Devon Seron’s Korean ‘connection’

MANILA, Philippines — From the moment she met her two leading men, Devon Seron was able to instantly connect with them. They are South Korean actors Jin Ju-Hyung and Hyun Woo who topbill alongside her in You With Me, produced by Gitana Film Productions and RR Films Entertainment in cooperation with Film Line Pictures Production Ltd. and Seoul Film Commission. It is directed by Rommel Ricafort. 

“Both are gentleman,” said Devon after the grand presscon held at the Seda Hotel of Vertis North. “They always make it a point to check on me if I am doing okay during the movie shoot in Korea. Ju-Hyung was always offering me coffee. 

“Same with Hyun Woo although malaki ang age gap namin, lagi n’ya ko inaalalayan and he would always pull a chair for me. Maasikaso sila, parang ganun ’yung kinalakihan nila.”

Perhaps, die-hard Pinoy K-Drama fans must have known that Jin Ju-Hyung is one of Korea’s dramatic actors with Sirius as his debut acting project and followed by such TV series as Scandal: A Shocking and Wrongful Incident, Blade Man, Cinderella and Four Knights, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth and Suspicious Partners.

Hyun Woo, on the other hand, is an actor-singer whose projects included Dream, Pasta, Music Bank, I Live in Cheongdam-dong, Yumi’s Room, My Dear Cat, Jackpot, Deep Rooted, Laurel Tree Tailors and Bravo My Life.

It cannot be denied how popular K-Pop and K-drama are to Pinoys these days. Thus, many consider Devon as the “luckiest among female Kapamilya talents” for having bagged a leading lady role with two Korean stars. 

However, the Star Magic talent is not the type whose head easily becomes too big for a hat. In fact, Devon revealed that she joined in the auditions without expectations knowing how equally talented the other aspirants who also showed up on the day she, in her own word, “gatecrashed” the auditions. “I’m really happy for this. Actually, it was through my make-up artist friend that I got to try out for the role.”

Devon Seron

Asked to share her experiences shooting the movie in South Korea, Devon fondly recalled how kind and accommodating the Korean stars and production crew were. “Unlike here where actors are provided with separate tents, doon wala kaming tent. We would go to the set together, riding the same bus where we’d also stay pero minsan umaalis ’yung bus kasi bawal i-park doon kaya nakaupo lang kami sa gilid.”

She continued, “We’d usually eat together (in another place) because there was no catering so we would walk kahit na gaano kalayo ang restaurant at wala silang arte...it was truly humbling (experience) working with them.”

Language barrier served as the biggest challenge for the Cebuana lass. “I play an English teacher here and my Visayan accent and diction got in the way. Good thing, direk Rommel was always there to guide me.”

Devon was also impressed by the Korean actors’ dedication towards work. They would normally stay on the set even when their presence was not required in a scene. They, too, would hold an acting workshop every shooting day. “’Yung mga aktor pa ang nag se-set ng meeting for a workshop and live reading so everyone is ready before coming to the set.”

Another trait of her Korean co-stars that Devon finds remarkable is their being “so affectionate. Showy sila na may (instance) na pag-bubuksan ka pa ng pinto. I think, that’s natural for them.” 

That’s why Devon does not want to give any meaning to any of Hyun Woo and Jin Ju-Hyung’s sweet gestures. And although she admitted to having been attracted to both of them, Devon would rather not assume anything.

“Basta, I just tell myself that whoever ends up with either of these two men, will be one lucky wife or girlfriend. Me, I don’t want to assume anything because I’ve already experienced how hard it was to expect then nothing happened in the end.”

Is she willing to have a long distance relationship if and when her heart beats for a foreigner?

“Definitely, especially if you truly love the person and besides, there are now several means of communication. I can also fly in and out of the country for him, ’di ba nga where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

(You With Me, opening in theaters tomorrow, Sept. 27, also stars Ton Ton Gutierrez, Assunta de Rossi, Jon Lucas, Hazel Faith dela Cruz, Lee Seung-Yun, Sung In-Ja, Shin Dong-Hun, Lee Soo-Ryun, Oh Ja-Hun and Hashtags.)