Janine Gutierrez had been vocal about her willingness to work with JC Santos even before the cameras started rolling for Dito At Doon. Janine admires her co-star simply because of the latter’s ability to portray numerous characters perfectly, and with so much emotions.
And just recently, we learned that it was a mutual feeling: JC also wanted to share the screen with Janine because of her versatility as an actress.
JP Habac, the director of the romantic film Dito At Doon, shares how his actors impressed him while on the set. He raves about the palpable chemistry between the two and how they made his work easier as a director underscoring their natural ability to make the audience believe in the kind of relationship their characters have in the film.
“I’ve always wanted to work with Janine and JC. The script is so smooth, the conversations are very natural. And since the bulk of the film is mostly conversation, I'm impressed that the lines were delivered by the two smoothly and so natural especially Janine, parang matagal na syang mean-spirited. Haha.. It’s fun to see these two, who haven’t been in the same project together until Dito At Doon, parang antagal na nilang magkatrabbaho,” the film director shared with Manila Standard Entertainment during a virtual press conference.
“It’s hard to direct onscreen chemistry. It has to be natural. It’s either you have it or you don’t have it. We didn’t do any workshops. We just did an online script reading. Other than, that we didn’t really do anything else to work on their chemistry,” he revealed.
In Dito At Doon, Janine plays Len, a Political Science graduate. She has been working hard for her planned bright future when the pandemic hit. Early into the lockdown, she takes to social media to voice concerns about how people's reactions to the lockdown. Online, she gets into a heated exchange with a certain Carlo (JC), who judges her without knowing her personally.
Janine describes her character as someone who has trouble reaching out to people because of her superiority complex paired with her headstrong nature.
“She’s an only child who lives at home with her nurse mom. Her late father was a professor, hence she also wants to pursue a career in teaching. Len is a very idealistic and optimistic person. She’s NBSB (no boyfriend since birth) and has high standards. She puts her career and achievements first,” she said of her character.
JC, on the other hand, tackles a “good-looking, charming, and responsible character.” An oldest of three siblings, his father left their family when he was young. Originally from Cebu, he went to Manila to try his luck at working abroad but got scammed. Eventually fell into a rhythm of working odd jobs, including delivery driver.
“He lives in Manila all by himself. Hidden beneath his cheery exterior is a somber man who tries his best to overcome whatever life gives him for the sake of his family,” JC said.
The lead cast shared that the film was set during the height of the pandemic, which makes the story even more relevant.
“I’m sure that almost everyone has the same pandemic story, whatever genre it is, be it horror, drama, or even love story. Our film tackles the same pandemic experience that everyone has. It’s the similarity that makes this story relevant to anyone who would watch the film,” JC shared.
In the film, being a love story, Janine highlighted the simple yet glaring truth about relationships and how two people can make them work.
“This film, given that it’s a love story is proof that if gusto may paraan. Well, I mean, it’s been a hugot. I’ve experienced it already, and I'm sure a lot of people, too, that when you like someone or when you are with someone and you’re not sure with his actions, you tend to justify that by saying he’s just busy. But at the end of the day, kung gusto mo talaga, merong paraan,” she concluded.