Aljur keeps buff for wet suit-wearing role

GMA Kapuso hunk Aljur Abrenica  says he is making an effort to look good physically for his role in the new GMA series “Kambal Sirena” which started airing last Monday at the Kapuso network.

“We are very excited that we have started airing. We are aware that there is competition but we are focused on doing our best to make our series come out well,” said Aljur at the presscon of “Kambal Sirena” last week.

The new show replaced “Adarna” which starred Aljur’s girlfriend Kylie Padilla. “Actually we’re happy that we have projects lined up and I am also happy for Kylie for the success of her series,” he said.

In “Kambal Sirena,” Aljur plays Kevin who owns an ocean theme park that’s why he is always wearing a wet suit. The wet suit highlights Aljur’s sexiness but he says he is not comfortable being ogled at because of it. “Nahihiya pa rin ako. I just don’t like getting any attention because of it,” he said.

He has yet to be photographed wearing skimpy trunks or underwear but when he was training for his role in “Kambal Sirena,” he was walking on set in his trunks. He had training as a swimmer for his role.

If ever he gets an offer to do an endorsement for sexy undergarment, Aljur said he will think about it intently and even pray for it before he accepts it.

In terms of sports activities, Aljur says he wants to try Muay Thai more extensively. He has tried karate and taekwondo, but Aljur says Muay Thai has given him a different kind of discipline.

***

Debuting indie film producer Dennis Sebastian, who is also a film critic, says he wants his first venture as a producer to be a “feel-good” project. Titled “#LabYu” and starring indie actor Miko Pasamonte (this is his fourth indie film) and newbie Albert Goza, it is indeed a heartwarming rom-com that gays would surely love. The movie is directed by Jill Singson Urdaneta, a former actor.

“We want to present something heartwarming to veer away from the usual dark themes of some gay indie movies. We believe we can share positive vibes or positive stories even for a gay-themed movie,” says the first-time film producer who is also an educator and avowed film enthusiast.

According to Dennis, the idea for “#LabYu” just actually started on the set of Sebastian Castro’s Theban music video shoot where Albert Goza was casted as one of the actors. “Direk Jill is also an actor in the music video but he is also my production manager in the video shoot. When we had a break during the shoot, Jill and I exchanged ideas. And we came up with the story of ‘#LabYu’ on a tissue paper. After lunch, I did not send back Jill to the shoot since we got excited to do a story about the different types of gays in a feel-good film with a happy ending. And we really wanted to do something different,” Dennis related.

Since he is handling other talents who are also singers, Dennis and his director Jill decided to use their songs in the film to give “#Labyu” a happy feeling. He was supposed to direct the project but decided to pass it to Jill who wrote the script. Jill had directed events and had work as assistant director so Dennis decided to give him the break as filmmaker in “#Labyu.” Jill wrote the script for a week and most of the characters were based on his own experience.

“‘#LabYu is unique in a way that it shows the different dimensions of Pinoy gayness. It’s very personal since each character is me at one point in my life. We want to show something campy, something cool, something endearing.  And definitely a film with heart and soul.”

Direk Jill debuts as writer-drector in “#LabYu” which is produced by SPIN Entertainment Productions headed by Dennis Sebastian in association with Sunflower Films International. Joining Miko and Albert are Renee Gozon, Jobben Bello, G. A. Villafuerte, Gelo Arucan and John Galvez. Also being introduced in the film are LK King and JB Sinday. Film soundtrack features music of Jeff Cifra, Kian Dionisio, Jerome and Sebastian Castro.

“#LabYu” opens in cinemas nationwide on April 9, 2014.