Slater Young faces big challenge in A Beautiful Affair

PBB grand prize winner Slater Young is making his acting assignment in a teleserye via the John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo starrer titled A Beautiful Affair which started airing on Monday, October 29 at ABS-CBN.

We talked to Slater after the presscon of A Beautiful Affair and he shared his thoughts in doing his first drama series on primetime tv.

How does it feel making your first teleserye? “Sobrang nakakaba. It’s a big pressure because I am doing something new. I am portraying a character,” said Slater.

What was your first reaction when you learned that you are part of John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo tv drama series?

“Sobrang masaya ako because it’s a big honor. I am thankful to Direk Lauren Dyogi for getting me to be a part of this teleserye, and also to Direk Katski Flores because they chose me. To be on primetime and to be on a John Lloyd-Bea project is a thrill kasi dati pinapanood ko lang sila, di ba? Now kasama ko na sila. Malaking bagay for me.”

Slater says he is challenged by this big break to be acting alongside John Lloyd and Bea in a drama series. “It’s a big challenge for me and every day that I am on the set is a challenge for me. I am pressuring myself to do my best and I tell you, it’s not easy.”

To prepare himself for this big acting challenge, Slater undertook an acting workshop. Being a newbie in acting, Slater never had any acting experience. So what he did aside from the workshop was to read and study his script very well. “I don’t think you’d be able to prepare until you are already on the set. That is where you are trained, molded and prepared for your acting,” he added.

How was your first taping day?

“It was a big scene, Sigawan tapos si Bea, umiiyak. So yung kaba ko ibang level. Feeling ko, parang masusuka na ako sa nerbyos. Every time na magkamali ako, nahihiya ako kay Bea” related the newbie actor who plays Bea’s cousin and childhood friend.

How would you describe the experience working with Bea?

“I had so much fun working with her. Makulit din siya. On my first taping, it was also the first time that I met her, I mean, that we really talked. Imagine how nervous I am kasi I am acting with Bea for my first scene. Tapos crying scene pa niya. I told myself that if I commit a mistake, di ba iiyak siya uli?

“Sabi ko, bakit hindi pa nagsasalita si Bea? Ah kasi crying scene pala. Kaya every time na magkamali ako, sorry ako nang sorry sa kanya. Pero siya naman, sobrang patient sa scene namin. Nagkamali ako kasi pag sumisigaw ka, di ba parang nabubulol ka. Parang hindi lumalabas ang emotion mo so retake. Naka-three takes yata kami. Hanggang sinabi niya sa akin na,” It’s okay Slater, kahit kami dumaan din sa ganyan.” So ang laki nang gaan sa loob when Bea said that, okay lang naman kahit na magkamali ako kasi bago pa lang ako and first time ko to do a drama on TV.”

Did you expect na after you won in PBB, you’d be offered a soap/teleserye?

“I expected that kasi di ba usually naman after PBB, they would offer you work but I did not expect that it would be this big, a teleserye on primetime,” said Slater who has yet to work in a scene with John Lloyd. Most of scenes he had during the days that he shot, it was with Bea. But he had seen John Lloyd in the team building workshop that the entire cast of A Beautiful Affair had.

So how was the workshop?

“Very intimidating kasi having a workshop with veterans like John Arcilla, Bea Alonzo, kumpleto sila. Umaarte silang lahat. Ako tahimik lang, pinapanood ko sila, ang gagaling nila.”

Do you look forward seeing yourself acting on TV?

“Nahihiya ako pag nakikita ko ang sarili ko na umaarte. I am very excited to find out kung ano ang mangyayari. Masaya ako, pero kabado ako. Sobra. I am looking forward to doing another soap pero for now concentrate muna tayo dito. As for another soap, we will get there soon.

For Slater, doing A Beautiful Affair is a wonderful learning process and he is really trying to be comfortable with acting together with the veteran stars in the cast. “I ask me what I should do to improve myself in terms of acting. It’s fun but it is not easy. But I like it because I am able to push myself to the limit. In a sense, I am also improving as a person in that way,” he said.

He said that he is more confident now with himself compared to the time he went out of the PBB house but he is in awe in the presence of the veteran stars he is working with in A Beautiful Affair.

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Paolo Contis is finally breaking his silence on the issue involving the breakup of his relationship with Lian Paz. The controversial actor has agreed to appear on Startalk tomorrow to speak about the issues raised by his ex-wife when Lian appeared on TV and said a mouthful about her relationship with Paolo.

The public is waiting on what Paolo is going to say about his failed relationship with Lian and the many issues behind it. Paolo is a man of few words and he’s not really the type who’d talk and air his dirty linen in public.

We hope that once Paolo has said his piece, this would put a closure on the controversy behind the breakup of his ties with Lian, for the sake of their kids. We believe that time heals all wounds and there will come a time when Paolo and Lian can be friends again, just like other showbiz couples who had bitter split-up but became best friends later.