Even with a distinguished film and television career that has so far netted her not just one but two acting awards, the popular online series Forever Sucks has “a special place” in Jasmine Curtis-Smith’s heart.
The 23-year-old Filipino Australian actress said working on the last three seasons of D5Studio’s Forever Sucks has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her career.
“This series has been the one project I’ve been most involved with in terms of sharing ideas when we have our usually senseless but also inspiring conversations,” she quipped.
“The producers, production staff, crewmen, our director (Joel Ferrer) and the cast are like a close knit of friends but at the same time, very professional. We’re always joking around on the set and often have to be reminded of our time restrictions for the day. As we balance our time for the project, it feels like home when I’m on the set.”
Working on Forever Sucks has also allowed Jasmine to become very attached to her character Izabel, the 170-year-old vampire pretending to be a normal 21-year-old who works in the graveyard shift of a call center.
“I love Izabel and her story through and through. Her emotions are so pure and her history so heavy, I empathize with her so much that I look forward to tapings just so I could play Izzy again for the day,” Jasmine enthused.
Asked if she would change anything about Izabel if given the chance to have an input in the direction of her character, Jasmine insists there’s no need to change anything. But she does love the fact that she and the actors are allowed to give suggestions in certain scenes.
“I don’t think I’d change anything with her. It is evident that even our audience have formed an attachment to her life and especially her personal life,” she noted.
“My input comes in when we do our scenes and after speaking to Direk Joel. Sometimes ideas pop up while he tells me how he interpreted the scene, and he’s always game to try our suggestions. That always makes us feel involved more than we already are, a sense of really owning our characters, story, and the entire project.”
As for the show’s success, particularly with millennials that comprise much of its audience, Jasmine says she is not at all surprised with the solid, steady following of Forever Sucks.
“The concept of the show is refreshing for millennials. It’s neither heavy nor shallow. It’s symbolic and also easy on the mind,” she pointed out.
“The timing is quicker than your regular series and so it doesn’t feel like a drag to watch. Everyone behind the show is emotionally invested ensuring the authenticity of everything we do. I also think it’s the collective feeling we have on set that translates on the screen. It makes it the ‘Forever Sucks’ we’ve enthusiastically worked on the past year. Our little show that could.”
As for the prospects of returning for a fourth season or even a possible movie adaptation of Forever Sucks, Jasmine said, she and the rest of the cast and crew would be thrilled if it becomes a reality.
“I would definitely love a fourth season. A movie? It would be interesting. Given that the material flow would still justify all the characters and Forever Sucks in totality from its original beginnings, we would love that for sure.”
In the third season of the hit web series, we find Izabel and Kiko (Felix Roco) struggling to keep up with their relationship – as they realize just how hard it is for a human and a vampire’s relationship to last forever.
Special guests for this season include Albie Casino, Malak So, Cedrick Juan and Amarra Ui.
Forever Sucks Season 3 premieres on D5Studio next month. Past seasons can also be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/d5studio.
