Supremities: Frencheska of 'Emir the musical' will go very Farr

MANILA, Philippines - It is in her cards.

Okay, I haven’t turned into a fortune teller, but all roads seem to point forward to a new singing star — and we don’t have to go very far, for she’s just here within our shores. The first time I met Frencheska Farr, she immediately made a dent from all the cookie-cutter-talents that flood local television. It wasn’t because she grabbed the singing reality show title Next Big Star by the balls, or the fact that she bested other marquee names to be the female lead role in Emir, the first Filipino mega movie musical of our time. These days, all of them could just be hype. But then, in the middle of a showbiz talk show set filled with kibitzers, this girl started to sing in front of us, and we all shut up.

The ensuing melody, paired with a svelte and slender frame, not to mention the most innocent eyes, is a recipe for success spelled with a capital F. These days, Frencheska is busy doing the rounds for this Chito Rono magnum opus, singing her way into the audience’s hearts as soon as she opens her mouth. “What makes this film special, aside from the songs and great cinematography, is the fact that this film was made for the Filipino OFW — it is about them,” says Frencheska, also a main party liaison on the Sunday noontime favorite Party Pilipinas.

“The locations were breathtaking,” Frencheska explained as the Emir cast shot in Morocco for almost three weeks. “We shot in the kasbah where some Hollywood films like The Passion of the Christ, Star Wars, Prince of Persia, et al were shot.”

By the way, this is the GMA Artist Center talent’s first full-length film. “I feel kinda pressured because I’m with so many veteran actors in this project. I want to surpass people’s expectations,” she says in a very excited tone. ”I’m very comfortable when it comes to singing, but I still had a hard time with the acting parts — I still had to get used to it.” One thing Frencheska Farr learned from Direk Chito on how to act is `Don’t act.’ He wants a more natural approach to the performance.” Let’s see if Chito Rono’s acting tips worked on Farr.

Emir the musical could be the star-making vehicle that Frencheska has been waiting for. If this movie becomes a hit, Farr’s version of Bakit Ako Naririto could be part of the standard Filipino musical repertoire of this generation, alongside Disney chart toppers. I say if because as we all know, it takes so much to market a film and make it into a monster hit. The timing seems perfect, as Emir the film musical opens on June 9, a week before school starts. On its second week (hopefully it gets extended), it can be required viewing from the Department of Education, giving it an added box office boost. I saw the trailer today and I must tell you, it looks inviting. A visual and aural spectacle for the family — and something I am excited to watch.

As for the lead female character — needless to say, Supreme thinks Frencheska will go far.