JM & LJ's love scene took 2 hours to shoot

It took two hours to shoot that highly anticipated love scene between JM de Guzman and LJ Reyes in Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino. No it was not on the actors’ part that the scene was taking long to shoot. It was director Lem Lorca who was causing the “delay.”

While his actors were waiting for the director’s cue, Lem, who is on his second directorial work, was on the other hut, crying his heart out. His actors were ready, lying on a small “papag” where the love scene would take place.

“I was crying because I did not know if I can do the scene. I was so overwhelmed with emotions,” explained Lem. He sought out Jerry Gracio, scriptwriter of the movie, if he can do it and Jerry gave Lem his nod of assurances.

LJ and JM were ready. And when the camera went on to grind, and the final cut was done, the scene came out beautifully at nine minutes. “Mahaba ang dialogue bago ’yung love scene,” said LJ who plays Doray, the prostitute love interest of JM, who plays Intoy in the movie.

“Take off your top,” Lem directed LJ. LJ, hesitant at first, took off her top. “No,” she said, “you can’t see my breasts. Maganda naman pagkagawa.”

LJ has also bonded so much with JM that doing the delicate scene was a breeze. “JM is very generous with his emotions. Nakikita mo ang sincerity at enthusiasm niya.”

JM and LJ and the entire cast of Intoy Syokoy have totally immersed into each other’s persona, thus when principal photography came, it became easy for them to relate to each other.

“Bago kami nag-take noong love scene, nakahiga kami ni JM at nag-lolokohan. Seryoso lang kami pag nagsho-shoot na,” said LJ.

“Ano ang gagawin mo kung ang mahal mo ay may boyfriend,” Lem posed the question to JM. But JM as Intoy Syokoy, answered that love knows no boundaries.

JM, now touted as the next big star, delivered another brilliant performance in the movie. He won recognition in Pintakasi as Best Actor in the New Wave Entry in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Stingy with words, JM packs a wallop with his acting, some showbiz observers say. “Cute na bata,” said one of the press people who attended the press conference for Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino which is an entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival.

 “May lalim ang pag-arte,” continued the observer. It is no doubt then that JM is being groomed by his mother studio ABS-CBN as the next big actor.

Knowing this, JM could only give a boyish smile. He knows he has millions of following who he brings with him each day in the top-rating teleserye Angelito. “Fame is a blessing. It inspires me na pag-butihin ko pa ang ginagawa ko para masiyahan ang publiko,” explained JM.

JM has come a long, long way. At 23, although he doesn’t look like one, he has had his share of ups and downs climbing his way to the top. A former print and TV model, JM was in Ang TV in the batch of Sarah Geronimo, Shaina Magdayao and Denise Laurel. While his batchmates rose and continued to make names for themselves, JM made his way slowly and surely, knowing the big break will come down on him and it did.

JM did roles in Maalaala Mo Kaya, Precious Hearts Romances, was cast in Banana Split, and is in ASAP and Sarah G. Live as guest co-host. JM sings, too. He has released an album titled Carried Away and he plays the guitar.

When he was asked to play the lead role in the remake of Mula sa Puso which was originally done by the late Rico Yan, JM delivered a brilliant performance in the series, and proved to all and sundry that he has what it takes to be an actor.

Then a new title role was given to him via Angelito: Ang Batang Ama and the rest they say is history. 

On working with JM, Lem said that JM is “confident. Acting to him is all about heart.”

 JM has been getting all the praises he deserves. But he is not sitting on his laurels. In fact, he still has plans to go back to school and finish theater arts at the University of the Philippines where he was then enrolled.

“Makakatulong at mapapaganda ko pa lalo ang ginagawa ko,” he said of his plan to go back to college. JM before showbiz beckoned was active in school appearing as actor and working as production staff in Dulaang UP.

Intoy Syokoy ng Kalye Marino is his second Cinemalaya movie. The first one was in Last Supper No. 3, where he played the guy who returned the lost Last Supper painting.

Intoy Syokoy which will have its premiere night on Saturday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater, 6 p.m., tells the story of a tahong farmer who falls in love with a prostitute. They both live in the famed Kalye Marino the road that American Marines (stationed then at Sangley Point Cavite) visited when they needed some worldly pleasures.

The film was adopted to screen by Jerry Gracio from a Palanca award-winning story by Eros Atalia. Also in the cast are Joross Gamboa, Kristoffer King, Kenneth Salva, Roy Alvarez, Richard Quan, Angeli Bayani, Angela Ruiz, Justin de Leon, Ricky Pascua, Redgie Jimenez, Jacob Miller and Arnold Reyes.

Other screenings of Intoy Syokoy aside from the CCP are at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 3 and 5, Trinoma Cinema until July 29.

Incidentally, Robert Bernardo, Boy So and yours truly produced the movie with Cinemalaya.