Jasmine Curtis loves a good story. Inside this month's issue, we talk to the young actress about her latest film Baka Bukas, which is coincidentally Sam Lee's debut full-length feature. She plays Alex, a girl in love with her best friend, Jess, who's portrayed by Louise Delos Reyes. And although gay love may be a "typical" film festival topic, Jasmine firmly believes that her new movie is different. "It's a film about love between two people who already love each other [as friends]. It's a film for all millennials and beyond. Everyone's loved after all," she says.
IMAGE Paolo Crodua
"No, it's nothing different from portraying a straight female character. What makes a portrayal difficult is the study of the person's movements, thought process, and physical aesthetic." - Jasmine
Sam, the director, also wants the film to break the local stereotype of gay and lesbian characters on screen. "Jasmine was originally supposed to play Jess because she felt like the character was more familiar to her," says Sam, "but I wanted her to play Alex. The role is completely different from anything she's done before." She also recalls seeing Jasmine do the monologue she wrote for the play No Filter, and saw a little bit of Alex in her then.
IMAGE Paolo Crodua
But ultimately, for Jasmine, it's about telling stories that feed the soul. Her last film may be the blockbuster AlDub flick Imagine You and Me, but the young actress yearns for something more that only intimate indie films can fulfill. "Indie films just usually have [more freedom in terms of] collaboration that's somewhat rare in mainstream. Indie is life and [it feels more] alive," says Jasmine.
Baka Bukas is one of those narratives you can't wait to unfold on-screen. "This story needs to be heard because it tells a pure story that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely a story worth knowing and emitting feels for," Jasmine adds.
Baka Bukas Full Trailer from Samantha Lee on Vimeo.
Baka Bukas opens tomorrow, 7pm, until November 22 at Glorietta Cinema 1 as part of the Cinema One Originals Film Festival.
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