The girl who is currently the object of public interest and admiration is not fully aware of her immense popularity, according to the director of her first ever movie.
Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza is currently filming “My Bebe Love (#KiligPaMore),” an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.
“With Maine, I dont think she is fully aware of the immense popularity that she has. I don’t think it has sunk in to her,” veteran director Jose Javier Reyes told INQUIRER.net during a visit to the set of their movie in Alabang on Thursday.
“This is Maine’s first movie and she’s a natural comic,” Reyes said, noting the newbie actress’ talent in dubsmashing, which made her an Internet superstar even before her stint on TV.
Maine rose to fame this year by showing off her talent in lip-syncing popular and wacky lines from Filipino movies and television shows by using the video messaging app Dubsmash. She became an overnight sensation with her videos garnering millions of hits in different social media platforms. This paved the way for her to be part of Eat Bulaga’s “Kalyeserye” segment, where she got her monicker “Yaya Dub.”
And when she was paired unintentionally with actor Alden Richards, one of the hosts of the said noontime show, her popularity even grew bigger, making her name a part of the Filipino household. She gained followers across the country and around the world since then, a result of her magical split-screen partnership with Alden, touted as the “AlDub.”
“Maine has the lack of inhibition and (has) the openness to be a very good comedian,” Reyes said. “Aside from that, which is really important and quite a rarity nowadays, she’s intelligent. She’s not just another celebrity.”
He said that Maine is an intelligent young woman who knows exactly what she is doing and knows how to have fun while doing it. “Unlike a great number of performers who take their careers a matter of life and death, with Maine, it’s a choice because this is what she wants to do.”
Director Jose Javier Reyes with Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards at the set of their movie “My Bebe Love (#HugotPaMore).” PHOTO BY DON LEJANO/INQUIRER.net
It was the 17th day of shooting of My Bebe Love when INQUIRER.net paid Maine and Alden a visit. They shot several scenes from morning until evening, only leaving the set for a few hours during lunchtime for their Eat Bulaga stint.
Reyes is quite amazed with how Maine and Alden can keep their energy and composure on the set. “It’s fun. They are very exhausted… they are able to handle all the responsibilities and requirements and still go on the set and have a happy face.”
Reyes also shared that he asked Maine how she felt about Eat Bulaga’s charity concert at the Philippine Arena last October that drew more than 55,000 people.
“She says ‘I don’t know. I don’t know what this is about. I’m just enjoying it,'” he said, quoting Maine.
Unlike the servant role she takes on TV everyday, Maine plays the character of a rich girl, Anna, and the love interest of Dondi (Alden) in My Bebe Love. MMFF old-timers Ai ai de las Alas and Vic Sotto also headline the movie. DL
Email arvin.mendoza@inquirer.net
Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards. PHOTO BY DON LEJANO/INQUIRER.net
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