Yassi Pressman leads local cast in Korean-Filipino action thriller
Seven Filipino actors who tried their luck auditioning for a forthcoming Korean-Filipino production, eventually got the chance to be in the cast of the action-drama thriller, The Guardian, to be in the shown internationally this year.
Actress Yassi Pressman leads the list of local artists who passed the auditions and were signed up for their respective roles in the Korean-Filipino film.
Yassi will play Sandara, who will be introduced in The Guardian. “They all told me when I stepped in to audition, ‘Just do your best’,” the 28-year-old actress recalled. “They didn’t tell me what I was auditioning for.
“They told me, ‘It’s up to you.’ I showed them emotions that were angry, happy and sad. They made me dance and sing a bit. I rendered a 2NE1 song. I later learned Sandara wanted to be a K-pop star. That’s all that I can reveal, as of now.”
Action star Jeric Raval will play one of the villains. “I accepted the project for a change,” Jeric said.
Wilbert Ross, who was a former member of the all-male group Hashtags, will also essay a semi-antagonist role named Jason. “This will be action and very different from the roles I did in the past,” Wilbert said.
Eric Ejercito, on the other hand, nabbed the role of Coco, Sandara’s friend. They later become the best friends of Do Jun (played by Korean singer-actor Nam Woo Hyun).
Joko Diaz plays the character of Gordon. He accepted the project to be able to get the chance to be in a Korean film. “I want to get a chance to work with Korean actors and experience what it’s like to be part of a project like this.”
Young actress Ashtine Olviga plays one of the artists who auditions for a K-pop group. “I said yes right away because this is a big opportunity for me,” she admitted. “Who will say no to be part of this project.”
Heart Ryan plays a part of the K-pop group. “This is a big opportunity for me to be cast in a Korean-Filipino film like The Guardian. I am also a huge fan of K-dramas and films.”
Viva Artists Agency (VAA) president Vincent del Rosario was initially called on to provide the artists who will audition for The Guardian, but later agreed to co-produce the action-thriller with Parallax Studio (Wesley Villarica) and Ovation Productions (Cel de Guia).
“In fairness to our artists, they all auditioned and were very professional in trying their luck out in the roles available,” shared Vincent. “They were chosen, so I guess they all fit in the roles assigned to them.”
Yassi easily gets film assignments or roles as one of the contract stars of VAA but she auditioned for this one.
“She would just be at Viva and tell us she’s ready for a new film and we will give her a project anytime,” Vincent said.
“But for The Guardian, she went through the audition process and that was a nice thing to do. Very commendable.”
The story of The Guardian follows Korean nationals Park Do Jun (singer-actor Nam Woo Hyun of idol group Infinite) and his mother Mi Jin (Steel Rain, Alchemy of Souls and Jewel in the Palace actress Park Eun Hye), who relocated to the Philippines.
Back in Korea, Do Jun showed talent in taekwondo and aspired to become a national player. Yet, he gave that all up to be with his mom.
Although Do Jun has a great amount of love for his mother, they’ve always had a strained relationship because of Mi Jin’s gambling addiction.
Over the years, this gambling problem worsens to the point that Do Jun drops out of college to find a job and support himself.
At work, he befriends Sandara (Yassi), who dreams of becoming a K-pop star and Coco (Eric Ejercito) and fast becomes close to them.
Mi Jin disappears and Do Jun receives word that she was kidnapped by the notorious gang leader (Han Jae Seok), who runs the largest Korean criminal organization in the Philippines.
“The Guardian story is the love between the mother and her son,” informed Korean director Joeng Jang Hwan. “I’m trying to synchronize the Korean actors and those from the Philippines showing the love between a family.
“Even though we haven’t started yet, I’m so excited to work with Filipino actors and actresses. The Guardian will be a very good movie.”
Filming for The Guardian will be scheduled for 17 days here in the Philippines, while post production, dubbing and musical score will all be done in South Korea.
Yassi is thankful to her local producers for making The Guardian happen.
“I also prayed for this last year, that hopefully this project pushes through because it’s such a big honor to be part of something like this,” Yassi said. “This is one of the firsts for our country. We Filipinos admire the Korean artists, films, their culture.
“It was very nice to meet them here. We simply had a meeting then story-con. It was nice to meet everybody involved in this project. Even if we had a language barrier, we saw that they were all always smiling. They were open to communicate with us.”
The Filipino cast members have filmed their scenes, while their scenes with the Korean actors will be filmed now that the foreign cast members are here in the Philippines.
“They have been very strict with all the Korean actors on the set,” Yassi observed. “They are protecting them while they are here. With us, the Filipino cast, grabe din kaming alagaan ng people around us, as well as the management.”
Even if she’s now part of a Korean-Filipino film, Yassi refuses to readily think this will be the start of her international career.
“Ayoko kong mag-isip ng anything in the future,” Yassi said. “I’m doing everything slowly. Starting last year, I always pray for few steps that I will take. Having this opportunity is really a big, big blessing.
“I always thank the Lord for that. The feeling of working with these very extraordinary actors coming from Korea, I’m very, very excited. I am thrilled to be working soon with them.”
Talking to the Korean actors is a challenge for their Filipino co-stars. “Talking to them and understanding them is a challenge,” admitted Yassi. “We use hand signals, but even if they find it hard to explain what they want to say, they make an effort to be understood. They don’t just give up. They really want to connect and talk to us.
“That also encourages me to connect with them. I get to sit down and eat with them. When our director finally shouts ‘Action,’ we will all be thrilled to work together. I’m looking forward to experience our camaraderie as an ensemble working together.
“From our story conference, they were all very professional. I hope we get to learn more while working with them.”
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