Jeremiah Lisbo considers himself blessed after being cast in his first-ever movie.
He stars in Love At First Stream, Star Cinema's entry to the 47th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The film is in collaboration with streaming app Kumu.
When asked what the movie means to him, Jeremiah became a bit emotional.
He said, “Napaka-importante sa amin nito, e.
“Grabe, dati hinahangad ko lang maging artista, mapanood sa big screen.
“Ngayon, nandito na ako. Kasama sa MMFF na ginagawa namin ng mga kapamilya ko, bago i-celebrate ang Pasko.
“Alam ko, sobrang cliché na blessing, grateful… pero totoo, e.
“Na-experience ko din kasing maging talent, rejections, auditions, wala, e.”
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, Love At First Stream features two pairs of love teams: Jeremiah and Kaori Oinuma, and Daniela Stranner and Anthony Jennings.
The four young actors are part of Rise Artists Studio, ABS-CBN Films’ talent arm in collaboration with Star Magic.
Jeremiah was chosen to replace Rhys Miguel in portraying Gino, the heartthrob and one of the four main characters in the MMFF movie. He was cast after playing an important part in the film Love Is Color Blind, headlined by Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano.
In a media conference held on December 14, 2021, Jeremiah expressed his gratitude to the management.
“Grabe, ibinigay kasi sa akin itong opportunity na ito, sobrang grateful ko lang na makakatrabaho ko iyong mga kaibigan ko and sila Direk Cathy, blessing talaga siya and nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos at sa tiwala ng management…
“Ipinabasa muna sa akin iyong script and sobrang nagustuhan ko.
“Sino pa bang magiging picky, di ba? Ang ganda na ng kuwento, si Direk Cathy pa iyong magdi-direct.”
CATHY GARCIA-MOLINA ANSWERS QUESTION ON RHYS MIGUEL
Through an Instagram post on October 25, ABS-CBN Films announced that Jeremiah will be stepping in for Rhys, who was originally Kaori's partner in the movie.
The statement said that Rhys "will no longer appear in the project due to personal matters."
During the media conference, Direk Cathy answered why Rhys had to leave the project.
She explained, “Well, tulad ng inilabas ng ABS-CBN na statement and Rhys himself, meron lang personal matter that he needed to attend to and he chose to leave the project.
“So, desisyon niya na iginalang namin at nirespeto.
“Iyon lang ang kaya kong sabihin… but maayos naman ang lahat.”
JEREMIAH ON WORKING WITH KAORI OINUMA
Love At First Stream is Jeremiah's second team-up with Kaori.
They were first paired in the TV5 and Brightlight Productions series Love On Da Move, which was also co-produced by Star Cinema. It was supposed to air in March 2021, but has not yet aired until now.
They also worked in the ABS-CBN youth-oriented series He's Into Her but they were not love-team partners.
Jeremiah—or Miah to his friends and colleagues—is just happy that he was able to work with Kaori again in Love At First Stream.
He explained, “Matagal ko nang inaamin na gustung-gusto kong makatrabaho si Kaori.
"Nakapagtrabaho na kami before, so itong Love at First Stream, sobrang suwerte ko lang na makatrabaho ko siya, sobrang open niya.
"Ipinapakita niya sa akin na vulnerable siya and nagbibigay siya sa mga eksena.
“Siguro ang laking tulong noong pagiging bukas namin sa isa’t isa, minsan hindi na namin napag-uusapan, iyong wala kang walls, iyong may tiwala ka sa partner mo.”
Kaori, who was also present at the media conference, reacted, “Na-touch naman ako doon, Miah! Parang gusto kong umiyak. Charot.”
On a serious note, Kaori was glad about the way her accidental pairing with Jeremiah turned out, giving credit to Direk Cathy.
She said, “Grateful ako na si Miah, I mean, parang nakatrabaho ko siya ulit dito [kasi] nagkaroon na kami ng pair-up pero hindi pa na-eere.
“Pero dito, iyong pag-build up ng chemistry, siguro nakatulong din si Direk sa amin.
"Iyong magic ni Direk, nakatulong sa pag-build up ng chemistry namin and si Miah kasi, matagal na din kami magkakilala ni Miah, magka-Rise din kami, so meron nang nabuong friendship sa amin.
"So siguro, noong nasa set kami, mas nag-build up na lang siguro lalo.”
Love at First Stream, along with seven other MMFF entries, is now showing in select cinemas.