Kean Cipriano reunites with actress Julia Montes via the advocacy movie, Hilom: A Tribute to the Doctors to the Barrios.
Kean, 31, first worked with Julia, 23, in the 2012 movie The Reunion.
However, Kean and Julia were paired with other stars in the said movie.
In Hilom, Kean and Julia portray a couple.
They portray doctors designated in remote areas in Bicol to give medical aid to the underprivileged.
Since they had worked with each other in the past, Kean said that it was a breeze acting along Julia.
What he admires most about the actress is the amount of hard work she puts in the characters she plays.
“First time we did a couple.
“Okay siya. Magaling si Julia. Seryoso siya sa ginagawa niya,” Kean said.
Kean considers this as a dream-come-true for him because he got to work with award-winning director Brillante Mendoza.
“Nasa bucket list ko talaga na makatrabaho si Direk Brillante ever since. I really look up to him as an actor and as an aspiring film director also,” beamed Kean.
“Very inspiring. Inspired ako sa buong production team, kay Direk Brillante; inspired din ako sa ginawa kong role dahil marami akong natutunan.”
The singer-actor went on to describe Brillante’s unique directing style.
“Siya yung malaki yung respeto niya for the actors. I’m not saying hindi yung iba [na directors].
“Na-feel ko pinapagawa niyang playground sa actor yung set, so hindi siya keen na dapat ma-hit mo yung right words nito, eto yung flow nung sequence…
“Kayo bahalang maglaro and to make it look real.
“Iba yung style niya ng pagdidirek. Nagulat ako.”
MOVIE WITH A PURPOSE
In Hilom, Julia portrays Dr. Elenita “Ellen” Sancho-Peralta. She goes to a remote municipality in the Bicol region to serve her two-year stint.
Her husband, Dr. Alex (Kean), whom she recently married, goes to another Bicol town to serve as a doctor to the barrios.
Kean said about their roles:
“Kami ni Julia mag-asawa kami. Tapos kami yung nagsi-serve sa mga towns, yung iba depressed areas.
“Ako sa mas maayos na place. Si Julia yung naka-experience ng depressed area na matinding need for medical help.”
He continued, “Yung character ni Julia napunta sa isang place na hindi enough yung resources niya, hindi enough yung funding, o anumang kailangan niya to execute kung ano yung job niya as a doctor.
“Kahit gaano ka kagaling, kung wala sa ‘yo yung tamang support or resource, hindi mo siya mae-execute.
“So, yun ang sinasabi ng film. I think it’s calling out sa lahat ng mga taong kinauukulan o sinuman sa government na involved na maraming areas na kailangan nating silipin na nangangailan ng tulong.”
The film also stars Archie Adamos, Ruby Ruiz, Philip Palmos, Red Ibasco, Bibo Bayona, Ryan Sandoval, Dexter Macaraeg, Cataleya Surio, Lito Capina, and Red Martin.
The film is produced by the Department of Health.