The film 366 is Bela Padilla’s directorial debut and she is also the lead actress.
That’s why it was a challenge for her to “switch” from being the director and lead actress of the project when they started shooting.
JC Santos and Zanjoe Marudo are Bela’s leading men in 366, and Zanjoe is said to have witnessed his experiences as a first-time movie director.
“JC, luckily, all his scenes we shot after Zanjoe and I’s scenes.
“I guess Zanjoe shared all my first experiences as a director. He seemed to witness all the first stages until I became comfortable.
“JC was lucky in that aspect because when I came to him, in all his scenes, I guess I already knew what I was doing,” Bela said about the first days of shooting 366.
Bela didn’t forget to mention that there were times she caught herself watching Zanjoe’s acting because his directorship was dominant, even when he was with the scenes being filmed.
“Zanjoe, especially the scenes that are heavy, we both cry. Sometimes, I notice, when he shoots, I’m watching.
“I watch what he does, and I edit him in my brain that this is the performance I want him to give me.
“I forget, ‘Wait, he’s my co-actor here in this scene, and I can’t just watch him. I have to react so he can get emotion out of me.’
“I caught myself doing that twice, I was watching the scene, instead of acting with him. But he was still very professional about it. I was able to get the emotion that I wanted from him for those scenes.”
Bela admits that she still has a lot to learn as a director so she is grateful for the support given to her by her very professional production team, as well as director Irene Villamor.
“Irene is our creative director. And, of course, we know Direk Irene as one of my best friends also. She is my mentor. In the scenes that I was in, he was the one shouting action. ”
Irene directed Bela’s films On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets (2020) and Meet Me in St. Louis. Gallen (2018).
This interview happened with Bela at the presscon of her film.

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