Why Coco and Jodi prefer to shoot latest rom-com flick without a script
Coco Martin (left) and Jodi Sta. Maria
“Rehearsing the scenes take away the magic,” said Coco Martin, who added that he and Jodi Sta. Maria, his costar in the romantic comedy flick “Labyu with an Accent,” preferred to shoot the entire movie without any prepared script.
“For me, it’s important that a scene comes out really natural, organic. If you study the script thoroughly or if you rehearse the scene, yes, you will be able to perfect it, but sometimes, this takes away the magic. With Jodi, I simply let her bring her character to life. Since we didn’t have a script, I would let her take the lead, and then I’d react to whatever she gave me. When we reviewed the scenes, we were all amazed,” Coco, who also directed the film, told reporters during a recent media gathering.
To drive the point further, Coco cited his kissing scene with Jodi as an example. He claimed it wasn’t part of the plan and happened so unexpectedly. “We had no guide. When we did it, kinilig ako. Because Jodi is such an excellent actor, she was able to affect me that way. When I was with her, I was like a sponge. I just absorbed and reacted to what she gave me, and the result was good chemistry,” he pointed out.
Jodi, on the other hand, said that while she has already acted alongside Coco in a previous project, she couldn’t pass on the chance to be directed by him. “When the opportunity came, I knew I had to grab it. On the set, he would just describe the scene to me and then we would collaborate. We simply allowed the scene to bring out the emotions that were needed, of course, while staying faithful to our characters. Nagsasaluhan kami. I guess that’s why the kilig and laughter came out so naturally.”
Based on personal experience
Coco said he came up with the story concept already with Jodi in mind. “This is actually inspired by my experience when I worked in Canada years back. You all know that I started in show biz as an indie actor. My mindset back then was to get a job that would enable me to go abroad and earn enough money for my family. That was why I joined this industry,” he began. “I knew that Jodi was perfect for the role because, like me, she also has a good story to tell about her experiences abroad. This is really based on some of our personal experiences.”
Jodi agreed: “As actors, we are aware of all the hardships and sacrifices of people who work abroad. Coco and I were once in their shoes, and I guess, that’s the beauty of this project. It’s relatable not just to us, but also to a lot of our would-be viewers.”
In “Labyu with an Accent,” Jodi plays Tricia, a US-based businesswoman who returns to the Philippines to heal a broken heart. She ends up meeting Gabo, who offers her his “ultimate jowa experience” (the girl pays him to be his girlfriend for three days and two nights). Tricia gets smitten by Gabo, but still chooses to return home.
Wanting to reunite with his lady love, Gabo accepts his cousin’s offer to live with her in the United States. There, Tricia convinces Gabo to disguise as a wealthy businessman, and as her new boyfriend, in order to prevent her domineering father from taking back her ex-fiance into the family business. Will true love actually blossom from a relationship that is created through dishonesty and pretension?
“I don’t accept a project for the sake of accepting it. No. 1, it has to be something I’ve never done before. No. 2, it has to be something that will send a good message to my audience. We don’t do movies just to waste money. We do them to tell a story that we think really has to be told,” said Jodi when asked why she said “yes” to the project.
Worth the money
“Like Jodi, I always think of something new to offer my viewers,” said Coco. “I’ve done ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ for seven years. There, I was able to do all the action scenes I could think of. This is why I’m very conscious that my audience here will not see Cardo (his character in the program). This is a totally different offering. I made sure it’s worth their money.”
Coco’s teamup with Jodi is definitely something to watch out for. After all, the two actors are among the most in demand in the industry.
“Fortunately, I was able to rest before shooting this. ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’ was long finished when this was pitched to me in August,” Jodi pointed out. “I wasn’t doing anything at that time and I found the story refreshing. It was light and cute, and I just knew doing it was going to be fun. It was a wonderful experience to work with Coco. He is one of the most hardworking people I know. I told him how amazed I am that he is able to manage his time so well.”
She continued: “On the set, he would teach us our blocking, give us our lines, and then when the camera starts to roll, he would act with us. I told him, ‘How do you do it? Because not everyone can.’ I’m thankful to be given the chance to work with him. I hope this won’t be the last.”
Coco admitted that he also needed a lot of help. “I really wanted to give the audience a different experience that’s why I consulted Direk Malu (Sevilla). I pleaded with her to help me even though I knew she was still recovering from a recent surgery. This was when I was sure that we would shoot in America. I knew I’d have a hard time communicating with all the American crew and staff,” he said, laughing.
“Labyu with an Accent,” produced by Star Cinema, is an official entry to the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, which will start on Christmas Day. INQ
