Alessandra on Empoy: Our chemistry is undeniable!

Leave it to the Spring Films guys (Piolo Pascual, Bb. Joyce Bernal and Erickson Raymundo) to come up with “unlikely” projects that turn out to be box-office smashers. They were behind the Kimmy Dora movies both directed by Joyce) that catapulted Eugene Domingo to stardom, weren’t they?

Spring Films has another potential hit in Kita Kita (co-produced with Viva Films, directed by Sigrid Bernardo) featuring the “unlikely” loveteam of Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez, she as a visually-challenged girl and he as her caretaker while they are working in Japan. Love is blind and, as the poet said, lovers cannot see the pretty follies that themselves commit, remember? Stay tuned for the movie’s “surprise” ending.

First released at the Osaka International Film Festival where it got rave reviews, Kita Kita is showing nationwide starting Wednesday next week. Watch it and leave the theater convinced that Alessandra’s character does fall for Empoy’s character. Unlikely?

Let’s hear it from Alessandra and Empoy.

You are called an “unlikely loveteam.” What was your reaction when the movie was offered to you?

Alessandra: I was very, very excited when I was offered to do this film. It’s a kind of movie that was never part of my dream projects but it’s really refreshing to take a leave of absence once in a while from the usual, and do something out of the box.

Artista ako, after all, in this world of make-believe, the possibilities should be endless. I also got tired of doing the same roles over and over kaya kinilig ako sa idea. And when I learned that Empoy would be the leading man, I knew this movie was going to be different from the usual rom-coms. Hindi ito pa-beauty shot. This is going to be real.

Empoy (answers translated into English from Tagalog): I was thankful when the movie was offered to us because the moviegoers will watch something different from the usual comedy fare.

They say that you have chemistry. Did you feel it during the shoot???

Alessandra: Yes! On and off screen, the chemistry is undeniable. I think kaya namin magkaroon ng sariling talk show.

Empoy: Thank you for that comment. Alex reminds me of my Grade 1 teacher, hehehehe!!! Nothing romantic. Alex and I are only friends, peksman!!!

Describe your roles and how you are similar to or different from them.

Alessandra: Si Lea, I just had to act her as naturally as I could. I know kinuha ako because I would do it differently, that’s why I didn’t try to be someone else. The producers wanted something new. Ako ‘yung new. No one has ever seen me na “in love” ako or “pa-cute” ako. Hindi naman ako nagpa-cute, I think. Cute lang talaga ako.

Empoy: I play Tonio who has been working in Sapporo, Japan for 10 years. I’m seriously and terribly good-looking in the story although every day, I’m just ordinarily good-looking. Tonio has been looking for a girl to love and be loved. Tonio and Lea meet, and sparks fly.

How were you on the set; what were your memorable (hilarious) scenes? Did you have love scenes and how did you handle them?

Alessandra and Empoy give Kita Kita director Sigrid Bernardo a big lift

Alessandra: Since we shot the film in Japan, it didn’t feel like we were working at all. We were a group of 15 people, cast and crew. Ang liit lang talaga so parang field trip lang? Almost every scene matatawa ka kay Empoy and it was so hard acting blind, trying to pretend not to see the facial expressions and antics of Empoy. But in the movie, wala, makikita mo, natural talaga yung tawa. Ang hirap, eh!

Empoy: It was fun on and off the camera. Food trip. Story-telling. My most memorable experience? When the ghost appeared in my room. I’m not sure if the ghost was Japanese or what, hahahaha!!!

What’s in the movie that will attract moviegoers?

Alessandra: I think moviegoers are hungry for something new. Producers always say, never stray from the formula kasi hindi kakagatin. Doon na tayo sa sure. I have always believed otherwise. Kakagatin pa rin yan kahit iba yan because many people are starving for something out of the box. We are already aware of other formulas abroad because of the Internet. Marami ding may gusto nun dahil may awareness na. Madali na mag-adjust ngayon.

Empoy: Secret! Watch for it. Surprise!!!

May pag-asa ba si Empoy if he courts you?

Alessandra: WALA. Busy ako!

Do you think may pag-asa if you court Alessandra?

Empoy: I don’t know. Di ko pa po nadala sa court si Alex, hahahaha!!!

(E-mail reactions at [email protected].)