With her first film with writer and director Brillante Mendoza all set to hit the cinemas this month, Until She Remembers star Charo Santos shared some of the major preparations she did before working with the 2009 Cannes Best Director awardee. Charo revealed that she had made sure to sit down with her FPJ's Batang Quiapo director and co-star Coco Martin and talk about his previous experience working with direk Brillante.
“Talagang kinausap ako ni Coco. Sabi niya, ‘Idol ko yun. Siya ang mentor ko. Siya ang nagturo sa akin. Basta dumating ka lang sa set ng wala kang iniisip at saka huwag kang mag-me-makeup ha. Pag nakita niyang mag-makeup ka, pabubura niya yan. Dapat you have to come as raw as possible,” she recalled during the Until She Remembers presscon held earlier this month in Quezon City.
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Charo also shared why she was not intimidated by direk Brillante’s unorthodox no-script style of directing because of Coco’s similar technique. “Kaya sanay na sanay na ako (laughs) na dumating sa set na walang script. We were guided by direk. But yes, we were collaborators in the creation of the film. Sa naka-adjust na ako sa technique of improvisation where you have an understanding of the narrative and therefore, the assignment of the performer is really to get to know their characters. Talagang malalim ang pag-unawa mo sa emotional journey na hinihingi ng narrative. Yun ang katungkulan namin bilang mga artista, ang bigyang buhay ang role,” she added.
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The Until She Remembers actress said that despite the actors not being given a script, the atmosphere on the set was relaxed and easy. “Tapos, wala lang. Ang gaan eh. Magaan sa set. It was not scary at all. Parang we were all collaborating in doing this project. Very intuitive. Walang overanalysis, overthinking. Ayaw niya. Magagalit siya. He wants it raw. Ayaw niya yung masyadong pinag-iisipan, pinag-aaralan. So kung ano yung bukal ng damdamin mo, kung ano yung hinihingi ng eksena, yun ang binigay mo,” she explained.
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The former ABS-CBN president also added this was also the reason she was able to get almost everyone on the set to join her in creating her TikTok videos. “Naku, kung alam niyo lang. Kahit ayaw nila mag-TikTok, napipilitan (laughs). Ang hindi alng ako nagwagi ay mapa-TikTok si direk (Brillante). Talagang tumatakbo. Pero huwag ka, si Mr. Wilson Tieng, our producer, napa-TikTok ko! (laughs),” she said.
Charo also shared that her first reaction when she was first offered the LGBTQ-themed project after an unexpected conversation with co-star Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo.
“Naku, wish fulfillment! Kasi a year or two before this happened, nag-mi-meeting kami ni tita Boots tapos sabi niya, ‘Charo, sana bago tayo mag-retire, makagawa tayo ng pelikula together. At sana hindi tayo mag-ate. Sana lovers.’ And actually, I was kind of shocked. Nagulat ako that the suggestion came from her. Pero, I don’t know. Parang na-manifest siguro. Kasi nag-align. Binigay ng universe. Dumating yung offer ni direk Brillante and of course, another check off the bucket list namin. And then they offered us to work with Barbie (Forteza),” she said.
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Watch Charo Santos-Concio in Until She Remembers produced by Solar Studios Inc. and Center Stage Productions, with Wilson Tieng as executive producer. The film also stars Barbie Forteza and Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo. Written and directed by Brillante Mendoza. The film opens starting February 25, Wednesday, in cinemas nationwide.