‘Elise’ Grand Press Conference plus exclusive photos

Director Joel Ferrer, Laura Lehmann, Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee and Miko Raval. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

A sense of nostalgia… there will be a lot of that in ‘Elise’ with the decade it has been set which will make you reminisce, remember, and recall the time when you had your very own ‘Elise’ come into your life.

‘Elise’ in this movie is an intriguing and beautiful mysterious lass. She is someone who upon first glance you obviously know nothing about, but the feelings she will evoke in your own heart as you watch this movie will be all too familiar–those treasured feelings you will never forget and those seemingly “buried” emotions that are reawakened in you–and all these will come together in this movie.

For someone as well-known as Janine Gutierrez to portray a mysterious lady is believable and will not require a stretch of one’s imagination too much wondering if she can pull it off or not. Why so? Because beyond her physical attributes, Janine Gutierrez does have the acting genes in her, and to put it bluntly, she would not still be an actress both in television and the movies to this day if she has not proven her own merit. So, there is definitely more to Janine Gutierrez than her last name.

Regal Entertainment, Inc.’s latest movie offering ‘Elise’ almost feels like a “coming home” movie project for Janine Gutierrez because many of her showbiz relatives either got their biggest breaks in Regal or have had a majority of their movies produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc. So, to me, it only feels but right that Janine Gutierrez has been welcomed with open arms by Regal because of the long history her family has had with this prestigious film studio. And for Janine Gutierrez to be finally given her very own starring movie in ‘Elise’ is possibly a sign of greater things to come for her in her professional career.

There are not a lot of actresses that can truly say they are members of one of the several showbiz royalties in Philippine Cinema. Janine Gutierrez can proudly claim she is one. Showbiz is in her lineage. Naturally, the expectations will be there for Janine Gutierrez to deliver beautifully in ‘Elise’!

Director Joel Ferrer, Laura Lehmann, Janine Gutierrez and Enchong Dee. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

The beauty of Janine Gutierrez reminds me so much of the classic pin-up girls of many decades past. She has that striking nostalgic look about her that is unmistakable and easily identifiable to the Golden Age of Hollywood. That is why the onscreen character of ‘Elise’ is perfect role for Janine Gutierrez because she does that have that alluring and enchanting presence about her so reminiscent of that glorious era.

Janine Gutierrez has a pretty solid cast behind her. There are Enchong Dee who she has worked with in the past, Miko Raval, and two newcomers to the showbiz industry are making their movie debuts in ‘Elise’, Victor Anastacio, Miel Espinosa and Laura Lehmann who round up the main cast. Plus a most interesting bonus will be the special participations of Ms. Pilita Corrales (Janine’s paternal grandmother) and Jackie Lou Blanco (the half-sister of Janine’s father, Ramon Christopher Gutierrez).

I certainly look forward to having a good time watching this movie because this is after all a light romantic-comedy. Let’s see how the movie will pan out when it gets its nationwide release on February 6, 2019.

‘Elise’ is directed by Joel Ferrer, DGPI.

‘Elise’ is produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc.

Laura Lehmann, Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee and Miko Raval. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Now, here are my questions for Janine Gutierrez the main, star of ‘Elise’:

1) Coming as you are from a family background of celebrated showbiz personalities, did you ever dream or imagine in your childhood you will be an actress also in the future ? What propelled you eventually to join the industry ?

Janine Gutierrez: Nung bata pa ako everytime tinatanong ako kung mag a-artista ako, parati ko sinasabi na ayoko. Kasi gusto ko maging pasaway.

Kasi lahat na lang nakikita ko around me artista. I felt like… try ko kaya iba ? Parang kasi gusto ko lang dati ay iba ako, iba ako. But when I grew up I realized that kaya pala eto ginagawa ng parents ko, ng mga lolo ko, kasi masaya siya, and kung passion mo talaga siya sobrang fulfilling siya. Kung gusto mo talaga ginagawa mo, babalik din talaga sayo ang mga trabaho mo na gusto mo ma try.

So, it was also hard for me na madami ako na relatives na artista. Kasi sobra ang pressure ! Kahit na newbie ka pa lang, na medyo expected na marunong ka, or natural talent mo, kasi nakita na nila ang kakayahan ng grandparents mo at parents mo. So, I guess double-edged sword din siya because you have to prove yourself a little more kasi medyo may expectation.

Janine Gutierrez, Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

2) Who in your family would you say had the greatest influence on you in terms of your being an artist now ?

Janine Gutierrez: I guess my mom kasi nakita ko ang growth niya. Nung bata ako pinapanood ko yung mga loveteam movies niya. Yung may mga dance number pa. Yung mga favorite ko, Mother Lily, yung ‘Love Boat’ ni Mama and Papa. Until some day I grew up, yung mga roles niya naging very dramatic na. Uhmm.. naging awarding actress siya so I saw that despite yung tagal niya sa showbiz hindi nawala yung passion niya at pagsisipag niya. So, dun ko na din talaga nakita na subukan ko kaya.

3) What are the personality traits would you say you share in your real life with the onscreen character ‘Elise’ you portrayed which made it easier for you to do the movie ?

Janine Gutierrez: Si ‘Elise’ kasi ang character niya direk, di ba? Very palaban, matapang, walang inuurungan… ganun. Eh, ako kasi kung meron ako gusto suntukin, hanggang sa isip ko lang siya gusto suntukin. Si Elise, kung meron siya gusto suntukin, susuntukin talaga niya ! Atsaka she is not apologetic for herself and talagang ipaglalaban niya ang mga mahal niya sa buhay.

Janine Gutierrez and Enchong Dee, Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

Kaya, I guess dun pareho kami sa ipaglalaban namin ang mga mahal namin sa buhay. Pero ako, wala pa ako nasusuntok. So, yun kasi ang difference.

Janine Gutierrez, Photo by Joseph R. Atilano