Amid a successful acting career where stars shine bright but can also face their darkest moments, the unlikely duo of Alden Richards and Julia Montes found not only a silver lining but a profound connection on the set of the upcoming film, "Five Breakups And A Romance." This extraordinary bond, forged during a season of personal challenges on both sides, promises to deliver a movie that profoundly touches hearts, all under the careful direction of Irene Villamor.
Alden, the dashing Kapuso actor, wore his heart on his sleeve as he opened up about the profound friendship that blossomed between him and Julia during the filming of their latest project. For Alden, this collaboration represents a significant turning point in his career, as he readily expressed his willingness to dedicate himself not only to his Kapamilya co-star Julia but also to their esteemed director.
Emotions ran high as Alden shared snippets about the journey that brought them all closer together. Speaking at the grand launch of the movie's first full trailer, he disclosed, "The three of us weren't in a good place when we started doing the movie."
Begging off from revealing what they were each going through, he simply added, his voice quivering with emotion, "But this film has done something in our lives — [it] changed us and made us stronger."
You could hear a pin drop in GMA Network's enormous Studio 7, darkened for effect at a special formal dinner organized to herald the movie trailer. Alden, who is always articulate in his interviews yet just as playful in general, was definitely in a serious and sentimental mood that night.
So when he qualified his commitment to his newfound partners by declaring, "Sasalo ako ng bala para sa dalawang ito [I'd take a bullet for these two]," he dramatically spoke volumes about the depth of their connection.
Naturally piquing the level of intrigue with his cryptic remarks, Alden nonetheless chose to keep the details private, instead emphasizing the positive impact of "Five Breakups And A Romance" on his life during that challenging period.
He conveyed, "All I can share is how much good doing the movie had in my life at the time. Direk Irene and Jules both know that."
He went on to reflect on the misconception that one can always bear life's burdens alone. Alden's words were poignant as he said, "I was telling them then how sometimes you think you're strong. How you sometimes look at the world and tell yourself, 'I'm OK. I'm OK being alone.' But the truth is far from that."
Alden — who joked in a July episode of "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" that "[his] love life is boring — remains unattached at 31 and is seen to be fully devoted to his family, thriving career and multiple charities.
Questions as to whether he had a secret relationship that broke down or perhaps encountered problems with his family and handlers were, of course, unspoken, but his narrative on the "the good" that "Five Breakups and A Romance" did him back them may possibly shed some light on the much-loved actor's recent trials.
Alden said his experience on Direk Irene's movie set across Julia has given him a newfound appreciation for teamwork and collaboration. He emphasized, "There are no small roles. Everyone needs to be acknowledged; everyone needs [to be] credit[ed] for all the successful things that they have been part of."
Stepping in for a good friend who seemed to be placing himself in a tight corner with his continued sharing, Julia quickly echoed Alden's sentiments, admitting her own insecurities but crediting her leading man and their director for boosting her confidence in her big showbiz comeback.
The set, confessed the long-absent dramatic actress, became a "safe place" where she felt supported and empowered.
Now, with the floor to herself, Julia had nothing but praise for Alden as she talked about her experience in "Five Breakups," describing him as "generous" and "talented." She shared that the project had a profound impact on her, revealing that during her seven-year hiatus from entertainment, she had contemplated ending her acting career permanently.
"It was then that this movie came along with its meaningful storyline and Alden as the leading man. It all made me realize that if it's meant to be — for me to stay in showbiz — the project that will bring joy to your soul will be given, and all will be well," she continued.
Returning Alden's promise to take a bullet for her with their newfound friendship — their director included —, she declared, "If they want to jump, I will jump [with them]."
Though devoid of the details of how their tandem helped them overcome personal crises, at least, the highly emotional trailer showing them as Lance (Alden) and Justine (Julia) — two strangers who forge an instant connection on a night out in Singapore where the latter lives and works and the former is visiting — left no doubt about their trust in one another.
Alden and Julia's chemistry explodes just from snippets of the entire movie, which opens on October 18 nationwide. A performance, which history tells us, is usually only possible between two people who honestly give of each other on and off set. They needn't even be romantically involved.
As the trailer's voiceover suddenly says, "How long should you try before you give up on love?" it is clear that viewers are in for an emotional roller coaster, the likes of which, many say, made Alden's similarly unexpected team-up with Kapamilya actress Kathryn Bernardo, "Hello Love, Goodbye," the huge hit it was in 2019.
If such is the case, the Alden-Julia team-up is indeed poised for greatness. This time, not only because of the intense character immersion the Alden-Kathryn tandem was forced to endure by their director, Cathy Garcia, back then but because of this profound friendship they experienced just when they needed it while working together.
We may no longer know the very problems Alden and Julia separately encountered when "Five Breakups And A Romance" came into their lives, but for sure, viewers can expect a beautiful love story but also a testament to the power of collaboration, friendship and resilience in people's lives.
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The movie is a three-way production of GMA Films, Cornerstone Studios and Alden's own Myriad Entertainment, and opens on October 18, nationwide.