

Today marks the showing of "Once A Princess", a film made by the one and the only Laurice Guillen for production houses Skylight and Regal Films. The film delves into the lives of two guys and one girl who had to go through different struggles in a flawed life. Some get rich, some go bankrupt, some choose to find love in spite of years in a hurtful marriage. Who will she choose in the end? Will she give up a painful relationship and give in to his wishes? Or will she follow her heart and pick up the pieces of a past love? We did the next best thing to answer those questions, we talked to Erich Gonzales, Enchong Dee and JC De Vera a few days ago and see what they think about the movie. Here are excerpts of the blogcon we had in the Star Cinema offices, ABSCBN.

It was fun and I reminisced the time when Enchong and Erich was last seen on TV. JC De Vera also was very intense and raw on this film, I think it did him good that he came in later on in the movie when everything was already shot half way to the movie.

Here are some photos of the cast during that afternoon.