Stars of ‘Steal’ relished filming comedy heist in Japan

CEBU, Philippines — Newly released on Vivamax, Viva’s online streaming platform, is the comedy-mystery movie “Steal” starring Meg Imperial, Ella Cruz, Jennifer Lee and Nathalie Hart.

Directed by Bona Fajardo, this film entirely shot in Japan in February 2020 is about three Filipinas living in Japan who become friends after a weekend Filipino gathering in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Hiyasmin Macaraig (Meg), who chose to stay in Japan after the restaurant she was working at closed, works odd jobs to provide for her family in the Philippines. Cynthia Mae Valdes or CM (Ella) is an English tutor. When her work contract ends, she also decides to stay in Japan to provide for her jobless live-in partner and their kid. Mitch Sarmiento (Jennifer) is a Masteral student in Kitakyushu. She is smart but becomes addicted to gambling as a way to relieve stress from her academics and a recent heartbreak.

One weekend gathering, the three girls met a mysterious Filipina named Platinum (Nathalie), who proposed a hard-to-resist scheme: steal money from her abusive, illegal peddler Japanese husband, Tanaka (Guji Lorenzana). The ladies, needing money badly for different reasons, agree to the scheme. Everything goes smoothly until they open the bag and find nothing of value except for one diamond. Everything goes downhill from there as they deal with gang members hunting them down and trying to keep the diamond for themselves.

In a virtual chat, the ladies of “Steal” talk about their grand time in Japan and how filming this comedy heist is one for the books and a precious memory for them.

On dressing up for their roles:

Nathalie: I was the only one wearing a wig the whole time. Before we went to Japan, I told them I wanted to change my look for this character. I didn’t want to cut my hair, so production said let’s just have a wig. It was so exciting and it was one of the first times I actually had to sport very short hair for a character. I was really happy. One of the things I really love about this movie, my look was transformed. I thank ‘Steal’ for giving me this persona.

Ella: Since I’m the youngest, I went for the kawaii look of Japan, and my role is half-Japanese. So I had the bright colors. My outfits here are my personal clothes because when I travel abroad, that’s how I also dress up. So the requirements were easy for me. I may be the youngest, but I’m more mature and the one that makes straight decisions in life. It was so fun being in Japan since we can do all the layering and I was able to make use of my boots. Despite all the layers, it was still so cold.

Jennifer: We all really committed to our role. I had to cut my hair short because my role was boyish. Mitch is supposedly the muscle of the group. I had to adjust my look including my makeup. I’m used to doing my makeup very studio and glamorous. Here, I’m very plain. The choices of colors for my outfit were earthy. My look had to be tough, not sexy and fashionable. We shopped for our wardrobe in Japan since there were more choices there.

Meg: We wanted their fashion to be distinct from the other. It helped that we had a look test because we got to suggest the colors and what we want. They also asked me if I can cut my hair and I said why not…since I also did a film with Viva before ‘Steal’ which was ‘Sana All.’ Yasmin is sobrang bait, but kailangan hindi losyang her image. Since our locale was Japan, it was also an opportunity to show off clothes for cold weather.

On unforgettable moments while filming in Japan:

Ella: It was my first time shooting a film outside the country. To be honest I was nervous because they said it would be stressful since you had to help out the production, tulong-tulong kayo…no PA, no make-up artist. But with this film, sobrang madali siya. Para kaming namamasyal lang, at the same time, we were shooting a movie. One of my unforgettable moments would be while we’re on the standby area. It didn’t have a heater, so lagi kami tabi-tabi. Hati kami ng kumot kasi sobrang lamig talaga. February usually melting of snow na, kaya kahit naka-thermal na kami, four to five layers, nangangatog pa rin kami. When we had to do a take, we had to remove the layers of jacket and pretend we weren’t shivering. When it’s cut, sobrang naninigas na yung katawan namin.

Jennifer: Aside from working, I really enjoyed the food and the sights. For me it was when we shot at the temple. We were able to experience the culture of Japan. It was my first time to enter a Japanese temple. It was very solemn. We met one of the monks, we had prayers, and they gave us these small paper…it’s like a fortune cookie but attached to a wooden bird. It became a very precious souvenir for me.

