Comedy ‘forever a challenge’ for Maja Salvador

Maja Salvador

While she has already starred in a sitcom and a lighthearted soap opera, Maja Salvador admitted that comedy still makes her feel out of her depth.

“Doing a sitcom will forever be a challenge for me. To be honest, I would rather make people cry than laugh. Comedy is tough; you need to have the right timing. And you can’t force it—the more you think about it, the less funny you become,” Maja told the Inquirer at a press conference for “Open 24/7,” her new sitcom on GMA 7.

Thankfully, the actress found a safety net in her costars, veteran comedians Vic Sotto and Jose Manalo. “I depend on Bossing Vic’s and Jose’s energy and how they deliver their lines. But of course, you always need to be on your toes and ready when they ad-lib,” she pointed out. “You have to be a good listener and a quick thinker.”

“Together with our director, JR Reyes, Bossing and Jose help me be more confident when I face the camera,” added Maja, who recently appeared in the sitcom “Oh My Korona!” and the drama-comedy series “Niña, Niño,” both on TV5. “Comedy is Jose and Bossing’s world. I’m new to it, so I cling to them. I always ask questions.”

Gen Z costars

It also helped, Maja said, that Vic made her feel comfortable on the set. “What you see is what you get with Bossing. You really feel that you’re welcome. He makes you feel that he trusts you. That helps shake my shyness off, so I can do what the script requires of me, like if I have to push him or such,” she said. “It’s rare to find a coactor that you can joke with from the get-go.”

In “Open 24/7,” which airs every Sunday, Maja plays a kikay convenience store worker, who helps the socially awkward owner, Boss EZ (Vic), manage their zany Gen Z staff and customers.

Many of her younger costars like Sofia Pablo, Allen Ansay, Riel Lomadilla and Anjay Anson couldn’t help but feel a little bit starstruck working with Maja. She knows that feeling very well.

“I used to be like that, too, when I was just starting out. I didn’t know how to approach or interact with the veteran stars. There were a lot of mixed emotions. I was happy, scared and pressured to do well. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of them. But I took it as a challenge,” she said.

Her advice to newbie cast members: respect is important and uncertainty is just normal.

Mutual respect

“Sometimes, no matter how hard you prepare, you will still find yourself feeling your way around your character when you’re on the set. OK lang mangapa; I still do that to this day. I ask questions after my takes to know if I did OK,” she said. “You have to have a good attitude. You have to respect all the people you work with, from the actors to the production crew. At the end of the day, we’re all just working here. We’re all humans,” Maja said, adding that she has also learned a lot from her Gen Z costars.

“They’re younger, so they know the latest trends better. They know what’s new, so you have to adjust,” she said. “But I still feel respected. And good thing they call me ‘ate’ and not ‘tita!’”

Aside from her GMA 7 sitcom, Maja also hosts an ongoing game show on TV5, and is reportedly preparing for a new series for ABS-CBN. As such, some observers jokingly refer to her as the “Queen of All Networks.” But kidding aside, she said, working with different networks is an advantage.

“I’m thankful to be seen that way. I don’t have a network contract, and that’s better for me. I just hope to give joy wherever I go or work. I will go where I’m wanted and I’m always willing to collaborate,” she said. “There’s more freedom now. We see the three networks ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV5 collaborating, so that’s a good thing for actors who want more work. Tulungan kami.” INQ