Last week, actress Judy Ann Santos engaged with the entertainment press during the grand media conference for her upcoming film, Espantaho, at Novotel in Quezon City. This horror film, which she co-produced and stars in, is an official entry to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Judy Ann, who hadn’t worked on a horror project for a decade, shared the physical demands of making Espantaho, particularly the challenge of scaring audiences without relying heavily on visual elements.
“It’s difficult because scaring people is hard, especially now when you can’t really see anything. It’s more about acting scared. But I’m not easily frightened myself. So before, I used to say it was harder to make people laugh than to make them cry, probably because I’ve been doing drama for a long time,” she explained.
“Then, when I got into comedy, it was a big revelation that, ‘Oh, I can make people laugh!’ Then I did some horror films, took a break, and now, after a long time of not doing horror, I feel out of place. Physically, there are movements I needed to learn,” she added.
In today’s film industry, the 46-year-old actress acknowledges the importance of both critical acclaim and commercial success. While she would welcome awards, she also understands the industry’s focus on box-office performance.
“We all want box office hits. Of course, we want our films to earn so the producers won’t be traumatized. After all, there are fewer producers nowadays,” she said.
“As for awards, who doesn’t want them? Let’s not pretend. But with so many great contemporaries, and with so many of them being nominated for Best Actress as lead stars, anything can happen. What matters is that people talk about the film,” she added.
Ultimately, Judy Ann trusts the judgment of the MMFF jurors. “Whatever the judges see fit, that’s what I trust,” she said.
She also emphasized that being part of the film itself is a significant achievement.
“Being part of this wonderful film, that’s already a reward and a gift in itself,” she remarked.
Judy Ann also expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort behind Espantaho and confidence in the film’s quality.
“We supported each other throughout this film. Whatever the outcome on awards night, it’s already a bonus,” she said.
If she were to win an award, Judy Ann believes it would be a perfect ending to her year. “That would be such a blessing, my 2024 would be complete if that happens,” she said.
Espantaho, which translates to “scarecrow” in Filipino, marks the first time collaboration between the actress and renowned director Chito Roño. Joining her in the film are Lorna Tolentino, Chanda Romero, Mon Confiado, JC Santos, Donna Cariaga, Nico Antonio, Tommy Abuel, Kian Co, and Janice de Belen.
