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Sneak Peek: The Most Exciting Highlights from A Very Good Girl’s Media Conference

Sneak Peek: The Most Exciting Highlights from A Very Good Girl’s Media Conference

Aug 24, 2023   •   Eli Magsaysay

Yesterday, August 23, Star Cinema made a clear statement that they’re not playing around with Kathryn Bernardo’s comeback movie with Golden Globe and BAFTA Nominee Dolly De Leon. Here’s a recap of what happened.

In perhaps the most extra mediacon to ever be held in ABS-CBN, members of the press in black attire fill the dark studio, several crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and the black stage extends to a runway lit in nothing but red.

 

A mini fashion show

One by one, the creatives and stars of the movie stomp the runway in their red and black garments, punctuated by the film’s leads: Dolly De Leon in all black, and Kathryn Bernardo, the one and only person in the room in white. After Kathryn walked out, she and Ms. Dolly faced off and danced, before finally walking down the runway one last time, hand in hand.

It was an opening so extra it borders on camp. And yes, it was very gay. Kathryn, in particular, had a walk and served face and poses I’d imagine a gay kid (me) would mimic in their living room, and the whole thing perfectly set the tone for what was to come: at last, the official trailer of undoubtedly the most anticipated Filipino movie event of the year.

 

The trailer

And it’s great! Immediately, these two minutes are a showcase of talent from two actors of very different backgrounds. Dolly De Leon was both vulnerable and menacing. Kathryn Bernardo’s ever-reliable eyes are once again doing their magic, only this time they deliver a darkness we’ve never seen from anything she’s done. But what makes the trailer more effective, actually, is that while it successfully gave us the vibes of the film – the fashion will serve, the acting will be big, the visuals will be both glossy and gritty – it gives away almost nothing about the plot!

 

Our takeaway

In the trailer, we see Molly (De Leon) taking Philo (Bernardo) into her home and telling her it’s where she’ll stay for a few days. They go on shopping dates. Molly looks proud as Philo screams at employees for being mediocre. It looks as though Molly is determined to groom Philo into a successor of some sort, and Philo is all too good at exploiting Molly’s weaknesses to exact her revenge.

The cast and staff disclose that the film will be about women who have unique struggles and inner demons of their own, and Bernardo hopes it succeeds in showing just how courageous and strong women can be.

 

A partnership

During the mediacon, however, De Leon and Bernardo speak more like equals, partners-in-crime fueled by mutual respect for each other’s talent and craft. They reveal that immediately upon their first meeting, they made a deal to always support each other in every scene, that they’ll perform their scenes together at a hundred even if the other is not seen on camera. They’re also not shy to share their uncertainties about their performances early into the project and apparently eased each other’s worries by sharing their difficulties in finding their characters and finding their groove during the first few days of filming.

 

Not an actor’s director

De Leon and Bernardo give director Petersen Vargas credit for providing a set that felt safe and was a joy to be in, as well as for giving them a lot of freedom to experiment and play with the role. Admittedly not an “actor’s director”, Vargas shares that he’s not the type to feed his actors the characters’ motivations on set, but instead trusts them to make choices on their own based on discussions he’s had with them prior to filming.

 

“Nangangain ng dinosaur ang film na ‘to!”

In one of the most compelling parts of the media con, screenwriter Dominique Moncol shares that the story is inspired by her own crisis as a young woman who’s always been told what to do. “It has a lot of my Gen Z, girly energy. It’s sassy, it’s fun, it’s snappy, but the most important thing is, nangangain ng dinosaur ang film na ‘to.”

 

On her first Star Cinema role

Dolly De Leon shares her excitement about starring in her very first Star Cinema film and recalls how excitedly she said yes to the project upon hearing that she’ll be starring opposite Bernardo because of how talented she’s always thought she is, and being a fan of her work, especially in Hello, Love, Goodbye. She then names Jodi Sta. Maria and Jericho Rosales as two other actors she would love to work with under Star Cinema.

 

On being a role model

In response to a question from a member of the press, Bernardo shares that she’s very much aware of how she’s seen as a role model by many, especially younger audiences, but she makes it clear that being seen as one doesn’t mean she should be thought of as infallible. She also expresses her gratitude for her friends and family who let her have her fun in order for her to have more to give to her work. She also understands that taking on this role is a risk that not everyone may like, but nevertheless, she regrets nothing.

“Ayokong nape-pressure ako to be good just to be good, I want to be good dahil ito ang pagkatao ko. And being good doesn’t mean hindi na ako magsasalita and just following kung ano’ng sinasabi ng lahat ng tao sa ‘kin. Kung matanggap ka ng tao bilang ganon, thank you. Kung hindi, okay lang.”

A Very Good Girl will be showing exclusively in cinemas on September 27.

 

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