Ben Madilynn
There is truly a right time for everything.
Take the case of Jodi Sta. Maria, who waited over 20 years to work on a project with Regal Entertainment, formerly Regal Films.
Jodi recently topbilled the horror movie titled “Untold,” produced by Regal Entertainment, and directed by Derick Cabrido.
“Yes, I’ve been praying (for it to happen) from the moment that I started in show business 27 years ago, that hopefully one day get me for, let’s say, an episode of ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll’ because I grew up watching it, as well as ‘Regal Shocker.’ I’m familiar with the horror films produced by Regal,” revealed Jodi.
“It’s funny that sometimes there are things we’ve been praying so hard for, and yet they’re not given to us right away. Hindi agad dumarating pero sa tamang panahon ibibigay sa ‘yo,” she added.
Jodi as guest for this columnist’s GMA show, ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.’
Jodi is often seen taking on roles in the drama genre, but the Asia’s Best Actress knows the common factor about portraying roles effectively in drama and horror.
“Perhaps, what’s common between the two genres is that you’re still relying on your true emotion. The only difference is that there’s a lot of screaming and running in horror that makes it more physically taxing, and at the same time, there’s this kind of fear that’s coming from the bottom of your heart.”
I asked Jodi to express different emotions just by screaming, and I was left in awe as she effortlessly conveyed feelings of joy, sorrow, pain and fear without any preparation. Her versatility as an actress was clear even in an off-the-cuff setting. Creating a story in her head is part of her acting approach. It’s not always technical, she said.
“It must start here (pointing to her head), and then eventually it goes down. You feel it. I mean, that’s the power of the brain, anything you believe in, even if it’s not true, is going to feel like it’s real,” explained Jodi, who also believes that preparation leads to excellent acting.
“But you can’t be too technical when doing a scene. You can’t be too logical or you must not anticipate what’s going to happen, kung ano ang ibabato ng kaeksena mo kasi you will lose yung pagiging organic or raw nung pag atake mo.”
Photos from Jodi Sta. Maria’s official Facebook page
Last January, Jodi revealed her plan to temporarily put her acting career on hold to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology. In case you didn’t know, Jodi has a psychology degree from the Southville International School and Colleges.
“From the time I was (formally) launched (in showbiz) in the ‘90s, I have never stopped working, Tito Boy. So, there are other things I also want to do in my life. I’m not saying that my passion for acting doesn’t make me happy; it’s just that there are things in life I wish to pursue as well.
“Sabi ko nga, meron pa rin akong mga movies na ginagawa. Nakapag bangko ako ng mga pelikula,” said Jodi who also confirmed that some of her movies will be shown this year, and the remaining ones are set for release next year.
As for TV series, the actress is waiting for a project that is so compelling that she would accept it right away.
“In the meantime, I will focus on my studies,” she concluded.
Source: Jodi Sta. Maria prioritizes her studies
