MANILA, Philippines -- For their debut film as a "love team," Kim Chiu and Xian Lim will bring to life scenarios that will help answer the question, "Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo?"
Xian Lim and Kim Chiu. File photo
The question, as it is phrased, is also the title of the humor and "self-help" book by college professor and TV host Ramon Bautista, which Chiu said is the inspiration for the Joyce Bernal-directed romantic-comedy.
"Ito, tungkol 'to sa istorya na inspired sa book ni Ramon Bautista. Tungkol ito sa mga taong nagtatanong, 'Bakit hindi ako crush ng crush ko?' So dito sa pelikulang 'to, mapapanood nila 'yung mga sagot sa tanong nila," the 23-year-old actress told reporters at the sidelines of her recent pictorial for the movie.
According to Lim, the film also takes its cue from love stories sent in by fans to Bautista. "Kanya-kanyang stories ng pag-ibig, kung paano sila nasasawi, kung paano sila nabibigo ng pag-ibig. Siyempre may mga happy moments din, so siyempre inspired 'yung story namin doon sa sinulat niya," he said.
Lim said the interaction between the two lead characters will also touch on the concept of "friend zone" as detailed in Bautista's book. "Dapat hindi ka malalagay doon ng crush mo, kasi pag nalagay ka roon, delikado na raw," he said.
In the film produced by ABS-CBN's film production outfit, Star Cinema, Chiu said she will sport a drastically different look.
"Ay, sobra! Kung dati sa 'Ina, Kapatid, Anak' (primetime drama series), sobrang linis ko, unat na unat, dito, kulot na kulot, 'yung wala nang bukas magkulot, 'yung last mo na magkulot today," she said, laughing.
"Tapos iba ang atake ko dito, sobrang kahit ako nagulat, kaya nagpapasalamat ako kay Direk Joyce kasi inalalayan niya ako dito," the actress added.
Admitting comedy is a genre she finds challenging, Chiu said her look in the film helped her convincingly portray a funny character. "'Di ko kayang magpatawa, pero this time sobrang kahit ako natatawa ako sa sarili ko," she said.
Asked to draw from his own experience to answer the question tackled by the film, Lim said, "I think iba't iba naman ang istorya natin sa buhay, eh. Maybe some people are luckier than others."
Chiu, for her part, brought up a variety of reasons: "Siyempre iba-iba 'yun, eh. Minsan 'di ka crush dahil sa itsura mo, hindi ka crush dahil sa ugali mo, 'yung iba dahil ayaw ka lang talaga nila."
"So dito sa movie na 'to," she added, "mapapanood nila kung bakit 'di ka crush ng crush mo at kung bakit magiging crush ka ng crush mo, kung ano 'yung gagawin mo para maging crush ka ng crush mo."
The film, which has yet to be formally announced, is expected to hit theaters later this year.
