Fantasy love story gone wrong

Actress Valeen Montenegro is again in another rom-com movie, The Write Moment, but this time she is in the lead opposite her regular Sunday Pinasaya partner Jerald Napoles.

Valeen has proven herself to be a versatile actress, playing comedy gags in Bubble Gang, a villainess in My Korean Jagiya and as Cielo for her first Metro Manila Film Festival movie, My Bebe Love.

Perhaps a sign of her rising popularity is that she has been the target of bashers recently.

Valeen just downplays these issues thrown at her. “It’s funny that people has a lot to say about you. You can’t please everyone. With regards to the bashing, hindi talaga mawawala yan (it will always be there). It’s actually good for us because it’s still publicity. They don’t hold our lives, we have our own lives. We don’t hold theirs. Bahala sila kung ano gusto nilang gawin, but sana wag magsakitan or anything. We’re just doing our job.”

The mestiza beauty is the granddaughter of the ‘50s iconic actor Mario Montenegro, who was touted The Brown Adonis of the era. Being a Montenegro sure comes with a big responsibility and a lot of pressure, Valeen said.

“I hope that my Lolo is proud of me considering what he did for the black and white industry,” she said during the press conference.

The Write Moment was an entry in last year’s QCinema International Film Festival. Because of the good reviews it got, the management decided to give the film a commercial run.

“When they told us that we’re going to have a commercial release, we were all so excited. I just celebrated my birthday a week ago so this comes as the perfect birthday gift,” exclaims Valeen.

Directed by Dominic Lim, the story is an existential journey depicting the realities of life and love. With the individual flairs and eccentricities of the main characters Dave and Joyce, the film’s enticing plot will surely appeal to anyone who has suffered a heartbreak.

“It’s about how a lot of people can relate, especially those in a relationship na madami talagang (with a lot of) highs and lows. To make a relationship work, kailangan dalawa kayong may gustong ayusin ito (both of you should want to work it out),” she said.

Produced by IdeaFirst Company and Viva Films with CMB Films, The Write Moment is the story of an unlikely pair — a guy and a beautiful girl following the poignant yet hilarious moments of a fantasy love story gone wrong.

Jerald Napoles stars as the wedding videographer and occasional movie scriptwriter Dave.

One day, he decides to write a screenplay depicting his relationship with girlfriend Joyce, which is played by Valeen. Both are in for a surprise as they find themselves living out every scene of his written story with a mysterious twist.

The Write Moment is a huge leap for Valeen and Jerald’s tandem, which started three years ago because of Sunday Pinasaya. Since then, their friendship has gotten stronger.

“My love and respect for Jerald will always be there. But this time, it’s greater, now that we’re given another opportunity. Parang hindi kami nagshoot, parang hindi kami nagtrabaho ulit (It’s like we didn’t shoot the film, as if we weren’t really working),” she describes.

As unlikely the tandem as Jerald and Valeen appear to be, still many liken their performance to Kita Kita stars Alexandra De Rossi and Empoy Marquez.

“I think that it’s good that there is a comparison like that. But we did not aim for that. As in (when we made the) film, we just did our own thing. (It was like Jerald and I were just undergoing a workshop with) Direk Doms. (In one scene, for example, this would be the goal, then the director would push us to try another goal so Jerald and I had no idea how the story would go because there were so many options. We simply put our trust in direk Doms because he knew all the lines. We never tried to attain an Alex and Empoy. I like though that they would compare us with them. I believe viewers are looking for such a team-up),” Valeen muses.

Director Dominic Lim, Jerald and Valeen are equally proud of The Write Moment and they hope that many people would watch it in theaters this coming June 27.