MANILA, Philippines - "Tensionado."
This is how Xian Lim described his experience during the first day of shooting with director Joyce Bernal, Angel Locsin and Vilma Santos for the Star Cinema movie "Everything About Her."
READ: Xian Lim wants to prove himself in ‘Everything About Her’
But it's not for the reason you would think.
During a bloggers conference to promote the movie recently, the actor said the first shooting day was "tense" because direk Joyce did not allow him, Angel and Vilma to talk to one another while on the set.
This is a method direk Joyce employed on the three main stars of the movie since the characters they are playing have a difficult relationship with each other; she did not want the three to lose character on cam by interacting with one another off cam.
"Yun nga ang akala kong mangyayari... Syempre, bago sumabak sa shooting, mag-uusap muna kayo... Sabi ko, 'Direk, direk, paano ito, kailan kami mag-uusap?' 'Hindi ka pwedeng makipagkita sa kanila'," he narrated.
Xian further shared: "Sabi ko, 'Bakit parang tensionado nating lahat ngayon? Unang araw ko po.' 'Basta.'"
But it all worked out in the end as the result, Xian said, was "fresh" and the tension was palpable onscreen.
And it seems Vilma, Angel and Xian got along on set despite direk Joyce's unusual method. During the movie's press conference last week, Vilma and Angel defended Xian against bashers.
The 26-year-old actor said he really prepared well for the role, revealing that he was talking to direk Joyce as early as July last year so he can fully understand his role.
Watch Xian talk about the experience here:
Videos by Efigenio Toledo IV