Director Laurice Guillen admits she’s impressed with the actors of ‘I Love You, Goodbye’
by Bernie Franco ( ABS-CBN.com ) 12.31.09

Directing the stars of I Love You, Goodbye was a breeze for Laurice Guillen because of her actors. She had previously worked with Gabby Concepcion and Angelica Panganiban while it was her first time to direct Kim Chiu and Derek Ramsay.

The actress-director said that Gabby’s attitude towards work has not changed after many years. “Super bait. ’Yun bang never mo siyang mariringgan na nagrereklamo o nagdadabog o nagtatampo. He really missed acting in movies. Kahit meron akong ipauulit sa kanya, he did it with enthusiasm.” The director elaborated that although Gabby had so many commitments, he would show up on the set with so much zest and focus even during very early call times. In terms of his acting, Direk Laurice said that Gabby has matured a lot. “Nakaka-deliver siya ng pain at mas naiintindihan niya ‘yung relationship between husband and wife.”

Although Gabby was nervous about his comeback movie after 13 years, Direk Laurice said Gabby has gotten better considering that there were so many demands required by the role. “Meron siyang nerbiyos na I think it is also part of his excitement and partly because he is thinking na, ‘Kaya ko pa bang gawin ito? I haven’t done this in a long time.’ Minsan kasi andami kong hinihingi din sa kanya. Ang role ni Gabby dito is more complex. Gabby’s (role) is more mature and more complex and his love is able to accommodate so many things. Bagay na bagay kay Gabby ‘yung role niya.

Direk Laurice previously directed Angelica in Santa Santita in 2004 and said that the latter has matured as an actress. Direk admitted though that Angelica’s main concern for the movie was having to act opposite her real-life boyfriend Derek. “She has always been an actress—remember she was a child actress and always an actress. Alam niya ‘yung ‘pag nag-grind na ‘yung camera hahayaan niya ‘yung character na magdikta ng movement niya ng pag-iisip and the feeling so parang concern siya na may lalabas sa kanya na hindi kilala ni Derek that he may not be able to accept. But then periodically I would push her and really remind her of her priorities and given the choice between the actress and the girlfriend,” Direk Laurice explained.

Kim, on the other hand, was a revelation to her. The director said that aside from the young actress’s undeniable charisma, she displayed the willingness to prove herself as a real actress. “She’s got that star quality pero apart of that, I’m happy to find out na artista rin siya at gusto rin niyang maging artista in a way nangingibabaw ‘yun. Kasi in the first place tinanggap niya ‘yung role na hindi naman ito ‘yung fan role. Seryoso talaga siya. I think she’s going a very long way as an actress,” the director predicted.

Direk Laurice said that she first met Derek when they did workshops and what impressed her about him was his intelligence. “So mature din ang mind and is very intelligent.” She explained that although he grew up in UK, it was not hard for Derek to deliver long lines in Tagalog. “Mahusay siya sa linya considering na marami siyang lines na mahahaba na Tagalog but he was able to deliver kasi naiintindihan niya ‘yung proseso kung bakit ganon ang linya niya.”