Jessy keeps up with the ‘Tol comedic energy

MANILA, Philippines — From the romantic-comedy The Girl in The Orange Dress, Jessy Mendiola will be seen next in a full-on comedy, ‘Tol, directed by Miko Livelo and produced by Reality Entertainment. It’s a breather from light-heavy drama she has immersed herself well. So adjustment was the tall order of the day.

“I did because when they were in a scene, I had to keep up with them,” said Jessy on working with comedians Joross Gamboa and Ketchup Eusebio, and Arjo Atayde, in an interview prior to the presscon. “With their timing, kailangan gets ko and how they would deliver their jokes and incorporate their ad-libs.”

But what made her embrace the genre was the working environment that was based on creative respect and collaboration.

“Direk Miko was concerned with pagiging okey ng artista,” she shared. “Kung hindi kami komportable sa isang bagay, tatanungin niya. Kung OK naman sa amin, (then we would) go. He was very open (to ideas) and sought our opinions on doing (scenes). As a director, he is very collaborative.”

In fact, Jessy was given the liberty to create her character Elena and it thrilled her no end. “(Her characterization and personality) wasn’t that clear (to me at first) kung suplada ba siya, mabait ba siya, mahinhin ba siya (was she snobbish, nice or ladylike)? In our first two shooting days, what I did was to approach her like a princess, na light lahat, para lang siyang lumilipad.”

Good that Jessy followed her instincts. She got the approval of the director, thinking of Jessy’s Elena as the princess in the middle of the riot/s that the male characters Dimitri, Arthur and Lando (played respectively by Joross, Ketchup and Arjo) could cook up. Elena could be the source of calmness after that laugh-out-loud “storm.”

Director Miko Livelo (rightmost) with stars (from left) Ketchup Eusebio Joross Gamboa and Arjo Atayde

“’Tol has witty jokes and at the same time is a full-on comedy,” she said. “There are actions na talagang nakakatawa as in big (actions, movements). My character is their Disney Princess. I’m their love interest. I’m their college sweetheart. We’ve been friends since we were young. Nagkatrabaho sila sa tollgate. We all meet again. They try to court me. From friends, they become my suitors. What will happen now that Elena is back in their lives? It’s like a situational comedy where my character is the factor (reason to shake) them (their friendship) up.”

The Kapamilya star had fun doing the movie and wanted moviegoers to experience the happiness it promises come Jan. 30 in theaters nationwide.

“My co-stars were open (to collaboration) when it came to executing scenes,” she said. “Mga ganun silang klaseng leading men. As we all know, Arjo is not a comedian and did not start (in the comedy genre). Most of his (works) are kontrabida, heavy drama. Sobrang nakakatuwa kasi nag-e-effort siya to keep up with Joross and Ketchup. In fairness to him, he played his role well. His character is geeky, funny, shy. Ketchup’s is chill, intelligent. His humor is chill lang. Joross’ is sobrang kiti-kiti. You will see the differences between characters.”

Asked how it feels to be starring in the first venture of Reality Entertainment into comedy (one of the first Pinoy movies to be released in 2019), Jessy said, “I was happy that they saw something in me that I could be part of this. (Usually,) I never accept a full-on comedy. Nasa third page palang ako (reading the script), nag-yes na ako (it got my attention already). And at that time, I had no idea that Ketchup, Joross and Arjo would (be onboard). Natawa ako kasi when you read the script and you imagine them in their roles, bagay. When you gather them in a project like this, everything jibes.”

Last year saw Jessy shuttling from one movie set to another, you know from The Girl in The Orange Dress to ‘Tol. “In my whole career (it never happened) na nag-sunod-sunod ang pelikula,” she said. “And leading roles have been given to me. I’m just thankful, kahit napahinga ako sa TV (work). I enjoy more doing movies because you get to explore more roles.”

Like most artists, Jessy thrives in an open learning work space. “I think when your (working) environment is open, you can act well and you will open up to your co-stars... Mas gaganda ang eksena, mas open kayo sa eksena.”

(‘Tol also stars Jimmy Santos as Kapitan Gabriel.)