Joshua Garcia and Anne Curtis in a behind-the-scenes photo of “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.” Image: Instagram/@starcreativestv
One of the highlights in the original “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” is the intimate scenes of its lead stars. For Joshua Garcia, he was initially intimidated to engage in such scenes with Anne Curtis, but he eventually found his stride.
However, Garcia might’ve gotten too comfortable with Curtis, almost to the point where he had an accidental blunder while filming. Thankfully, his leading lady took the awkward moment in stride.
“Ohmigod, meron akong nakakahiya na experience. So nasa dagat kami and fish ang kinakain namin for lunch,” he recalled during an intimate media con with select reporters.
“Noong kinagabihan, nag-intimate scene kami and naghabulan kami sa bed. Napa-dighay ako and naamoy ni Anne. Sabi niya, ‘Dumighay ka ba? Ang baho!’ Nakakahiya pero at least, sobrang comfortable namin sa isa’t isa. Pero ohmigod, sobrang nakakahiya ‘yun,” he continued while laughing.
(Ohmigod, I had an embarrassing experience. We were in a beach and we had fish for lunch. During nighttime, we had an intimate scene in which we chased each other around the bed. I accidentally burped and Anne smelled it. She asked, “Did you burp? It smells bad!” It was embarrassing, but at least it showed how comfortable we are with each other. But ohmigod, it was very embarrassing.)
READ: Why Anne, Joshua were chosen as leads of ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ PH
The actor said the awkward experience happened during rehearsals. “Pagkatapos ng blocking, nag-rehearse [na kami] tapos napa-dighay ako. Nagulat na lang ako, hindi ko mapigilan,” he said, while the series’ director, Mae Cruz Alviar, backed him up, reiterating that it was something that was out of his control.
“Tapos umalis ako, nagshoshoot kami, hinipan ko pa. Naamoy ko pa rin. Bakit amoy tulingan? Isda eh. Tortang talong, halo-halo,” he added in jest.
(After doing our blocking, we rehearsed the scene, and I burped. I was surprised. I couldn’t stop myself from doing it. I then left, and we started shooting. I even smelled it. Why did it smell like “tulingan”? It was fish. Tortang talong, their smells mixed.)
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Chemistry, despite not being in a love team
Working with Curtis made Garcia nervous, noting her “dyosa” (goddess) status. But enjoying every moment helped him find his own pace on set.
“Nand’un ‘yung kaba and excitement. Siyempre, Anne Curtis ‘yun diba? Sino ba naman ako? Juswa lang,” he said. “Basta inenjoy ko lang every moment na nasa set ako ni Direk, kapag nakakaeksena ko si Ate Anne — nagagalit siya kapag ina-Ate ko siya — si Kuya Carlo, naeenjoy ko lahat with all the actors.”
(The nervousness and excitement were there. Of course, it’s Anne Curtis, right? Who am I? I’m just Joshua. I just enjoyed every moment on set, and whenever I shot a scene with Ate Anne — she got mad when I called her Ate — Kuya Carlo, I enjoyed every moment along with all the other actors.)
The actor eventually learned not to overthink when it comes to acting out his scenes. “‘Yung kusa lang lumalabas ang emotions namin,” he said of his personal experience on set. “Noong una kapaan pa, and ang dami naming throw lines. T’as ngayon noong patapos na ang shoot, parang normal na lang ‘yung scenes.”
(We just had our natural emotions come out. At first, we were testing each other out. We had a lot of throw lines. And before the shoot was over, the scenes were acted out normally.)
Touching on Garcia and Curtis’ chemistry, Alviar said she made sure the intimate scenes were shot when they got comfortable with each other.
“Sanay ako na nakakatrabaho ko, love team na bawal magkiss. So ngayon, I’m working with actors na di na sila ang may loveteam. Nakakatuwa ‘yung proseso in doing romantic and intimate scenes nang hindi loveteam kasi nakikita mo na it’s skill,” she said. “How do you bring it out? D’un lumalabas ‘yung galing nila as actors kasi mapapalabas ‘yung tingin na may attraction.”
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(I’m used to working with love teams that are not allowed to kiss. Now, I’m working with actors who are not part of a love team. It’s nice seeing the process of them doing romantic and intimate scenes because you would see that skill plays a huge part in it. How do you bring it out? That’s where their acting abilities come out because it is how they show attraction.)
The Philippine adaptation of “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” will first premiere on Netflix on July 18, then on iWantTFC and Kapamilya Channel on July 19 and July 20, respectively.
It also stars Carlo Aquino, Enchong Dee, Xyriel Manabat, Agot Isidro, Rio Locsin and Bobot Mortiz, to name a few. /ra
