‘Wild and Free’ Grand Press Conference

Sanya Lopez, Derrick Monasterio, Director Connie S.A. Macatuno and Ashley Ortega. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

The soon-to-be-released ‘Wild and Free’ from Regal Entertainment, Inc. is a hard-edged sexy-romantic movie that stars Derrick Monasterio, Sanya Lopez, Ashley Ortega, and Juancho Trivino. A solid, capable, and potential-filled young cast comprises this movie and it is by no accident that these four artists were brought together for this movie.

I believe there is a goal here – an objective, if you will – to see how far the said four main young actors can take their acting skills. It will prove whether they will be able to reach a new echelon, artistically, in this movie.

Also, my gut feel tells me that ‘Wild and Free’ is not going to be one of your run-of-the-mill sexy-romantic movies that will overly saturate the moviegoers with aimless and pointless sexy scenes just to give moviegoers “kilig moments”. There is a feeling of depth I got watching the official trailer that there is much more to this movie than one can expect.

The vibe I am getting after having seen its official full-length trailer at the Grand Press Con is that ‘Wild and Free’ reminds me of influences from a few local and foreign movies of a few decades back. It especially calls to my mind an early 90’s foreign movie called ‘Sliver’ which starred Sharon Stone and William Baldwin. I just can’t but help compare the two movies because some cinematic aspects of ‘Wild and Free’ strongly remind me of this said foreign movie.

In particular, I do not think the onscreen character of Derrick Monasterio is all that “innocent” to begin with. I can sense that there is something devious, deceptive, and potentially dangerous about the role he characterizes in ‘Wild and Free’. And, I am guessing that perhaps midway or a little past the halfway mark of ‘Wild and Free’ the general tone of this movie could take a drastic turn and become suspense-filled ?

I may be wrong, but there are a few indications as were shown in the full-length trailer of ‘Wild and Free’ that strongly suggest his onscreen character is not all what he seems to be, initially. And, of course, whatever the lead onscreen character will do will have a cause-and-effect in the movie’s direction. This aspect of uncertainty is what makes this movie all the more so enticing to await and see for moviegoers.

In the case of Sanya Lopez, her character is not the typical “damsel in distress” as some might readily glean from the official full-length trailer of ‘Wild and Free’. Sure, she may be emotionally vulnerable because of her onscreen character’s longing for love. On the other hand, I do not think she is a victim at all or even remotely close to being classified as one. She is well aware of what she is doing at the moment but I do not think she has fully thought things through. In short, her onscreen character does not display she has the gift of foresight and she chooses to live “in the moment” only and relish being just wild and free.

In this movie ‘Wild and Free’ I wonder if Sanya Lopez will show us a different dimension to her acting chops that has not yet been explored and seen before ? I am definitely curious about this because for me, tapping “hidden talents” of artists is a must to ensure the longevity of their careers. I believe Sanya Lopez will give her strongest acting capacity to date in this movie.

Derrick Monasterio and Sanya Lopez. Will their pairing ignite something special that will leave moviegoers so “kilig”, excited, and electrified ? Soon, we will all know if can they lit up the big screen and set it “on fire”!

‘Wild and Free’ is scheduled for a nationwide release on October 10, 2018.

This movie is directed by Connie S.A. Macatuno and is produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc.

Derrick Monasterio, Sanya Lopez, Ashley Ortega and Juancho Trivino. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

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Now, here are my questions for Derrick Monasterio and Sanya Lopez during the Q&A portion of the Grand Press Conference for ‘Wild and Free’.

1) How were you able to mentally prepare for this movie ?

Sanya Lopez: Of course, ako nag prepare talaga ako, mentally. Nanood ako ng ibat-ibat na intimate scenes. Nanood ako ng mga movies na makakatulong sa akin at malapit sa character ko. At the same time, nag workshop kami at nandun din si Direk Connie para tulungan kami sa mga bagay na nahihirapan kami.

Nagtatanong din ako sa mga friends ko na nakaranas ng mga ganito na eksena. Kasi siyempre hindi naman parati ganito ang istorya na nangyayari sa totoo na buhay, eh !

So, yun lang ang preparations na ginawa ko.

Derrick Monasterio: Same. We did workshops. Well, kasi… hindi naman kasi unfamiliar sa akin yung mga ginawa na scenes. Kasi, of course, as a millennial most of you guys here na ka age namin can relate to them at ay ‘Wild and Free’ din. So, sa akin lang siguro, kumbaga, sa experiences ginawa namin siya as an art sa movie na ito.

2) Besides acting, what are some of your hidden talents ?

Sanya Lopez: Kumakain ako ng manok ! Charot ! Hahaha… Buhay na manok. Hahaha! Ako, in terms of hidden talents, sa akin naman po kasi nagluluto ako, mahilig ako sa art pero hindi ko masyado in-express yun. Mahilig din ako sa fashion.

Derrick Monasterio: Siguro, nag p-paint din ako. Naka benta na din ako ng mga paintings. Nag i-impersonate din ako. Yan ang isa sa mga hidden talents ko.

Derrick Monasterio, Sanya Lopez, Ashley Ortega and Juancho Trivino. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano

 Sanya Lopez, Derrick Monasterio, Director Connie S.A. Macatuno and Ashley Ortega. Photo by Joseph R. Atilano