For minor stars, breaking away from supporting roles often comes very rare, if not very late. Devon Seron is grateful she was able to break away fast with a project that is set to go down in the history of show business.
After seven years of portraying support roles in a good number of successful movies and shows, Devon is finally taking front and center as the leading lady in the Philippine-Korean movie collaboration You With Me.
On top of that, Devon will be sharing the big screen with two Korean Drama actors namely Hyun Woo, who rose to fame from the KBS show The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop and Jin Ju Hyung, who became popular in the KBS2 show Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.
While many would recount that getting such huge projects involved years of hard work, Devon’s path was a little different. A still amazed Devon unabashedly shared that she only got the role after “gatecrashing” an audition for what she thought was an independent film.
“Kasi gusto ko po kasi talaga mag-indie. Ang pagkakaalam ko indie tong in-audition ko, tapos I’m not part of the original auditionees na nasa listahan nila kasi exclusive po pala. So, ang ginawa ko nangulit ako sa friend ko,” she said. “Sabi ko, ‘Uy kahit ipasok mo lang ako sa audition, okay na ako.’”
Devon was already gearing up to brush the project aside as something “unsuccessful” after her life-changing audition in May this year. According to her, she never really imagined that she would make it to the second level screening mostly because she had to vie for a spot in the film against experienced actors.
“Parang medyo hindi naman na-disappoint pero parang feeling ko, ay tinanggap ko na that time na hindi na ako makakakuha as a lead. So parang ‘Ah okay lang, basta ano, makaano lang ako, mapasama lang sa cast’ sinabi ko sa sarili ko,” she said.
Until now, Devon has yet to wrap her head around the idea that she is now officially a leading lady—and of two Korean stars at that.
“Hindi ko na-imagine na makukuha ko sya. Hindi ko na-imagine na parang ako yung gagawa nung lead, parang first time ko talaga mag-lead. So iba talaga yung feeling. So yun, na-excite tsaka napressure ako, parang lahat ng emotions,” said Devon.
While other castings clearly disclosed what they were looking for, Devon recalled that she has a fairly small inkling as to what she was auditioning for. For starter’s she’s somehow sure during the audition that the movie would have a certain “Korean” element.
Instead of being deterred by that factor, Devon took it as a challenge, especially since, at that time, she was also planning to go to Korea with a friend.
“Plano ko talaga na bakasyunan, na puntahan, Korea talaga. Tapos dumating to. So, sabi ko talaga, ‘Oh my gosh, hindi lang sya vacation, parang ano, parang hitting two birds with one stone!’” she said, sharing that they shot the film for 11 days in Korea just in June.
While there were already local stars who got to work with other Asian stars, You With Me is the first romance-drama film where Korean actors are involved and Devon couldn’t be any grateful for the once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Maswerte talaga ako. Doon ko na-prove talaga na you just really have to take a risk in life. Kahit sasabihin nila na kailangan mo maghintay, pero while waiting, you have to do your very best talaga sa mga pangyayari sa buhay mo. Kung nakikita mo yung sarili mo na kaya mo gawin, wag ka matakot na magpush sa sarili mo,” she said.
Devon rose to fame as a housemate of the Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash in 2010, where she was touted as the “Bubbly Promdi ng Cebu.” It was the same season that had James Reid, her former love team, as its Big Winner. Her recent filmography includes the millennial horror film Pwera Usog. She is also in the blockbuster films Can’t Help Falling In Love, Everything About Her, and Haunted Mansion, among others.
Devon is headlining You With Me together with Jin Ju Hyung and Hyun Woo and directed by Rommel Ricafort for Gitana Productions. The film is showing in cinemas nationwide on Sept. 27.
