Kim Chiu says press can be ‘kind of rude’

CEBU, Philippines - “Bride for Rent” lead stars Kim Chiu and Xian Lim barely warmed their seats in their Cebu movie press conference when they had to be shuttled out of the venue to greet waiting fans for a promo show at SM City Cebu and SM Consolacion. After a three-hour delay, the hit screen tandem finally arrived at Casa Amparito in Lahug, Cebu City only to answer five questions as per their handler’s instructions, with an advance request that media queries must only be about the Star Cinema film.

The controversial Cebuana didn’t get a free pass though, and was asked what she thought of comments saying success has gone to her head. This, after the Manila press was reportedly offended by her line “We don’t owe you any of our personal lives” when pressed by an entertainment columnist to reveal the real score between her and Xian.

“Success has gone to my head? Grabe naman yun, ang bigat naman ‘nun. Siguro it was just misinterpreted. Yung napalabas sa TV, yun lang yung medyo mainit na mga sentences. But if you watch [the video] the whole presscon, the press are kind of rude. Minsan, mali na kaagad ako so I have to control,” the 23-year-old Pinoy Big Brother winner explained.

“Yung mga press, kayo din tumutulong sa amin to spread the word about the movie. Pero kung parang meron ng sapilitang nangyayari, parang medyo off na. Siguro, try to watch the whole presscon and you’ll know why. Hindi lang yung konting story na napakinggan niyo.”

So there you go.

‘Feel-good’ film

After their 2013 film “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Mo” which was also starred in and based on a book by Ramon Bautista, Kim and Xian reunite in “Bride For Rent,” a romantic-comedy directed by Mae Czarina Cruz. 

“If you were able to watch ‘Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo’ wherein we tackled comedy, this one [Bride for Rent] still has comedy, but we added romance and more happy stuff. When you exit the movie house, you’d feel like getting married yourself,” said Xian.

“Bride For Rent” centers on Rocco (Xian) and Rocky (Kim) — both battling money woes — conspiring to be a pretend couple so that guy can claim his inheritance, while girl can finally pay her family’s rent.

Kim said that those who enjoyed their first film together will have an even better time with “Bride for Rent.” “The first film was just to test if  we will click with comedy. They found out na natuwa yung mga tao sa amin, so in this movie, they doubled the laughs and romance. Double effort in everything. Sobrang nakaka-inlove. Just good vibes this 2014. We should open the year with laughs and forget all our problems, even just for a while. This is a feel-good movie, and you’ll do nothing but laugh inside the cinema.”

She also said that her role was not far from her real-life persona, saying that like Rocky, she is also her family’s breadwinner, and is “funny, kalog, happy-go-lucky. Pero hindi naman ako for rent.”

While Kim finds drama more challenging, she admits comedy is likewise difficult to pull off, since one has to tread the fine line between being corny and being rib-tickling funny.

Opening in cinemas nationwide starting Jan. 15, “Bride For Rent” also stars Cebuana icon Pilita Corrales, Martin del Rosario and Empoy Marquez.