Actress Jodi Sta. Maria looked to her own experiences as a mother and child to better understand her and Agot Isidro’s characters in their movie “Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon.”
Jodi plays television writer Joanne or Jo set on a big career move, until the return of her mother Paz (Agot) throws her off course and makes her confront buried childhood wounds – pain that molded and affects her until today.
Both actresses and director Cholo Laurel sat down with members of the media, including Philstar.com, ahead of the film’s August 13 release on Netflix to discuss the characterization of their characters.
“Tina-try kong intindihin si Paz kasi bilang nanay, paano siya umabot sa ganoon? Paano niya iniwan [si Jo]?” said Jodi. “Kasi kung ako, kahit ano mangyari, ilalaban at ilalaban mo ang anak mo, sa hirap at ginhawa magsasama kayo.”
Jodi herself is a mother to Thirdy Lacson, her son with ex-husband Panfilo “Pampi” Lacson Jr., who is now engaged to former model-actress Iwa Moto.
On the other hand, she wouldn’t know how to address the issue if she encountered it as a child. Jodi later noted to the media that she never met her biological father, who left the family before she was born and died without ever crossing paths with her. The actress then sought advice from Laurel, who also wrote the film, to better understand Paz and Jo’s relationship.
“May mga bagay na for me may mga butas so kailangan natin pagtagpi-tagpiin,” Jodi continued. “At the end of the day, hindi ko puwede i-judge ‘yung character ko because when I do, I won’t be able to play her, be faithful to her, o bigyan siya ng conviction.”
She and Laurel had numerous discussions to formulate Jo’s characterization, with the director chipping in to compare their conversations to therapy. Jodi agreed with the filmmaker and pointed out the process opened up something within them.
“‘Pag ginawa mo na ‘yung eksena, sometimes you plan at masu-surprise ka na lang na ‘yung plinano mo totally hindi ganun ‘yung mangyayari, so you just go with what’s organic and what’s real,” the actress ended.
Joining Jodi and Agot in the film’s cast are Gabriel Lazaro, Gardo Versoza, Ruby Ruiz, RK Bagatsing, Mitch Valdez, and Angel Aquino.