Lauren gives ‘damsel in distress’ a new twist

MANILA, Philippines - Lauren Young gives the stock character “damsel in distress” a modern twist in the GMA Films’ action-thriller titled Overtime. Her role is not some lady stationed in a tower, patiently waiting for a traveling knight to pass by. Interestingly, the character will fall prey to the flaws of others, and hopefully not to her own arrogance (hubris) and ignorance. Richard Gutierrez plays opposite Lauren. 

“What’s good about this film is that every character is very much like in real life — that not everyone is a hundred percent good or a hundred percent evil,” says Lauren, the younger sister of 2013 Miss World Megan Young. “You can see the dark side of my character (Jody Amistoso) although she appears bait-baitan. She is also doing bad (stuff) for her own survival. It is also the same with Richard’s character (named Dom Garcia).” So, the Overtime lead characters tend to veer away from caricature, stereotypical ones that bida and kontrabida are usually known for — sticking to the pre-conceived notions of their roles until the end. The film questions if action does equal intention, or vice versa. “Why he does that?” says Lauren of the motivation of Richard’s character. “Why he takes me as a hostage?”  

According to Lauren, Jody is in a “messed-up family situation.” The executive assistant of a pharmaceutical company lives with an alcoholic dad and a good-for-nothing mom. “She works every single day for her family,” says Lauren. “And one day, napuno na siya (she got fed up). She thinks that she should do something for herself for a change. (With that,) she meets up a guy she doesn’t know.” The Internet connects the two souls who are about to venture into a deadly territory where many lives are in danger. It seems that there’s no turning back for them.       

“I thought (long and hard) about accepting the project,” recalls Lauren of her 2014 movie project, which began shooting late last year and only wrapped up in 12 days. “I come from the independent film scene. It is my first time to do a mainstream movie where I’m the lead. I was kinda scared to take that jump (from independent to mainstream). Not much of the scenes (doing sensitive ones) because I knew it was for work. I don’t mind baring myself for as long as (the scene) is tasteful. When I read the (Overtime) script, it was tasteful. (The scene was) needed in the movie. What I’m scared of is, when you do an independent film, there’s no pressure when it comes to ticket sales, promotions and stuff like that. It’s more on the content. But when you do a mainstream film, it is not only the content but of course, people will look at how much you earn.” In the story, Lauren will show some sexiness by wearing a revealing outfit and deviate from the usual sweet roles.

“(The role) is emotionally draining because of the many emotional levels involved. You’re scared (in one moment). You get traumatized (the next time).” If there’s one lesson Lauren wants the audiences, particularly the young people, to pick up from the movie, it will be being “careful in trusting people online.”    

“The script itself was very nice,” says Lauren. “It’s a thriller. There’s no romance in it. (But there’s) a teeny tiny bit of romance.” She adds that GMA Films has taken a big risk for producing such movie, which is different from its usual fare of romance and comedy in the previous years. “I’m happy they trusted me to be part of that risk,” she quips.

Having successfully crossed over from TV to film, independent to mainstream, Lauren sees herself as an actress who is “a mere instrument.” “I prefer that I work with a script and follow the director’s instructions because after all, it’s his vision. I just want to be able to execute what (the director and the scriptwriter) want. It’s okay if they want me to give a little of me in the character. I just want to follow a script. So I will know what direction my character is taking.”

(Opening on July 2 in theaters nationwide, Overtime is directed by Earl Ignacio and Wincy Aquino Ong.)