Allen and Juday’s fave topic

Judy Ann Santos (left) and Allen Dizon

Internationally acclaimed actor Allen Dizon has nothing but praise for actress Judy Ann Santos, his costar in Brillante Ma Mendoza’s coming film, “Maguindanaw.”

He plays a soldier and she, his beleaguered wife, in the indie drama on the Marawi conflict.

Allen recalls that Juday, as she is called by fans, is a pleasure to work with.

“Masarap katrabaho, napakagaling umarte at professional,” he says.

Juday returns the compliment, commending Allen as a hard worker. “He would travel all the way from Pampanga to our set in Manila.”

She recounts that they would often chat about their children between takes.

Santos (left) and Dizon in “Maguindanaw”

Allen relates: “‘Pag walang eksenang kinukunan, lagi kaming nagkwe-kwentuhan about family. We are both happily married and raising young kids. So we always talked about being parents.”

He is amazed by his costar’s talent. “I got excited whenever we had a scene together. Alam ko kasi na napakahusay niya at makakahugot ako ng tamang emosyon ‘pag magkaeksena kami.”

Juday reports that the Cannes-winning director plans to premiere “Maguindanaw” in a festival abroad.

Allen also topbills another Brillante Mendoza film, “Alpha (The Right to Kill),” where he portrays a morally conflicted policeman. —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.