It’s been a while since Judy Ann Santos made a horror film.
It is such that many were quite surprised that she is actually doing one at this point in her career.
Judy Ann is starring in Chito Roño’s “Espantaho,” an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.
Written by Chris Martinez, “Espantaho” is a supernatural horror thriller focusing on two families mourning the death of a shared patriarch.
According to Judy Ann, she immediately said yes to the film mainly because she wants to do a horror film that her kids could watch and appreciate.
But it was upon learning that Chito will spearhead the project as director that made her more than eager to sign on the dotted line.
She told us, “The time pa lang na tumawag sa akin si Direk Chito, offering a film na horror, excited na ako, e. Kasi pangarap ko talagang makagawa ng horror film with Direk Chito.”
“Hindi pa niya ako nadidirek sa isang horror film e. Nakatrabaho ka na siya pero matagal na, dalaga pa ako noon at drama ang tema. So, I was quite excited nung tumawag siya. Wala pang script. Sinabi niya lang sa akin. Sabi ko agad, go.’”
So how was it working again with Chito, we asked.
“It’s always nice to work with Direk Chito, kasi ano iyon e, what you see is what you get. Pero pipigain ka niya,” answered Judy Ann.
“Pero iyon nga, kapag nakuha na niya iyong gusto niya sa iyo, okay na tayo, moved-on na tayo. Pero ‘pag hindi, hindi ka naman makakarinig, pero mararamdaman mo kung saan iyong parte na kailangan mong husayan, puliduhin and all. Happy lang ako na the whole time we were doing this, parang mangilan-ngilan lang iyong mga eksena na ganun.”
Judy Ann is so enamored with project that she actually agreed to co-produce it via her Purple Bunny Productions.
“Natuwa kasi ako makita kung gaano ka passionate si Att. Joji (Alonso, co-producer) sa ginagawa niya. Actually, lahat ng involved sa project so, naisip ko mag-invest,” she explained.
Also starring Lorna Tolentino, Chanda Romero, Janice de Belen, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, Tommy Abuel, Archie Adamos, Eugene Domingo, Kian Co, “Espantaho,” as produced by Quantum Films, Purple Bunny Productions and Cineko, opens in cinemas Dec. 25.
