Barbie Forteza's big leap

Kapuso actress Barbie Forteza admits already having a crush on Andre Paras, her partner in the new GMA-7 primetime series “That’s My Amboy,” which premiered Monday night at the Kapuso network.

This she revealed to Star Circuit at the presscon of “That’s My Amboy” held January 21 at the Executive Lounge of GMA Network.

Barbie and Andre have worked as a loveteam for the last two years. They were partners in the top-rating afternoon drama “The Half Sisters.” They are now so comfortable with each other – so at ease that Barbie can afford to wake up Andre when he is asleep.

Since they have worked long enough as a loveteam, has it reached the point that they might level up their friendship and be more than just screen partners?

“Well, I am already at a point where I already have a crush on him. I don’t think he feels the same way,” said Barbie with a laugh. “I don’t know why. Maybe because he is Andre and maybe he has high standards for a girl. I don’t know. As a loveteam, we are not being pressured to work on a relationship more than a loveteam. But we both admit we are kinikilig in the scenes that we do together. Probably it is because of the good script and the entire team.”

One will really feel giddy when you have a leading man as handsome as Andre, isn’t it? “I know, I know. I love my job. Walang sawa factor. I can work with him all day, whole night, every day. Walang umay-umay ito. If you were in my shoes, kayo ba mauumay?” she shot back. We were momentarily lost for an answer, then we said no. “O, di ba? Exactly!” was Barbie’s quick reply.

She is indeed very lucky. Her last GMA-7 show “The Half Sisters” ended just a few weeks ago after almost a two year-run, but she hardly cooled her heels when the new show “That’s My Amboy” was immediately presented to her and leading man Andre. What a big leap – from a top-rating afternoon drama to a primetime slot.

“I am very grateful to GMA for the belief and support that they are giving me. I am thankful that GMA has trust in me since right after ‘The Half Sisters,’ they gave me a new show. I am feeling some kind of pressure but there is also a deep feeling of gratitude since my network trusts me and believes in me. It’s another blessing and an inspiration to work even harder,” said the talented Kapuso actress.

How would she describe Andre compared to the first time they worked together two years ago?

“Acting-wise, he has always been good, but now the difference is, he’s more confident to act and is eager to learn more. He has endless questions about acting. He is truly fascinated when it comes to acting.”

What is in “That’s My Amboy” that viewers should watch out for? “This is my first rom-com show. I was kind of afraid of being typecast already since I am always doing drama. People might think I am only good in shedding tears and making people cry. Or make myself look pitiful. Here in ‘That’s My Amboy,’ I will be showing my true self, the real me, what I am like off camera. That’s what makes this show special.”

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At the screening of his award-winning film “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan” at the UP Film Center last January 18, Jun Robles Lana announced during the Q&A the next edition of CinePanulat Screenwriting Lab, his annual screenwriting workshop that will take place from March 5-May 29 of this year. CinePanulat is sponsored by IdeaFirst Entertainment and completely free of charge, but all applicants are required to undergo rigid screening.

Open to all aspiring writers with ages 18-40 years old, a full resumé with photo must be submitted to [email protected] on or before February 10. Applicants must include information about any work experience related to writing for TV, film and/or theater, including past writing workshops attended. Selected applicants will be invited to the preliminary screening on February 21. Only 20 applicants will be chosen for the workshop.

Last year’s edition of CinePanulat yielded an incredible body of work from the participants, including Brylle Tabora’s “Sekyu” which won 2nd place in the Dulang Pampelikula category of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature; Ivan Payawal’s “I America” which was chosen as one of the 10 finalists in the 2016 Cinemalaya Film Festival and is currently in production; and Jen Chuaunsu’s “Sleepless,” which was a finalist at the QCinema International Film Festival, and was directed by fellow participant Prime Cruz. Perci Intalan and Lana’s IdeaFirst Company eventually stepped in and executive-produced “Sleepless” which went on to win two major awards: Best Actor and NETPAC Best Asian Film. Other participants of the workshop were also invited by Intalan and Lana to join their production company and now regularly write and/or direct for their TV shows.

Lana is known in the entertainment industry as an accomplished writer and an internationally acclaimed director. He is the youngest Filipino to be inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2006.  But Lana is also an educator, having taught screenwriting and film production at the University of Santo Tomas and creative writing at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.