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One thing with James is he remains very level-headed. “Hindi lumaki ang ulo,” says Direk Andoy Ranay, who directed James in all the three movies they did: “Diary ng Panget”, “Talk Back & You’re Dead” and now, “Hopeless Romantic”. “Kahit anong ipagawa mo, walang kiyeme. Pag sinabi kong maghuhubad ka rito, tanggal agad ang shirt niya.”
James says Direk Andoy totally changed him in “Hopeless Romantic”. “For one thing, ginawa niya akong moreno rito,” James adds at the presscon specially hosted for him and Nadine by Viva Entertainment, minus Star Cinema’s Julia Barretto and Inigo Pascual who are supporting them. “Tama na raw yung sobrang tisoy ako, so they applied dark make up on me. Noong una, I doubted it, but I just trusted him at maganda naman lumabas on screen. Tapos, all my lines here are in Tagalog, unlike before na marami kong English lines. He got me a Tagalog coach na itinuturo sa akin ang tamang pronunciation ng Tagalog lines ko. After a while, I was on my own and okay rin lumabas on screen. Binigyan din ako ng more dramatic scenes and I think I’m a better actor here than in any of my past films.”
Doesn’t Direk Andoy tell him and Nadine to tell the public that they’re on to further promote their love team? “No, happy nga ako na friends lang sila,” says Direk Andoy. “I’ve seen yung mga artistang naging on talaga at pag may tampuhan, naaapektuhan ang trabaho nila. E, sa ngayon, everything is smooth sailing sa kanila. But of course, kung eventually, magiging sila nga, I’ll be happy for them kasi ako man, kinikilig din naman ako sa Jadine love team. Sa three movies we did, pinakagusto ko sila rito sa ‘Hopeless Romantic’ kasi nag-mature na talaga sila as actors. Hindi lang sila puro pa-cute dito.”
The movie opens in theatres on Wednesday, May 13, but before that, watch their promo tour at MarQuee Mall, Pampanga today, May 10.
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