MANILA, Philippines — Lianne Valentin and Carlo San Juan team up for the rom-com Love Your Beat to officially commence Regal Studio Presents’ month-long first anniversary celebration. What thrills them is, Lianne and Carlo’s characters are a stark contrast to her feisty Stella in Apoy sa Langit and his good boy CJ in Daddy’s Gurl.
It’s a refreshing change for them to essay these roles and for fans to see them in a different light.
Given the artistic inclination of her Det and his Ian, the Kapuso stars had also to tap into their musical side to play their parts.
“Yes, it is, my role is very opposite, sobrang iba talaga,” affirmed Lianne that the bubbly and perky singer Det in the weekly anthology is a breather from her recent character during a virtual group interview, also graced by Carlo. “I was very excited (playing the role) and here (in the show), I also had the chance to showcase my singing skill. So, I was very happy. I’m excited to work in different projects,” she said.
On the same wavelength was Carlo, who considered playing guitarist Ian a new experience and shared, “Ngayon ko lang siya nagawa (It was my first time to do such a role).”
With the support and supervision of director Crisanto Aquino and the production staff, he had found his foothold and said, “Para sa akin, hindi naman po siya mahirap (For me, it wasn’t that tough)… it was easy working with Lianne. She also helped me out on what to do, medyo hindi naman ako nahirapan, slight lang kasi first time kong ginawa yung pagiging bad boy (I played the bad boy role for the first time).”
Young stars like Lianne and Carlo know the growth portraying diverse roles brings to their careers and the importance of giving viewers something new. Whenever the chance to play a new character comes, they grab it and make sure it won’t have any traces of the previous one.
“I went to (acting teacher) Ana Feleo and told her that I needed to detach from the (Apoy Sa Langit) role. It was hard to let it go,” said Lianne of the approach, described by some authors as parting ways with characters.
“I’m looking forward to new projects that will be offered to me.” Actually, she had enough time to bid Stella adieu since Lianne also worked in a Wish Ko Lang! episode prior to Love Your Beat.
With that, Lianne, along with Carlo, were ready to become Det and Ian for the Regal Studio Presents’ first offering, which airs today at 4:35 p.m. after The Wall Philippines on GMA.
Being in a band, their characters will make good music together.
“Only a few people know that I love to sing, nag-po-post lang ako ng mga konting short covers ko sa Instagram account ko and I’m not like yung talagang todo-todo (I would post few short covers on my Instagram account, but not that regular),” said she. “I can sing, but be the judge when you watch the show. When it comes to genre, my go-to (music is that of) Alicia Keys. I don’t know how to play the guitar.”
But Carlo can sing and play the guitar, and describes himself as the acoustic type. “Before I became part of GMA, I used to have gigs,” said he, who, after joining show business, hoped that his musical talents would also be showcased. “This story (from Regal and the opportunity to star in it) came and I was thankful that I was chosen to play the part. Through this, I hope new doors of opportunity will open to me and Lianne.”
Love Your Beat is Lianne’s first Regal Studio Presents assignment, while it’s Carlo’s fourth time. What viewers can also look forward to are the two songs Lianne and Carlo recorded for the show, in which their characters perform.
Asked about the vital role of music in the personal lives of their characters, Lianne said, “Music is a big part. Det and Ian both love music. But their personalities are very opposite, they are different from each other. That’s why there’s a conflict between them as shown in the teaser. But they will jibe through music, very opposite sila, pero yung connection nila duon dumaan sa music. It’s the No. 1 role of music in our episode.”
Carlo added, “I think the role of music is being the center of the story because of music, the story goes this way or the story goes that way. As much as I want to give you details, I just want everyone to watch it and find out for themselves how music changes the lives of the characters Ian and Det.”
After Love Your Beat, viewers will be treated to Eat Must Be Love on Sept. 18 with Almira Muhlach, Bryce Eusebio and Jana Taladro as stars, and Win a Date on Sept. 25 with the tandem of Yasser Marta and Althea Ablan.