Actress Jennica Garcia admitted she found working on the period film ‘Sisa’ extremely challenging, saying the project may be her first and last in the genre.
Garcia said she struggled with the demands of period acting, explaining that her usual process involves memorizing lines a day before shooting to focus solely on emotions on set.
“Ito na ata ‘yung una at huling period ko na gagawin… Sa totoo lang, Direk, parang hindi ako pang-ganito po. Hirap na hirap po talaga ako,” she said.
“Siguro ‘yung style ko po kasi with acting is that, I memorize my lines a day before para pagdating na ng shooting emotion na lang ‘yung iniisip ko,” she added.
Despite the challenges, she expressed gratitude for working alongside veteran actors Hilda Koronel and Eugene Domingo, calling the experience a “blessing.”
The actress also revealed she had long hoped to work with director Jun Robles Lana. Although she initially planned to take a year-long break after a previous project, Garcia said she immediately accepted the role when the offer came.
Domingo, for her part, said she was initially surprised to be included in the project following her work on a commercially successful film, ‘And the Breadwinner Is’, emphasizing ‘Sisa’ as a shift to a more historical and dramatic production.
“Sabi ko ‘Ah okay, shift naman tayo sa brown movie,’ meaning historical, dramatic… So, walang pagod at walang pag-aalinlangan, of course, Direk,” she remarked.
Koronel, who portrays the titular character Sisa, said she could not refuse what she described as a compelling script.
“Imposibleng tanggihan ko itong napakagandang script ni Direk at siya pa ang direktor. So, imposibleng tanggihan ko. It’s a great film,” she expressed.
The veteran actress also shared that she prepared extensively for her Spanish dialogue, focusing particularly on pronunciation and inflection with the help of a coach.
“Sisa” will premiere on March 4, 2026. (ABS-CBN News)
