Khalil Ramos and Ashley Ortega Address Gen Z Issues in ‘As If It’s True’

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Ashley Ortega and Khalil Ramos, stars of the indie drama "As If It's True," said working on the film forced them to step out of their comfort zone as they had to shoot several "intimate scenes" on their first day on the job.

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John Rogers' film is an entry for the 2024 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, which runs from August 4 to 18.

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u201cWhen I first read the script I got nervous because there were intimate scenes that I was going to do for the first time in my showbiz career. But since I want to grow as an actress, I said yes. This role really pushed me to my limits,u201d Ashley told Inquirer Entertainment at a recent luncheon hosted by Cinemalaya.

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u201cI was lucky enough to have Khalil as my partner here. I never felt uncomfortable with him, especially when we had to do our intimate scenes. He's a professional. Off camera, we got a chance to work on our relationship by having long conversations. I think that's why when we were already in front of the camera, we looked comfortable being with each other,u201d she commented.

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Khalil said it helped that they attended acting workshops together prior to filming. u201cIt is very important that trust is established between actors. I remember our workshop moderator telling us to sit face-to-face and then tell each other how much we trust each other,u201d he recalled. u201cShe was also very supportive. Sobrang game siya! I was very happy that she felt comfortable with me easily. It was important that we didn't look uncomfortable.u201d

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Love and exploitation

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Ashley plays Gemma Watson, a social media influencer or content creator who is burned out trying to hold the interest of her followers. She meets James (Khalil), a struggling musician suffering from depression. They enter into a relationship with the mutual intention of benefiting the other. Gemma uses James for substance by presenting him as a perfect aspiring romantic partner, while James exploits Gemma's wealth and connections to further his own music career. But as time passes, their intentions don't pan out as they expected, and a blur emerges between true love and exploitation.

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Khalil explained why it wasn't that hard to say 'yes' to the project. u201cSince the pandemic, I feel like making films again. Second, the story is really compelling. It explores many issues facing the new generation. We know that the platforms on which artists express themselves are changing. Social media has sprung up,' he began. u201cThis movie addresses that Generation Z problem with how to stay authentic, and the decision of whether or not to show what's really happening in your life. [the] public."

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When Khalil was asked if the scenes he did in the movie would make his real-life girlfriend Gabbi Garcia jealous, he said, u201cGabbi and I are very lucky that our relationship has a strong foundation. We both understand the nature of our work and we are very professional at it. Gabbi is happy with all the projects I do. I'm with her too. The intimate scenes are not the highlight of this film. It is the story of two people discovering what love really is in their generation.u201d

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He also said that he would like to do another project with Gabbi, but nothing is planned for them anytime soon. u201cRight now I'm also focused on 'Tick, Ticku2026 u200bu200bBoom!' We have daily rehearsals. I'm super excited about that. I am very aware of people's expectations. I always think about that before I go to sleep at night,u201d he said.

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Career plans

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Khalil will alternate the lead role of John with protagonist Jef Flores. The musical will run in August. u201cI'm so nervous, especially because the songs are all so high and hard to sing. I'm lucky because the whole cast and crew always cheered me on and cheered me on," he added.

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As for Ashley, who boldly stated that she is currently single, she said she would rather focus on her career at the moment. u201cI prefer not to think about why the right man is still absent from my life. I'm glad I was shooting for both 'Hearts on Ice' and 'As If It's True'u201d, she said. u201cI'm on vacation from this month. I recorded seven months for 'Hearts on Ice' and now I want to travel. While I'm not completely saying no to dating, I'm just not looking for someone new right now.u201d

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Ashley also said she wouldn't turn down offers to play "sexy roles" in the future, especially if the story is "something that would make me grow as an actress." She added: u201cI'm done playing pa-cute characters. For example, I was shocked when I first read about the intimate scenes in this movie, but after reading the entire script, I said I would because I know it would really challenge me.

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"As If It's True" is a co-production of IdeaFirst Company. The 19th edition of Cinemalaya will be screened at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

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