Joshua, Julia learn to be a one-man crew for digital film

CEBU, Philippines — For Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, making their episode for the digital short film “Love Unlock” in pandemic-forced isolation proved to be a unique challenge they fully embraced.

“With how long I’ve been in the industry, I never thought I’d be able to do a short film via Zoom,” Julia began in a video conference Tuesday with The FREEMAN and other media outlets about the 25-minute movie.

The 23-year-old actress has seen Hollywood flicks where characters interact virtually the entire run, but it did not cross her mind she’d be starring in one too. The experience turned out not only fun, it also increased her admiration for production staff after she and Joshua were told to multi-task for the technical aspects.

In their episode titled “E-Numan,” Julia is a scriptwriter named Tin, reminiscing about the past in an online reunion with her barkada, which happens to include her ex-boyfriend Benj, a hospital beat reporter played by Joshua. What starts out as happy and harmless rekindling takes an unexpected turn as they unearth unresolved issues that will test their clique’s bond.

Premiering on Kapamilya Online Live this Saturday, 7:30 pm, the second episode titled “Hook-Up” also reunites Gerald Anderson and Arci Munoz as sweethearts trying to spice things up by attempting to make love online. As they continue to explore cyber lovemaking, they will discover things about each other that will change the course of their relationship.

The back-to-back shorts were directed by Dado Lumibao and written by Benson Logronio and Arah Jell Badayos.

Brainstorming on what they can do while on community quarantine, director Dado said his creative unit thought of pitching short films that depict lockdown scenarios. Since he couldn’t give acting directions in person, they thought of casting actors who already had built-in chemistry. Once Julia and Joshua were on board, he briefed them on their responsibilities apart from being actors: they were to be their own directors of photography, lighting and audio, plus production designers.

He asked the stars to give them a virtual tour of their homes so that production can determine nice angles. While technical consultants instructed them how to handle equipment before taping in late May began, and some props not readily available in their homes were sent over, Joshua and Julia were soon after left to their own devices.

“They became jacks-of-all-trade. I was impressed by their choices of camera placements. We were able to finish taping in less than 12 hours,” the director beamed. “They learned a lot with the filmmaking set-up.”

Joshua, 22, said that to get an idea how a virtual film looks like, he watched 2014’s “Unfriended,” a Hollywood horror movie presented entirely through a MacBook screencast.

The platform appealed to Julia, not only since she was stepping out of her comfort zone, but also because she was working again with a beloved director and her erstwhile screen tandem.

“Direk Dado, I last worked with in MMK [Maalaala Mo Kaya] that I also did with Josh, and that was such a memorable episode. And of course to be reunited with Josh. Our last project was ‘Block Z’ last year and it’s exciting to work with him again,” said Julia.

Living alone in her own house, albeit just a few steps away from her mom’s, Julia said the project helped keep her sane amid movement restrictions aimed at controlling the coronavirus.

“Sanay tayo sa mundong ang bilis ng takbo, sanay tayo sa taping at shooting halos araw-araw. All of a sudden, when the lockdown happened, it was a very big adjustment when everything slowed down,” she said. “So to be able to act again even in a different set-up, ang saya ko lang when I was shooting. Iba siya eh when we’re in our element.”

Despite the unusual working condition, Julia said completing scenes became a breeze because she and Joshua understand each other’s process and peeves even without a word uttered.

“I feel like iba ang pagkakaintindihan namin ni Josh ‘pag umaarte na kami, kaya kahit through Zoom lang, it was so easy to do the scenes. Naiintindihan na namin if we want another take, kung anong magiging atake namin,” she explained.

Belying assumptions that it must be awkward to work with an ex, Joshua said it helps that they never lost touch – texting each other often and Joshua even visiting her newly completed house at least once.

Julia credits their mutual decision to “save the friendship” on why being in the same space with Joshua is not at all uncomfortable.

“We had a lot of good memories together. We were friends before we became lovers. If you have a good friendship, you can naturally do everything in peace,” said Julia. “I’m grateful that time made us both mature. We’re both at ease with each other. Nakakapag-asaran na kami.”