Meg: Aside from it was fun on set, when we pack up, we go to the supermarket and buy food and go shopping together. Si Ella yata pinakamaraming nabili sa aming lahat. Also when we biked somewhere to shop. Here, hindi ka pwede magg-bike basta-basta sa daan. I really enjoyed that kasi bonding talaga with the cast. We carried our bikes too kasi namali yung daan namin, stairs lang pala yun.

Nathalie: When we were carrying our bikes that we rented from our hotel, talagang ang bigat. Yung paakyat, wala kaming drama. Pero yung pababa na, it’s so funny. Parang mas okay if naglakad kami on our own but of course we couldn’t just leave the bikes behind. The experience in this film, talagang sobrang ganda. We got to experience the life of the Japanese. At the same time, yung buhay namin doon, tipid tipid kami. From the production and all the people we were working with, we were doing the same thing. Like if we go to the grocery, we would borrow the bike from the hotel. It was one of the best because we got to experience the real Japanese way.

On the bond they built on set:

Ella: I really felt the care we had for each other during the shoot kasi wala naman iba mag-aalaga sa amin doon. Kami-kami lang din. When someone’s not feeling well or needs food…Ate Meg always prepares food for us. We still kept in touch after the shoot and I feel hindi mawawala yung naging bond namin. That was two weeks straight together. That was such a precious time.

Jennifer: I admit ako talaga yung sobrang alagain sa amin. Namahay ako. I DJ, right? Before I flew to Japan, I had a three-day gig in Iloilo where I got to sleep 5 am or 6 am since that was Dinagyang Festival time. When I arrived in Japan, I couldn’t sleep early and our call time was 4 am, 5 am. I would often ask for sleep vitamins from Ella. Tapos si Meg kung yung mga gamit ko, nakakalat, tutulungan ako mag-ayos kasi sobrang sabaw na ako sa antok. Ang ganda ng bonding namin. We really looked after each other. Because the pandemic was already ongoing, although the Philippines wasn’t on lockdown yet, there were already protocols that production had to consider. We didn’t have the usual entourage to help us carry our stuff. We had harmony. I admire also the creativity of Direk Bona Fajardo. He was such a great director to work with. Literally cool. We never saw him lose his temper. Loved this team.

On what they’d like to steal from a co-star:

Ella: I got inspired by Ate Meg’s way of thinking. She’s very independent. She knows what she wants. Now, she’s business-minded. Yun yung medyo wala ako. And she’s so considerate to everyone.

Jennifer: I like the talents of Ella, yung pagiging fun and outgoing ni Nat, and yung pagiging bright ni Meg.

Meg: The openness of Nat. Yung walang pakialam sa iisipin ng tao. I guess I lack that. I’m still conscious of what I say. On the other hand, she’s so vocal with her feelings. I really appreciate that because in showbiz, seldom are there r people who are very open because they do not want to be judged.

Nathalie: I’m so sorry, pero ikaw talaga ang peg ko Meg! Yung pa-tweetums. Yung ‘I’m a woman.’ Thank you naman that you appreciate me. To be honest, you appreciate what others have that you don’t have. So I appreciate Meg. Height talaga. From the start feeling ko meron naman akong kaya ibuga sa talent or personality. Kung tumangkad-tangkad ako, nag-Binibining Pilipinas na ako.

On that time someone stole from them:

Nathalie: When I returned to the Philippines, I didn’t have any support system. I hired two people from an agency tapos nagulat nalang ako, nawalan na ako ng Rolex. For me, nawala na eh so ano pa magagawa ako. Ang sa akin na lang, dapat hindi na ako mawalan. So I installed cameras. I understand people won’t like my system of work, but now whatever I do in life, kailangan may camera.

Meg: It happened many times already because I quickly give my trust. If mabait sa akin, I’ll give my trust. Masakit kasi hindi mo naman sila pinapabayaan. I give them their bonuses and their freedom. If they asked for help, I helped them. So it’s disappointing when that happens.

On a celebrity whose identity they’d like to steal for a day:

Nathalie: Angelina Jolie

Ella: Any member from Blackpink.

Jennifer: Gal Gadot or Alicia Vikander