Director Mae Cruz on Kim Chiu and Xian Lim: ‘Meron talaga silang chemistry’

After taking the helm for Star Cinema's opening salvo this year, Bride for Rent director Mae Cruz admitted the romantic-comedy project couldn't come at a better time. “Nung in-offer itong project na ito sa akin, they told me the storyline and then parang my vision for the film was to touch on marriage kasi nga this is my state right now, I'm in the process of marrying someone, too. I waited for it, I'm 40 years old na. I really waited for the right one. Parang gusto ko lang i-share yung mga views ko and values ko on it, na I'm hopeful about it and I believe if marami ng naghiwalay, marami ng nag-divorce and then parang madaming broken marriages, I still believe that I can happen kaya very timely itong project na ito. It's my chance to share sa tao yung belief ko na yun,” she shared.

She shared how easy it was for her to direct the film's lead stars Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. “It's been a happy experience working with the two of them. Ang pinakagusto ko sa kanilang dalawa is sobra silang kumportable sa isa't isa, meron talaga silang chemistry. Yung tipong alam nila kung paano nila susuportahan ang isa't isa sa bawat eksena. At saka makikita mo na nag-uusap sila about the scenes we do and then they get along. Same wavelength sila. While we're blocking and doing set-up, andun na sila, alam mo na magkaibigan sila talaga. And I think that's what’s important na magkatrabaho sila professionally pero off-cam meron silang genuine respect and friendship,” she said.

During the recent presscon for the movie, Kim admitted that she was touched that the director adjusted plans for her wedding just to accommodate the schedule for the film's release. “This is my last movie na single ako, parang swan song siya, napaka-timely na yung film is about marriage and then I'm getting married so malapit siya sa puso ko. It's a very important film for me, hindi ko puwedeng pabayaan at palagpasin yung chance. My future husband is very understanding. It's a very entertaining movie. After everything that has happened in the past year, ibang genre naman ang ino-offer ng Star Cinema ngayon. Sa MMFF walang ganitong genre na pinalabas so parang it’s a new flavor, it's a different genre,” she said.

In Bride for Rent, Kim plays the role of Rocky, a determined young woman who dreams of landing a big role someday. In Kim's previous movie Bakit Di Ka Crush ng Crush Mo, she played a similar role but director Mae Cruz said they did their best to differentiate the two characters. “Kasi dun sa Bakit Di Ka Crush I think ang malaking part was yung comedy, so dito mas pinush namin yung romance kaya yung character niya is ganun ka-aggressive ara maiba din siya dun sa character niya in Bakit Di Ka Crush. At saka dun, minake over siya dun, so physically meron ng kakaiba kaagad, dito she's very animated too pero siguro ang naiba pinush pa namin ang comedy. Kung doon nakakatawa nag itsura niya, dito siyempre she's pretty pero yung character niya yung nakakatawa, nakakatuwa kasi si Kim has learned as an actress, yung mga ginagawa niya dun madami dun ina-adlib niya, she's become very comfortable in this genre and I'd like to say it's because she has found her niche,” she said.

When asked what she thought of Xian's performance, direk Mae said she was happy with the outcome. “I've never worked with him pero tuwang tuwa ako sa performance na binigay nilang dalawa kaya wala akong maisip na masama eh. Both of them gave 101%, talagang makita mo yung effort and desire nila to improve and try to do things right talaga. Kaya ang success nito ma-a-attrbute ko rin sa success na binigay nila. They found their niche sa rom-com and yung comedy natural na natural sa kanila. It is a niche na sa age group nila wala silang kapareho. Masuwerte sila because niche na nila yun. And the friendship is genuine and the chemistry parang natural na natural,” she said.

Source: http://push.abs-cbn.com/features/10235/director-mae-cruz-on-kim-chiu-and-xian-lim-meron-talaga-silang-chemistry/