As the star of director Irene Villamor’s newest film Midnight Girls, actress Jodi Sta. Maria said it was the concept of the film that intrigued her right away when she first saw the script. The film follows the journey of four Pinays who find work in a hostess bar in Nagoya, Japan. Jodi plays the role of Vicky, who is the older sister figure of the group. Jodi is also joined by co-stars Loisa Andalio, Sanya Lopez, and Jane Oineza.
“When it was first pitched to me, sa pitch pa lang, sabi ko kakaiba. It’s something that I have never done before and it’s about time to bring out yung stories ng mga babae sa Japan. At hindi lamang yun eh, maaaring sila yung naging subject ng pelikula, pero kung titingnan mo talaga sa mas malaking lente, tina-tackle dito yung sakripisyo, yung sitwasyon ng mga OFWs natin sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa. And we really had to treat this story with so much respect kasi storya ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino na nasa labas ng bansa natin,” Jodi shared during the Midnight Girls grand media launch held last April 15 in Quezon City.
More than just sharing true-to-life stories of actual OFWs, Jodi shared her hope that the film can help change the stigma long associated with Filipinas working in Japan. “We also wanted to humanize (them). Kasi minsan may mga stigma na kasama yung storya ng mga babae sa Japan. So we really wanted to humanize them and makita na itong mga taong ito ay may mga totoong pangarap. Itong mga taong ito ay nag-sa-sakripisyo, hindi lang para sa sarili pero para sa mga mahal nila sa buhay,” she added.
READ: Jodi Sta. Maria inspires the crowd at her first rally: ‘Hindi na natin ito puwede palagpasin’
As part of their preparation for the film, Jodi revealed that she and her co-stars did a three-day immersion in an actual club in Nagoya, Japan before they started shooting Midnight Girls.
“Bukod dun sa kailangan namin aralin magsalita ng Nihongo, meron din kaming ginawang immersion. So we spent parang three nights sa isang omise, kung saan kami nagtatrabaho. Walang nakakaalam sa mga Japanese clients na pumunta dun kung sino kami or kung bakit kami nandun. Ang alam lang nila, mga bago kaming salta na babae. So kailangan namin mag-show up. Kung saan kailangan namin pumila at pipili yung Hapon kung sino sa amin ang gusto niya maka-table. May part din dun na i-e-entertain mo talaga sila. Kaya ang thick lang talaga ng language barrier. Pero hindi naman kami pinabayaan ng mga mama namin dun. In-assist talaga nila kami,” she shared.
During the immersion, Jodi also got to experience firsthand how it felt to entertain Japanese customers and to dance for money.
“Bukod dun, kung ano yung ipapagawa, pag sinabi nilang kumanta ka, kakanta ka. Kung pasasayawin ka nila, sumayaw ka. And then there was one night also which was part of our immersion, nagkaroon kami ng parang mini-show na may center stage dun wherein the four of us had to perform. And then dun namin na-experience na yung mga chopsticks na sinisingit nila. Yun yung parang tip, lapad. Dahil dun sa immersion namin, nagpapasalamat din ako dun dahil one month akong hindi gumastos para may pambili ako ng mga kape, ganyan. So kumita din ako sa Japan (laughs),” she added.
Midnight Girls opens in cinemas nationwide starting May 13.