JOHN Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo are headed for the big time.
Star Cinema, the home of wholesome entertainment, has launched the team-up in a highly-anticipated romance directed by recent box office director Laurenti Dyogi.
First seen in the top-rated soap "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay," followed by "It Might Be You" and, on the big screen, in the twinbill "My First Romance," John Lloyd and Bea are now ripe to headline their own movie. Their director has noted his stars' development, and it's not just in the acting department.
"I'm really happy that they have really grown a lot, not just as performers but they've also grown closer to become friends. It's nice to see them interacting more, whereas before they did not even bother to exchange each other's phone numbers," revealed Direk Lauren.
It's nice to be working with John Lloyd and Bea, said the director, not just because he is very comfortable working with them, whom he considers his "mga anak," but also because they are very serious about their profession.
"John Lloyd has the makings of another Aga Muhlach, a good-looking romantic lead. He looks like the screen idols of the '60s - tall, mestizo, malinis. Bea naman, wow, she can do comedy pala. And you know, this girl always gives me more. Kapag sinasabi kong 'let's do this scene again,' she does and she does it even better than the last. She can be another Maricel Soriano in the future," related Direk Lauren.
With this assessment, the future really looks bright for the two. Direk Lauren hopes to see them doing more serious roles in the future. But for the meantime, John Lloyd and Bea feel lucky and at the same time pressured, to be headlining Star Cinema's latest release. Although the story, by Joey Javier Reyes, is light - John Lloyd and Bea play MRT commuters who bumps into each other and fall in love even if at first they discover how poles apart they are - the two did not leave anything to chance. John Lloyd said through this movie, he has learned to give importance to "small scenes."
"'Yung mga maliliit na eskena, akala ko ok lang, madali lang. I used to take forgranted those scenes that were not what you might term big," he admitted. "But I've learned that I should give them focus because they are important in establishing the big scenes."
Meanwhile, for someone who has not fallen in love, Bea has learned to develop better rapport with her screen partner.
The two admitted that in the beginning they had not feel comfortable working with each other.
"John Lloyd would keep to himself in one comer during taping breaks," recalled Bea. "Loner siya."
At that time, John Lloyd was going steady with Ciara Sotto. The two had broken up several months ago, a development which broke John Lloyd's heart.
"I must admit that Bea was a big help in my recovery," he said.
"I'm more open now. I feel comfortable with her now. I guess we have found our common wavelength."
In the movie, John Lloyd and Bea are opposites who find love in each other. Will the same thing happen in real life? Who knows?
"Now That I Have You" is opening today, Aug. 11, in theaters. It also stars Nikki Valdez, Kristopher Peralta, and Lui Villaruz.
Source: Malaya, Aug 11 2004
Copyright © 2003-2004 -- Beautiful. All rights reserved. Hosted by Diaryland.com.
