Why the Janella-Jameson tandem works

Award-winning director Jason Paul Laxamana returns to the Regal Entertainment fold via the movie “So Connected” starring the unlikely tandem of Janella Salvador and Jameson Blake.

At the movie’s recent press conference, Direk Jason said he doesn’t believe in using a love team as lead stars for his movies. Not that he has something against screen tandems, but he believes using a love team makes the movie’s story predictable.

“I’d rather choose stars who I feel will fit the role. If you care to notice, that has been my practice in my past movies,” said the multi-awarded director of the critically-acclaimed “Magkakabaung.”

For “So Connected,” Direk Jason and Roselle Monteverde of Regal Entertainment had a talk regarding the casting and they ended up choosing Janella and Jameson for the movie’s lead characters.

Direk Jason calls the Janella-Jameson tandem offbeat but they fit the roles perfectly.

“I am not saying that I don’t really believe in a love team. But I prefer working with stars that are not part of a tandem. Since I am also the writer of my movies, I feel the story’s credibility suffers if I cast a popular tandem for the role,” he said.

"In the case of Jameson and Janella, I already saw in them the chemistry. In the look test prior to doing the movie, we already saw the connection. They have natural chemistry. Even the people in the look test already saw the potential of the pairing. It could make them good actors and in character.”

Direk Jason there are many factors that come into play to make the connection between Janella and Jameson work. “It also depends on the direction and how the story will develop. That is my job as a director. I just needed them to cooperate and give their best for the connection to work. And I am very happy with the result,” he said.

Janella and Jameson look very well together onscreen. And Jameson has never been so handsomely photographed. He has very strong screen presence. Janella, on the other hand, fits her role to a T.

“So Connected” is a very engaging love story that millennials can relate to. It is also very entertaining.

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“So Connected” is the first team up of Jameson and Janella.

“It feels great. Before I started in showbiz, I have always wanted to work with her. It’s a blessing to work with Janella. At first I thought hindi siya approachable but when I met her, we had good talk. I enjoyed working with her,” said Jameson.

“I am glad we got the chance to work together. He is a very nice guy. It wasn’t very hard to work with him. It was quite easy. Hindi naman ako nahirapan o naging awkward. He’s very nice,” said Janella.

“Janella is cool to be with. She is not boring and has good attitude towards work. And I liked that she was being herself,” added Jameson.

Janella said that she and Jameson are both the quiet type. “But he is not the type who is hard to approach. In fact, he is very friendly and fun to be with. That’s why I felt we had instant connection, the kind that is not necessarily romantic.”

The two stars dropped by the press preview of “So Connected” at the Gateway’s Platinum Cinema on Monday just to greet the members of the media invited to the event. But they chose to watch their movie last night at the premiere held at SM Megamall.

“Both of them haven’t watched the movie yet and they want to be surprised,” said Direk Jason.

“So Connected” opens today in cinemas nationwide.

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Also opening in cinemas today is “Citizen Jake,” the comeback film of Mike de Leon after an 18-year hiatus. Starring investigative reporter Atom Araullo in his first (and probably his last?) film outing, the movie is very timely and has a message that is very relevant to our times.

It boasts of excellent performances from Gabby Eigenmann, Adrian Alandy, Teroy Guzman, Ms. Cherie Gil, Nonie Buencamino, Nanding Josef, Ruby Ruiz, Richard Quan, Dina Bonnevie, Max Collins, Anna Luna and Atom himself.

Congratulations to Direk Mike for this gem of a film. Do yourself a favor and watch this brave piece of cinema.