Kahit super daring... mister ni Lovi, mas nauna pang umoo sa guilty...

Thankful si Roselle Monteverde ng Regal Entertain­mnent na Rated R-16 ang pelikula nilang Guilty Pleasure.

“Nagpapasalamat ako na they were able to see it not focusing on the scenes, but on the story itself. Nagandahan daw sila sa story eh,” reaction ni Ms. Roselle sa isang informal interview namin.

“Matured ang tema ng pelikula. It is type of film, a theme, adult drama, it’s just like that. Sobra s’yang sexy,” pag-amin pa ni Ms. Roselle na siya ngayong nagpapatakbo ng Regal Films na sini-celebrate ang 50th anniversary.

Kumusta namang katrabaho si Lovi na super daring sa trailer pa lang ng pelikula?

At as a co-producer, sinong mas matipid sa inyo?

“I was the one in control.”

‘Yung husband ni Lovi, Monty Blencowe, involved sa production? Tanong namin kay Ms. Roselle.  “Sa script, kasi hindi rin naman siya familiar how to make, you know, to produce movie in the Philippines.”

So meron siyang participation sa production? “Yes. Actually, muntik na ngang hindi matuloy ito eh. But I told Lovi, ‘you know, it has a very good story and a very good theme. At saka as an actress, hindi mo pa nagagawa itong type of character. ‘Di ba, hindi na siya ‘yung masyado, you know, people look at it na you’re more of a serious actress na talaga.’ Nagawa niya. And complimental ang MTRCB sa kanya, reviewers, ang galing niya rito,” impormasyon ng movie producer.

Pero bakit muntikan nang hindi matuloy? “Kasi nga, ‘di ba, she lives in the LA. So actually, it was the husband who encouraged her, gawin mo na ‘yung pelikula. Maganda.”

As a co-producer, ano ito, 50-50? “Hindi ko na idi-disclose ‘yan,” sabay tawa ni Ms. Roselle.

Ang maganda lang daw kay Lovi, tiwala siya sa mga katrabaho niya. “She trusted everyone eh. At saka ano naman eh nakatrabaho na niya si Connie (Macatuno, na direktor ng pelikula) at nagustuhan niya ‘yung working relationship nila ni Direk Connie.”

Hanggang naitanong na namin kung may isinumite silang pelikula sa finished film category sa Metro Manila Film Festival.

Actually, may nakahanda raw silang pelikula, ang Untold. “Syempre wala namang [sure], just wait for the announcement.”

Samantala, may mga hawak na agad na mga script si Lovi hindi pa man napapalabas ang Guilty Pleasure. “Well, right now, I actually have three scripts that I’m just waiting to cast.”

Probably sa Regal din ang next project niya. “Kasi I have another one with Regal. Super ibang-iba naman ‘yun. At ibang direction naman ‘yung iti-take ko after.”

Ibang direction? “Direction sa career. Pero, wait for it. It’s something I’ve never done before. I don’t know. Nakita niya ba ‘yung teaser nung...”

Guilty Pleasure?  “Ibang-iba ‘yun.”

Anong title nu’n? “The Untamed. Pero wala pa ‘yun.”

Co-producer ka pa rin? “Well, we haven’t really discussed that part.”

Pero nag-start na ‘yan or natapos mo na?

“Hindi pa, hindi pa. Magsa-start pa lang kami. So, later on pa.”

Sinong kasama mo dyan? “Wala pa, hindi pa siya kasado na masyado... Pero ‘yun nga, parang madaming naka-line up,” tuluy-tuloy na sagot pa ni Lovi sa amin.

So, for this year din ‘yan ipapalabas? “No, no. Next year.”

Gaano ka ka-daring sa Guilty Pleasure?

“No, but daring, yes. ‘Yung mga scenes namin. Pero, kailangan s’ya sa movie. Not just because it’s part... You know, usually, when you do scenes, it’s part of storytelling, ‘di ba. And you know, it happens on a day-to-day basis with people, with couples, and in relationships. But this one is very important for storytelling. Na parang you have... without putting it out there, na parang hindi ako mag-spoil. Makikita mo ang difference ng isang tao na normal, to have an intimate moment na normal and versus someone who isn’t normal. So, ‘yun ‘yung ipapakita ng two characters. Si JM at saka si Jameson; Na kung sino who makes love normally and who makes love differently.”

As a co-producer, did you pick your partners?

“Well, I had requests. Regardless of the circumstances, I always find myself eager to assist JM. And then, si Jameson, I saw his work. And then I was like, ‘Oh, I really like this guy.’ So parang sabi ko, parang perfect din sila. I mean, these are, of course, like, choices that a producer sells. But of course, ako, I was like, very happy because I’ve seen their work. I’m blessed kasi nga, both good actors, and sobrang mabait, sobrang gentleman talaga.”

First time niya na gumanap na lawyer. “I’ll be honest ah. Sabi ko before, ayoko mag-lawyer at saka mag-doctor na role.”

Ang depensa niya : “Ang daming memorization. At saka cre­dible. Mahirap ‘yun sabi ko, iba ‘yun eh. Kailangan believable. Iba ‘yung kapag ganung klaseng roles. Hindi naman siya ‘yung emotional lang eh. Kailangan talagang ‘you have to be credible, you have to know what you are doing and what you’re talking about,’ ‘di ba. Mag-research ka rin. But then, when I read the script, sabi ko, ‘okay I want to, I like the script.’ And it’s Direk Connie Macatuno pa. Sabi ko, ‘yes.’”

Pero tulad ng inasahan niya, hindi madali ang ginawa nila.

“Let’s just say, the moment I got my script, nag-memorize na ako. Pages, pages. At saka, meron talagang akong acting coach. I had her come to the house. I would say my lines... And I swear to God, paulit-ulit ako. I didn’t just memorize the day before, two days before, no. Weeks akong I kept saying my lines everyday. Para pagdating ko sa set... Ayun nag-pay off naman. Pagdating ko sa set, one take.”

Mag-uumpisang mapanood ang pelikulang Guilty Pleasure sa mga sinehan, umpisa sa Wednesday, Oct.16.