Cathy Garcia-Sampana notes differences in directing KathNiel, KDLex, Bea-John Lloyd

Cathy Garcia-Sampana with KathNiel and KDLex

In all her years directing movies that featured some of the best love teams in the local entertainment industry, director Cathy Garcia-Sampana can pinpoint the differences that each of them has.

Garcia-Sampana recently marked a new achievement in her directorial career after she officially added a short film project to her list of full-length films.

During the media conference of her newest short film “Toss Coin,” starring Kapamilya love team Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada (KDLex), on December 10, the award-winning director was asked what the differences were between working with senior love teams and Gen Z love teams.

Despite not specifying the differences, director Cathy noted that it is different working with senior actors like Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz, and working with the likes of millennial actors Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (KathNiel). 

“Maraming differences kasi syempre when you’re working with senior actors at that time, na I was starting, Bea-John Lloyd, nakikita mo na agad ‘yung difference, then nagkaroon ako ng KathNiel naramdaman ko rin ‘yung difference. And now yes, kasi just like our audience, nagkakaroon ng preference changes ganon rin ‘yung mga batang to,” said the director.

The Philippines’ highest-grossing filmmaker noted that her directorial approach is not working for this generation’s actors anymore, mainly Padilla, whom she worked with for the 2014 “She’s Dating the Gangster” and 2018 “The Hows of Us.”

“Naramdaman ko na my process before is not working for them anymore. Nagsimula ‘yon sa KathNiel, sabi ko, ‘Ay hindi na umuubra sa kanila ‘yung dati kong formula.’ Hindi na nagreact positively lalo na si Daniel yung dating ginagawa ko kila John Lloyd,” she stated.

Working with KDLex

Now that Direk Cathy is working with “KDLex,” she then commented on the professionalism of the two young actors, noting that they did not give her or the entire production a hard time doing the short film.

“Itong mga batang ‘to, hindi ako nagadjust sa kanila. Kasi kaming mga taga production lagi namin hinahanap mga artistang hindi magpapahirap samin, kasi ang hirap na nung trabaho namin tapos dadagdagan pa ng may mga atutot na bata, ayaw namin yon. In fairness, sa dalawang ‘to sobrang gaan nilang katrabaho, so it made life easier for everyone,” affirmed the director.

In a separate interview, the director weighed in on the highly publicized breakup of Bernardo and Padilla. She said she messaged the former couple separately after hearing the news, and despite their separation, if the two are open to a project in the future, she will not be closing her doors.

“Toss Coin” is one of the three microfilms featured in “Hong Kong in the Lens by Asian Directors,” produced by CJ ENM Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.