Janella Salvador and Jameson Blake agree in saying that their team-up in the upcoming movie, So Connected, is significant for both of them.
For one, this is their first time to work together.
For his part, Jameson explains that he has always been vocal in his past interviews that Janella is her dream leading lady.
“Before, people would always ask me, ‘If you would work with a leading lady, who would you choose?’ I’m like, ‘Maybe Janella, I think maybe we’d be a good match for a movie.’
“I’m like, ‘Someday baka may movie kami ni Janella. Maybe it would come true.’ I actually dreamt about it,” the Hashtags member recounts.
“I never really expected it would come true,” he enthuses about his granted wish.
The budding actor also points out why So Connected is a huge milestone in his showbiz career: What could be better than finally getting your first big role and be paired with your dream leading lady?
“Ito so far ang pinakamalaking role ko as a bida sa mainstream. Kasi nag-indie [movie] ako, so ito mainstream na ito. It’s like a big step in my life.
“It’s really special for me. Kasi I always wanted to work with Janella. and I’m happy it actually came true,” he says with excitement.
Though it is their first team-up, Jameson is happy to hear that the staff and crew of the production team is optimismic that his onscreen partnership with Janella shows a lot of promise.
“They believe that we could actually pull off the movie. It’s a great experience,” he beams.
“They really like the movie,” referring to the production team.
Meanwhile, the team up is a breath of fresh air for Janella. She only has good words for Jameson.
“He’s very nice, actually. I have no problem working with him at all because sobrang light lang ng aura niya, sobrang good vibes lang, and masaya siya to work with,” she commends.
Coming from a solid love team in the previous Regal Entertainment movie, Janella admits that she had to adjust in working with a new leading man in the person of Jameson.
However, she welcomes this change because this will only help her to a better actress.
“Syempre, may adjustment. Medyo after a few projects with the same leading man, di ako sanay na bago, pero it’s always nice to try something new. I think it’s good growth din as an actress,” she articulates.
Janella’s role in the movie is Trisha, a self-supporting young woman, who hopes to help her family.
Popularly known for portraying teeny bopper roles, Janella finally gets the chance to portray an out-of-the-box character.
“Nag-enjoy ako dito sa role na ‘to kasi nga it’s something different for me, kasi halos lahat ng roles na ginawa ko before maarte o kaya younger.
“Ito, hindi lang mature. Mas jologs talaga yung character ko. Sobrang jologs niya,” she giggles.
“And it’s so fun to do it kasi in real life, may makulit side din talaga ako. So nalabas ko sa character na ito.”
Jameson, on the other hand, portrays Karter, a video editor for a web channel who finds himself falling for a complete stranger (Trisha) after he gets a glimpse of her life in videos and photos uploaded in the online world.
Just like Janella, Jameson also feels connected to his role.
“May mga similarities kami; I’m shy and quiet minsan. I just want to be on the computer a lot. I’m just like him; his attitude and the way how he approaches different kinds of situation. I didn’t have much adjustments to it,” describes the actor.
So Connected, which is produced by Regal Entertainment, Inc. and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana will be showing in cinemas on May 23.
Jameson Blake still in awe of his successful career in showbiz
Jameson Blake has come a long way since his stint as a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother: 737 in 2015.
Barely three years in showbiz and he has achieved feats that would have taken other celebs longer to do the same.
He is currently a member of the all-male group Hashtags on It’s Showtime; he is slated to star in an upcoming prime time teleserye on ABS-CBN; and is doing one movie after the other.
He bagged the Best Supporting Actor award in his very first movie, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten in the 2016 Cinema One Originals Festival.
“In my whole life, I would never expect that would happen,” he beams, pertaining to the award.
Having been the shy type, Jameson says he never thought that he would get this far in the industry in just a short period of time.
The acting award gave him the much-needed boost to know that he is on the right path.
“I think it’s just like a sign na you have the potential, just keep on working on it. I want to expand my craft. I’m game,” he adds.
His showbiz venture also taught him to be a better version of himself.
“I learned to be sociable, discover my talents. I discovered stuff that I didn’t know I could actually do, getting better at things,” he explains.
Currently, the 20-year-old Filipino-American actor is top-billing the upcoming Regal Entertainment, Inc. movie So Connected, with the multi-talented Janella Salvador as his leading lady.
Given the number of projects entrusted to him, Jameson admits it can get overwhelming at times.
“I’m not complaining. [It’s a] good kind of tiring. I’m working and enjoying it naman,” he clarifies.
But more than the fame and the accolades, what Jameson is most proud of is being able to provide for his family.
