No hard sell for Ruru-Yassi tandem

Ruru Madrid (left) and Yassi Pressman —photos courtesy of VIVA/GMA

Back in the ’90s, watching movies on Betamax or VHS was the in thing. While we can no longer relive those days, we can at least recapture the joy through memories. Let GMA Pictures and Viva Films’ fantasy rom-com movie “Video City” transport us back to the prestreaming era.

Showing in cinemas on Sept. 20, it is directed by Rayniel Brizuela with Yassi Pressman and Ruru Madrid as the lead stars. It tells the story of Han (Ruru), a film student who travels back to the ’90s, where he meets Ningning (Yassi), who will change his life.

As the film’s tagline goes, “Please be kind, rewind.” It will turn back the clock as Han and Ningning wish that fate would be kind enough to make their love defy time.

Here are quotes from Yassi (Y), Ruru (RU) and Rayniel (R):

Y: Millennials and Gen Zs can learn from the “Batang ’90s” how to slow down. Kids these days are always on the go and have short attention spans due to social media. Our movie will remind you that sometimes you think you can only reach up to here, then God shows you that you can go farther.

RU: My teamup with Yassi is not a hard sell. During our look test, we already felt the connection. We did not plan how to make the audience kilig, it just came naturally. More on puso kami and our trust in each other as actors.

R: Unlike other time-travel movies that focus more on the fantasy element, the heart of our story is the incredible connection of Han and Ningning, even if they are from different eras.

Y: If I could revisit my past, I won’t change a thing. All my experiences whether good or bad shaped me to who I am now.

RU: I wish I could travel back to the time when cowboys ruled in the West. I want to know how they managed to survive and how they remained so cool.

R: I want to travel back to the 1800s and join the revolutionaries. There are many interesting stories from that era.

Barbie Forteza (left) and David Licauco

Barbie on remaking Sharon-Robin starrer

After the breakthrough love team of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco made viewers swoon in “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” they’re back to raise “kilig levels.” The #BarDa duo is stepping out of their comfort zone in the Kapuso network’s remake of the iconic Sharon Cuneta-Robin Padilla movie, “Maging Sino Ka Man” (premieres on Sept. 11 and airs from Monday to Friday at 8 p.m.).

Follow the story of Monique and Carding, who are from different worlds. She is an heiress of a business empire whose life is in danger, while he is a thief who looks after orphans. The two are fated to meet and discover a common past that could either build or tear them apart.

Barbie and David’s loveteam is definitely lovelier the second time around.

Here’s my chat with Barbie:

Do you feel pressured to do the remake of a blockbuster?

Of course, there’s pressure, but in a good way. It’s not because of fear of comparison but rather, if we would be able to give justice to the TV adaptation.

How will you give a different flavor to the role originally played by Sharon Cuneta?

My characters were tweaked from the original. Monique isn’t a famous singer anymore, but an aspiring painter. Her disguised character is now Dino, a real guy. So, my characters will be very different.

When it comes to love, can you live up to what the title of your show connotes?

I can accept the past of the person I love to a certain extent. Pero huwag naman sana serial killer (laughs)! One thing’s for sure, when I love, paninindigan ko hanggang dulo as long as he does not hurt me.

Students’ shenanigans in ‘Secret Campus’

There’s a flip side to academe life in the four-part miniseries, “Secret Campus” (streaming on Vivamax). Megged by Joey Reyes, it’s about a chat site where anonymous students share titillating yet harrowing stories. Whether it’s fabricated or real, that’s no big deal. The shock value of the story is all that matters.

Topbilled by Angela Morena, Ataska, Angelica Hart and Azi Acosta, let the four “schoolgirls” take you on a “campus tour,” este detour.

Here are quotes from Joey (J), Azi (AA), Angelica (AH) and Ataska (A):

J: The four stories depict the struggles of millennials and Gen Z. One is about how long must we pay utang na loob to our parents. The next is about a student who falls for her professor. The other two are about a probinsiyana adjusting in Manila and a broke student who is lured to prostitution.

AA: The character I play reflects the sad reality that some parents consider their kids as a retirement plan. They make sumbat so their kids would feel obliged to take care of them.

AH: Just like the character I play, I had to fend for myself in order to survive. During my teatro days, I did odd jobs so I could pursue my dream of becoming an actress.

A: I can relate to my role because we are both in love with the idea of being in love. But I’m not as desperate as my character in the series is.

J: Since I’m a professor, I am aware of the shenanigans of students. That’s what prompted me to do this series.