(FROM left) Harvey Almoneda, Garie Concepcion, Ruben Soriquez, director Paolo Bertola and producer Mario Alman. contributed photo Viewers think that celebrities born to showbiz families have an easier path than others, but singer and theater actress Garie Concepcion thinks otherwise. Daughter of screen veteran Gabby Concepcion to businesswoman Grace Ibuna, the rising actress wants to carve a name for herself in the industry through hard work, one step at a time.

She was one of the first names announced to be part of the indie paranormal thriller film The Lease. Landing her first-ever lead role, Garie felt nothing but excitement to be working alongside Dolce Amore star Ruben Maria Soriquez and Italian director Paolo Bertola.

“I am a big fan of horror movies. When I found out about this movie I didn’t think twice. I went straight to audition for it,” she said.

Garie previously landed roles for movies like Ang Guro kong di Marunong Magbasa, Timog Love Story and Siargao. Moreover, she played Tasha, a taong lobo (human wolf) in ABS-CBN’s hit teleserye La Luna Sangre.

“I auditioned for this role when I saw the audition poster at the Facebook page of Sir Edmund. Perfect enough, it was the last day when I messaged him. Right away I went there to audition. A week after, they called me to say that I got the role of Clara,” Garie shared.

The Lease tells the story of the family of Clara (Garie Concepcion) and half-Filipino half-Italian engineer Romano Gonzales (Ruben Maria Soriquez). Gonzales decides to move to the Philippines because of a project at Villa Nonita in Tagaytay. What they thought was a beautiful home suddenly turns into a nightmare as they are soon haunted by an unknown spirit. The family meets Lolo Igme (Don Gordon Bell) who advises them to look for the first owner of the house for the answer.

“It’s really nice to work with everybody. The people behind it and the ones in front of the camera, we treat each other like family. Overall, it was fun. As Direk Ruben said, we hope that we won’t get affected by big films that will be shown. We’re really hoping for the best,” Garie mentioned.

Her husband in the film Ruben Soriquez is also one of The Lease’s producers. Soriquez first came to the Philippines in the 1990s, but it was in 2014 when he settled in the country for good to establish his own company See Thru Pictures Production, who popularly produced the drama film Of Sinners and Saints.

“I started acting in 1990. Back in Italy I also had a band. Then 12 years ago, I started to change my mind because I wanted to take acting as my priority. I enrolled in an academy in Italy. There I first started working as a director. In 2014 I came here for family reasons, but I’m lucky also because ABS-CBN took me for a role,” he said.

Other cast members of The Lease include LM Torres, Princess Cruz, Red Ibasco, Agnes Pabalan, Kuya Manzano, Berna Cabrera, Mercedita Marasigan, Don Gordon Bell, Brigette Martin, Sean Guyamin, Arriane Mei Diaz Butch and Edmund Santiago.

The film will be shown starting 22 August 2018 in select cinemas nationwide.