‘BarDa’s’ make-believe kind of love

Barbie Forteza (left) and David Licauco, dubbed as BarDa. —BARBIE FORTEZA/INSTAGRAM

Barbie Forteza and David Licauco’s “BarDa” loveteam is such a “kilig provider” in their GMA 7 TV shows. The giddiness level rises as they star in their very first movie together, “That Kind of Love,” which opens in cinemas on July 10.

Barbie portrays Mila, a dating coach/psychologist, while David plays Adam, the CEO of a shipping company. He requests her to find his perfect match and be his corporate secretary. Their story reaches a pivotal moment when they go on a simulated date and realize that their feelings have deepened beyond their professional roles.

Barbie and David are not lovers, but they certainly prove that friendship is the best kind of love

Here are quotes from Barbie (B) and David (D):

B: The kind of love I have for David did not happen instantly. As our friendship evolved, our bond became solid. I’m sort of his mentor. I guide him. I like how he does not take advantage of me. He cares for me, but he does not flirt with me. There’s no malice at all between us.

D: Barbie is girlfriend material. Of course, it would be ideal if we were really a couple, but I respect her relationship with Jak (Roberto). People wonder why we have chemistry even if we are not in love with each other. That’s the beauty of our love team. We make the audience “believe.”

B: If my boyfriend Jak was not supportive of my love team with David, I won’t be able to do the things I do onscreen with ease. Knowing that he understands enables me to pull it off.

D: I am not saying I am single. What you see is what you get. Let my Instagram posts say the rest.

B: David is a very private person. On his behalf, I request to respect his right to privacy. He likes to keep his personal life separate from his career.

D: It was a thrill to shoot in some of the famous K-drama locations in Korea, especially in Itaewon, because “Itaewon Class” is one of my favorite series.

B: There’s a bit of pressure for David and us to maintain the impact of our love team while keeping our boundaries intact. I cannot say if I will fall for David if I didn’t have a boyfriend. I’m not in the position to answer that right now.

Cindy Miranda —VIVA

Dark spirits unleashed in ‘Kuman Thong’

There’s more than romance for Xian Lim and his new girl, Iris Lee. They also collaborated on Viva Films’ “Kuman Thong” (opens in cinemas on July 3). The couple wrote the screenplay and Xian directed it.

The horror film’s title literally means “golden young boy.” It’s about a mom’s desperate attempt to reunite with her dead son by unleashing dark spirits. Topbilled by Cindy Miranda, Althea Ruedas and Thai actor Max Nattapol and filmed in Thailand, it captures the authenticity of Thai mythology. Brace yourself for a different kind of Thai spice.

Here are quotes from Cindy (C) and Althea(A):

C: Xian is cool as a director. He’s open to suggestions and very hands-on. He and Iris work together well. After being directed by Xian, I don’t believe the negative write-ups that he’s difficult to work with.

A: Since my portrayal in “Dollhouse” (DH) got rave reviews, I was a bit pressured to outdo myself in this movie. It’s a different genre from DH so I challenged myself to do better.

C: I started out as a sexy actress, but I was not really comfy doing that. I don’t think I’m sexy enough. So I’m glad that I was able to transition to mainstream. It’s always been my dream to become an actress, not a beauty queen. But my winning in a pageant paved my way to show biz.

A: Horror is the hardest genre. You have to know the right way of shouting without being OA. You must achieve the right mix of emotions. Timing is the main ingredient.

C: Our movie is more of a thriller than horror. It’s not the jump scare type of film. Thais are very disciplined to work with. They strictly follow working hours. When it’s time to pack up, there’s no extension.