“It was always my dream to help my family. We went through a rough patch din,” says the breadwinner.
His parents are separated.
His dad is based in Hong Kong working as a tutor, while his mom lives in Angeles City.
“I’m staying with my mom. I have an older brother and younger sister. I have a stepdad.”
His career requires him to be away from his family, but it’s a sacrifice he is willing to take.
“Getting this opportunity to work in showbiz helped me a lot in my financial problems.”
His hard-earned money allowed him to pay his family’s debts, and to help them financially.
“Mga utang dati like for school. I managed to fix my passport and my siblings’ passport. Kasi US ang passport namin, we had to get dual citizenship, so I covered that.
“I managed to buy my new car,” he says with a smile.
Soon, he hopes to build his mom’s dream house.
“It’s always my mom’s dream she would have her house and she would be decorating it. I would give that to her,” he shares.
“I’ll be starting to invest in a house soon,” he says in a hopeful voice.
In So Connected, Jameson portrays the role of Karter, a video editor for a web channel, who gets his phone stolen by a thief, who, in turn, sells it to a waitress named Trisha (Janella).
Not knowing that the gadget is synced to Karter’s computer, Trisha stores photos and pictures on the mobile phone that Karter can access.
Having a glimpse of her life through pictures and videos, Karter becomes infatuated with her.
Eventually, he goes on a mission to find Trisha through the clues from the videos and photos.
When their paths finally cross, Trisha feels she ridiculously has a lot of things in common with Karter.
She feels that they are so connected.
But what if she finds out that the connection she has for Karter, did not form from the genuine kind that she has in mind?
Janella Salvador is ready to go on her own
Janella Salvador, 20, is now ready to try new things to help her grow as an actress, including be paired with different leading men and not having to stick with one perennial onscreen partner.
She expressed her openness to break away from the love team she has been typecast these past couple of years.
Having been in the business six year, Janella’s career scaled new heights when her team-up with fellow Kapamilya star Elmo Magalona was formed in 2016.
Together, their tandem became well known as ElNella.
For TV, they did Born For You (2016), Wansapanataym; Holly & Mau (2016) and followed by Wansapanataym: Jasmin’s Flower Powers (2017).
The onscreen couple went on to make movies, recently My Fairy Tail Love Story (2018) from Regal Entertainment, Inc.
But in her latest movie, So Connected, Janella has a new leading man, in the person of Jameson Blake.
Though she remains grateful to the fans of her previous love team, Janella hopes fans would support her even if she would have new onscreen partners.
“Syempre love ko naman lahat ng fans, pero like I requested din sa mga tao, sana after everything, mas okay na rin na hindi ako i-pair sa isang person consistently. Mas okay ‘yun,” she explained.
She expresses that she hopes to be a versatile actress and not to have to depend on a team-up in all of her projects.
To be paired with different leading men will enable her to improve her craft.
“Kasi mahirap na mag-build ng isang [love team], so I’d rather grow.”
She clarifies that she is happy with ElNella, but being groomed for another constant leading man is not an easy task.
“I’ll admit that it was really hard for me to accept na I have to work with different people, but now, okay na sa akin. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“I realized that it’s gonna help me grow in my career.
“It’s gonna help me discover things about myself when it comes to acting.
Syempre may adjustment. Hindi ako sanay, pero it’s always nice to try something new.
“I think it’s good growth din as an actress.
“So, if I’m gonna be paired up now, ayoko nang ma-groom as a love team, kumbaga iba-iba na.”
In So Connected, Jameson portrays Karter, a video editor for a web channel.
One day, his phone gets stolen by a thief, who, in turn, sells it to a waitress named Trisha (Janella).
Not knowing that the gadget is synced to Karter’s computer, Trisha stores photos and pictures on the mobile phone that Karter can access.
Having a glimpse of her life through pictures and videos, Karter becomes infatuated with her.
Eventually, he goes on a mission to find Trisha through the clues from the videos and photos.
When their paths finally cross, Trisha feels she ridiculously has a lot of things in common with Karter.
She feels that they are so connected.
But what if she finds out that the connection she has for Karter, did not form from the genuine kind that she has in mind?
The film also stars Ruby Rodriguez, Rolando Inocencio, Cherise Castro, Krystal Brimner, Paulo Angeles, VJ Mendoza, Chai Fonacier, Rafael Sudayan and is directed by the highly-respected Jason Paul Laxamana.
For more updates, follow Regal Entertainment Inc on Facebook, @RegalFilms on Twitter, @RegalFilms50 on IG and Regal Cinema channel on Youtube.
So Connected opens in cinemas on May 23.
