IT wasn’t your usual red carpet, as it was blue. Also, it wasn’t your typical teleserye either.
On Wednesday, November 4, the premiere of ‘The Alibi’ at Trinoma painted a sleek and sultry cinematic reunion between Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino.
Prime Video, in partnership with ABS-CBN Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment, rolled out the blue carpet for media, close friends, and industry insiders ahead of the show’s worldwide premiere on November 7 on Prime Video.
‘The Alibi’ brings Kim and Paulo back in another highly anticipated pairing after the success of their previous hits ‘Linlang’ and the Philippine adaptation of ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.’ This time, they trade corporate flirtation for secrets, suspense and a dangerous kind of chemistry.
For Director FM Reyes, who co-helms the series with Jojo Saguin, magic between KimPau remains untouched even in a darker genre.
‘The one thing I discovered when I first stepped into this show was that whenever I see the two of them together onscreen, the ‘kilig’ between Kim and Pao is very innate and organic,’ Reyes said in a mix of English and Filipino during the Blue Carpet media conference.
‘It’s not something they force. You’ll really find yourself rooting for the couple because it’s built into them. The thrill here isn’t fanservice; everything is done in the service of the story,’ he added.
Breaking form, not boundaries
KIM, now 35, admitted that ‘The Alibi’ marks a major shift both in her career and confidence. Gone are the bubbly teeny roles she used to play; this one demanded maturity and vulnerability.
‘I think as a 35-year-old woman, we’re done with the 16-year-old teeny roles,’ Kim said in Filipino with a laugh.
‘I still love doing those funny, light ones. But when I look back at my journey in this industry, I’ve divided it-my teens, my twenties-and now I want to show who I am in my thirties. I think this is my skin. But really, I have huge trust in Dreamscape. They’re the ones who shaped me.’
However, it’s not just about skin, according to Paulo. The actor explained that their boldness onscreen is all about serving the story.
‘I don’t think it’s about showing skin,’ he said. ‘It comes with the maturity of the role and what it requires. Some stories need to be told this way. If the character sells allure, then it has to be believable onscreen. It’s about maturity and mastering the craft.’
The challenge, though, was to bring out the duo’s sensuality without losing narrative depth, according to Direk Jojo.
While Kim didn’t undergo a formal workshop for the role, the director said she came in ready and fearless. ‘Like they said, it’s about the maturity of the characters,’ Saguin explained. ‘Kim didn’t have to go through a formal workshop, but she was very open.’
‘You could really see her growth. I’d tell her, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ and she’d go, ‘Wow, really?’ But she did it so well. They were both amazing. It’s very different from Linlang, in story and in character, but they were both very open.’
Different love story
DECEIT, danger, and the urge to believe even when the truth hurts fuel the heartbeat of ‘The Alibi.’ Yet amid the betrayals and chase sequences, Reyes says audiences will still find something tender to root for.
‘You’ll understand why, even within all the excitement, drama, and action, you’ll still find yourself rooting for these two characters,’ Reyes said. ‘And I think that’s the most rewarding part of the film.’
‘The Alibi’ premieres exclusively on Prime Video this November 7, promising not just romance, but risk; not just love, but the lengths people go to prove it.