By Marron Joshua F. Mendoza and Louise Gallardo
Alden Richards, the star of the upcoming GMA drama series Start-Up PH, has been vocal about taking the role of Tristan Hernandez in the Philippine adaptation of the hit 2020 South Korean drama series Start-Up.
The series follows a group of young entrepreneurs trying to build their successful careers while balancing work life and romantic relationship. It will see Alden starring alongside Bea Alonzo. Start-Up PH is Bea’s first project as a Kapuso artist. It’s also the first time she and Alden have collaborated on television a project.
His first role in an adaptation
In an online press conference, Alden shared how he immediately agreed to do Start-Up PH, his first time working on a Philippine adaptation of a foreign television series.
“Talagang tinanggap ko po siya kasi Start-Up was a very successful series sa Korea and now na nabigyan tayo ng opportunity to do an adaptation sa series na ‘to is a great opportunity. And of course, parang we also want to show everyone kung ano naman yung take ng mga Pinoy sa series na galing sa Korea,” Alden said.
Alden also said that the role of Tristan, based on Kim Seon-ho’s character in the South Korean original, Han Ji-pyeong, was something new to him as he usually plays characters that are oppressed but diligent in achieving their goals.
“Yung mga roles ko before, even yung last ko with The World Between Us, nagsimula kasi ako as yung kawawang-kawawa, yung laging nagpupursige, tapos yung laging inaapi sa simula. As opposed to ngayon, simula palang, masungit na,” Alden stated.
Working with two directors
Alden has also shared his experience working with the series’ two directors, Jerry Sineneng and Dominic Zapata. He said he didn’t take the challenge of having two directors on set as hard but rather as “two great minds bringing input into the series.”
“Ang galing kasi parang alignment naman po yung dalawang directors natin and, of course, they both have one goal in mind to really make that show work and beautiful. So, first time ko rin po to have worked with two directors in one project, and nakakatuwa nga po kasi very collaborative po pareho. Actually, lahat po kami na nasa Start-Up series, Start-Up Philippines rather, so talagang ang daming bago dito sa series na ‘to na ginagawa ko, sobrang happy ako sa experiences kasi as I go along, with different shows that I make, different projects that I make po, meron talagang takeaway, may lessons learned. Good or bad man yan, lessons pa rin yan so mas nagiging buo po ako as I go along,” he said.
Start-Up PH will also see Alden and Bea work with well-known and up-and-coming actors such as Jeric Gonzales, Yasmien Kurdi, Kim Domingo, Royce Cabrera, and Boy 2 Quizon. When asked about his experience working with actors instead of celebrities, Alden shared that he enjoys working with people with the same passion for acting as he does.
“What I really appreciate with the whole cast, even all the staff and crew, even the directors and the writers, is yung alignment namin with our vision. The alignments and yung inputs namin kung paano pa namin sya mapapaganda kasi we’re not really limited to the script,” he said.
“Everyone is so into their characters, no small roles, talagang input kung input yan kasi we all know naman po na Start-Up is very technical when it comes to terminologies and jargons. Pero, alam na alam mo when pag nasa set kami, alam mong aral lahat. Alam mong inaral nilang lahat ang dapat nilang gawin, so ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam na I get to work with these people who has the same passion as me, with my job, with my work, and sa pagiging aktor. Align kaming lahat kaya ang sarap pumunta sa set,” Alden carried on.
On Wednesday, August 17, GMA gave fans a glimpse of the remake ahead of its release. The 30-second clip introduces Bea’s character Dani and Alden’s character Tristan, and it also includes a scene in which Dani breaks her heel and falls, but Tristan catches her just in time.
Filming for Start-Up PH started on April 22 and will premiere on GMA Network this September.