"I'm really proud and excited na mapalabas na ang pelikulang ito!" exclaimed Judy Ann Santos when asked about her upcoming movie Ploning, which will be released on April 30.

Aside from playing the role of its lead character named Ploning, Judy Ann also revealed that she is also the co-producer of this film.

"Happy din ako kasi first venture ko 'to as a co-producer and excited," said Judy Ann. "Kumbaga, kung anuman ang mangyari, masaya ako na dito sa proyektong ito nagawa lahat ng gusto namin, hindi lang as entertainers and as production people. Nagawa namin ang passion namin, yung venture namin in the near future."

The media then asked the dramatic actress if she would continue this newfound career after Ploning. Judy Ann, popularly known as Juday, was unsure of her answer. She was just glad that at least she had experienced something aside from being an actress in film production.

"It really depends kasi ang dami kong, utang, babayarin," Juday added in jest. "Ano lang, I'm trying out new things para in the future. Para kung anuman ang kabagsakan mo, di ba, meron kang background kahit papaano?"

PLONING IS JUDY ANN. The story of the film was conceptualized over the span of eight years, according to Judy Ann. She explained, "Eight years yung development ng story. Pero yung making, siguro mga two months or something."

Judy Ann thought that she fits the character because, like Ploning, she is also 29 and will turn 30 on May 11. "Nataon lang na ginawa siya na magte-thirty na ako, and yung story talaga requires a woman na medyo mag-o-old maid na, ganun."

The dramatic actress continued, "It's a very touching story of a woman and a kid. Hindi madrama na puro iyakan, puro hagulgulan. It's a very quiet movie."

Ploning was shot entirely in the beautiful and quite town Cuyo, Palawan, which is something new for Juday who is used shooting films in busy cities.

Juday described how this helped her portray the character she was playing well. She said, "It's nice to shoot a movie outside Manila, yung nakakulong ka sa isang lugar. Kasi yung first time kong naramdaman yun, masyado akong nakapag-internelize sa character ko. Ang saya, ang saya kasi ang dami mong bagong kaibigang nakilala, may mga bagong relationships na nag-bond. So ang sarap."

"IT'S NOT AN INDIE FILM." Judy Ann clarified that, contrary to what people think, Ploning is not an independent film. (Click here to read related article)

"For the record, it's not an indie film," said Judy Ann. "Hindi siya indie film kasi 35 [mm film] ang ginamit namin para sa pelikulang 'to. Ang DOP (director of photography) si Charlie Peralta, underwater DOP namin is Marisa Florendo, so it's not an indie film. Definitely, hindi siya indie film. Independent producer, hindi indie film."

To prove that it's not an indie film, Juday jokingly added, "All-star cast, actually, na lahat 'yon dinala sa Cuyo [Palawan]. Kung indie film siya, aba'y pamasahe pa lang papuntang Cuyo, dito ka na lang sa ilog ng Maynila kumuha ng mga eksena, di ba?"

WORKING WITH SPECIAL PEOPLE. Juday is not the only one who tried something new in the making of Ploning. Even her boyfriend Ryan Agoncillo, who is also into photography, got his first hand in creating a coffee-table book of the said movie.