Bela ‘pleasantly surprised’ by chemistry with Marco

Bela Padilla continues to be the “pre-Valentine” girl with the theatrical release of her new film Spellbound.

“The tradition started in 2018 with Meet Me at St. Gallen, I’m always the week before Valentines. We consider it my lucky week. So, hopefully that tradition lives on with this film. I feel like honestly, I realized… ginaganahan ako mag-promo because the movie is so good, like I literally can say I really enjoyed it,” Bela said during an exclusive chat with The Philippine STAR.

In Spellbound, Bela plays an eccentric girl with a “dark side” and is hired by a magician (Marco Gumabao) who eventually falls in love with her. Aside from Bela and Marco, the Viva Films release also stars Rhen Escaño, Cindy Miranda, Benj Manalo, Ronnie Liang and Moi Bien. It’s directed by Jalz Zarate.

While Bela is now particularly feeling good about Spellbound, it was a challenging project initially because it was the first time that she tried out the horror genre.

“The biggest reason why I wanted to do this project is because it was going to be challenging for me. Because sobra akong takot sa horror na genre like it’s probably the only genre I haven’t really tried out. So, it’s my first time to do a horror film. That was the No. 1 come-on for me,” she said.

“Also, I liked yung mga bawi scenes because everything in between the horror parts or everything else aside from the horror part for me, it felt very light. The script felt very refreshing. It had the perfect balance of comedy, of kilig, of drama. And I guess when they sent me the script in 2020, during the time I was so tired, I was doing so many things, but I wanted to do something different. That was the main draw for me,” she added.

Three years after the film was made, what “pleasantly surprised” her was that she and Marco actually had onscreen chemistry, especially going by the reactions during the premiere night last week.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect na ganun siya magiging ka-strong, especially on screen. Most of the time nga, even in person, you’re in a scene and you feel the chemistry so strong and then you watch it, parang OK lang, sakto lang.

Bela with Spellbound co-star Marco Gumabao.

“Here, it’s the other way. Marco and I are friends but you still feel chemistry… it felt very comfortable. Doing the scenes, kahit yung mga kilig scenes… I think the way it was shot, it was so easy on me. I was so comfortable. I think that’s what really helped bring the chemistry out. I honestly can’t explain it because I was also very pleasantly surprised yesterday when we watched (the film),” she shared.

Without giving any spoilers, Bela teased one scene that got her so affected. “I really saw it for the first time in that way. Obviously, it was the first time we saw the movie, all of us, but I didn’t expect the scene to be edited that way… with the scoring now. But I was so affected. I really felt that scene.”

Unlike her past films, which are mostly romance, hugot, two-character narratives, she somehow felt less pressure filming Spellbound being an ensemble movie.

“It’s always that (love story) and a two-character film… So parang the weight is on your shoulder so much — you and the other person. In a sense, your A-game is always there, whereas with Spellbound, I felt like the movie had so many other elements like literally and figuratively. It’s a love story, there’s me and Marco, but we also had a great support cast.

“Everyone added such nice flavors to the film. I can’t speak for Marco, but when I was shooting, I felt like it took the weight off of my shoulders a little bit. I was able to relax more. And when you’re relaxed, I guess that’s also when chemistry comes out there, you know, it’s when the natural reactions go out.”

Spellbound is the latest Viva remake of a South Korean drama, the 2011 box-office hit also known as My Girlfriend Can See Ghosts, which originally starred Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You) as a woman who can see ghosts, and Lee Min-ki (The Beauty Inside) as a magician who falls for the female lead.

“I think the movie honestly is very relevant, especially after the global pandemic, a pandemic that we all went through. Personally, the main message is you don’t need to face your problems alone. You don’t need to go through life alone. Someone out there is always willing to help you. Whether it’s your parents, your family, your friends, a loved one. You don’t have to feel isolated,” Bela reflected.

“Sometimes kasi tayong mga Filipino, takot tayong mag-hassle ng ibang tao, ayaw na ayaw natin pabigat. Kasi ‘di ba we always got called the resilient people. I hate that word so much, especially during the pandemic. It was so overused in all the wrong contexts.

“For me, you don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s admirable to be strong, but there will be people out there who want to look after you, who want to help you out. You just have to know the right places. So (the film is) very comforting. That’s one of the reasons why I love the film so much. I left the cinema feeling relieved, comforted and happy.”