Ashley Ortega ticks off another item on her acting bucket list
After her stint in the TV series Hearts on Ice as the leading lady of Xian Lim, Ashley Ortega will be seen in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival entry, As If It’s True, as the onscreen partner of Khalil Ramos. It’s a back-to-back main role for the Sparkle GMA artist, who aspires to become a versatile actress. This crossover from TV to film is a welcome change for Ashley.
“I’m very grateful that it was Khalil, who was my partner in it. It’s my first Cinemalaya movie,” said Ashley of her leading man in a recent press conference. “Grateful ako dahil isang napaka-galing na aktor ang nakasama ko dito (I’m grateful because I was paired with a very talented actor). I really admire him. He is very professional and he’s such a gentleman. He (made) me comfortable while working with him, that’s why when we were on set, sobrang light lang (work was light). (Being around him) made my work easier and lighter.”
As If It’s True is a sneak peek into the lives, love and relationships of the younger generation. This is a stark contrast to the Hearts on Ice narrative that explored the struggles and triumphs of a figure skater. By the way, the GMA Telebabad primetime series gave her the opportunity to play a lead role and a character that is close to her heart. Ashley was a competitive figure skater prior to joining show business. That’s why she considered it a dream role.
The actress also found her character in As If It’s True relatable.
“I play the character Gemma and I can relate to her. She’s a content creator,” said Ashley about the dramatis persona in the movie and found Gemma’s social media world somehow similar to showbiz world.
She continued, “Gemma lives alone and she’s independent. She’s working on her career. As a vlogger, she would do everything to have a career and (make it) consistent. Nag-start kasi siyang mag-viral through a video na ginawa siyang meme or na ginawa siyang joke (She first went viral through a video that used her as a meme or a joke). Perhaps, my similarities (with Gemma) are we’re both independent and we’re trying our best to make our career consistent.” Yes, a career that is for keeps, as one may add.
Guiding Ashley in depicting Gemma’s motivation and aspiration was young director John Rogers, who gave Ashley and Khalil the liberty to share their insights on how to approach their characters.
“He gave us the freedom to do whatever we wanted (or we felt right or) suitable in playing our characters,” shared she, “and even in our lines, sometimes there were long monologues (to deliver), sometimes he would tell us there was no need to follow the script (and would encourage us to) just do what we felt about what our characters would like to tell, and that we could say it. He’s very collaborative and yung mind niya is fresh. (He was able to capture) those small details like how the Gen Z think and how they say (the lines).”
All in all, Ashley had fun working with direk John.
Again, being encouraged by the director to find her voice in the portrayal or in a scene, like, as Ashley put it, “do your own thing as your character” and act in an impromptu way, is among the new experiences she had while filming the Cinemalaya entry, which will be shown from Aug. 4 to 13.
“I would always memorize my script,” said she. “But I also appreciated (being asked to bring something new and my ideas to the table) because it challenged me more as an actor to make (the portrayal) look natural and to be in character.”
Asked to describe her participation and debut in the upcoming Cinemalaya, Ashley said, “Perhaps, hindi mawawala yung kaba mo talaga kasi (your nervousness won’t go away because) people will always have (something negative and positive to say). It’s challenging and I consider it a new door for growth as an actor. It’s also exciting because I got to experience a lot of new things, (working) with my director and my co-actors.”
“It’s very different from doing television. The whole filming experience (was) really nice and it’s something I will never forget because, again, this is my first Cinemalaya movie and I’ve always wanted to do an indie film,” added she.
“So, I’m just really grateful that I was given the opportunity (to do that) and leading pa ako dito (I was even tapped to play a leading role here). It’s something memorable, it’s a goal I was able to achieve. I’m just really proud because this year I got to do things that are really part of my bucket list as an actor.”
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