Director Kerwin Go openly acknowledges the pressure he experienced when entrusted with the task of directing the Filipino adaptation of the South Korean film Keys to the Heart.
Addressing PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and a select group of journalists at a press conference on Monday, September 18, 2023, Direk Kerwin shared his insights about his upcoming film, slated for an exclusive Netflix release this October 4, 2023.
He shared, "So, Keys to the Heart, for those that don't know, is actually an adaptation of a hit Korean film of the same title.
"And so, it's a beloved franchise, so there was pressure on us to execute it well, if not make it just as good or maybe even make it better."
Keys to the Heart made its original debut on the silver screen in 2018, featuring Lee Byung-hun, Youn Yuh-jung, and Park Jeong-min in the lead roles.
The Filipino version of the film was first introduced in 2020, led by Star Cinema and an initial cast lineup featuring Joshua Garcia, Zaijian Jaranilla, and Charo Santos.
However, in 2022, a significant change was announced regarding the producers and cast, coinciding with Kerwin Go's entry into the production.
Presently, the film stars Dolly de Leon, Elijah Canlas, and Zanjoe Marudo in the lead roles.
Read: Star Cinema not the producer of South Korean movie Keys to the Heart's Pinoy version
Shedding light on the cast shakeup, Direk Kerwin mentioned, "I cannot answer why the previous cast was no longer the one that was carried over because I was also brought in after the fact, so I'm kind of like a hired gun."
PEP.ph asked about the process of selecting the current cast for the film.
Direk Kerwin acknowledged their luck in having Dolly join the project, especially since she was fast gaining global renown at the time.
He said, "With the current cast, of course, it was more a collaborative process. Who would get to play the mother? And then at that time, Dolly was just on her way up.
"So, we were lucky. So, as soon as we cast her, as soon as she arrived on set, that's when she kind of blew up already. So, we were lucky."
Dolly's international acclaim came with her role in the Palme d'Or-winning film, Triangle of Sadness.
Notably, her performance in this film marked her as the first Filipino actor nominated for both the BAFTAs and Golden Globe Awards.
Additionally, she was chosen to headline the Star Cinema production, A Very Good Girl, alongside Kathryn Bernardo. Looking ahead, Dolly is set to feature in Hollywood films like Grand Death Lotto and Between the Temples.
Meanwhile, Direk Kerwin was all praises for award-winning actor Elijah Canlas.
He highlighted Elijah's exceptional performance, underscoring the pressure he faced portraying a character with Savant Syndrome and mastering piano playing.
"With Elijah, it was like a recommendation of our associate producer that, 'You [should] get this guy, he's really good...'
"And yeah, boy, he was really good. Elijah was amazing.
"You can imagine, Elijah was under a lot of pressure because first of all, he had to play somebody with Savant Syndrome.
"And if you cannot get that right, the whole movie will not work. It's predicated on whether he can pull it off or not.
"So, we were very nervous. He was nervous. He didn't know if he could do it.
"Plus, he had to learn to play the piano.
"There were a lot of things that were stuck on his shoulders. But during our look test, when we turned the camera on and he first turned on the character of Jayjay, you could hear the people there gasp...
"And then, when I saw that, I was like, 'Boom, we're good! We got it!'
Meanwhile, Kerwin lauded Zanjoe for his striking resemblance and demeanor to Lee Byung-hun, acknowledging the perfect homage to the original Korean material.
He said, "And then with Zanjoe, he actually looks also like the original character. So, it's perfect casting.
"Even Zanjoe's aura, nice, very quiet, reserved, man of few words, perfect guy to play the character of Joma.
"And Zanjoe, if you look at him, he actually looks kind of Korean also. So, it's a perfect homage to the original material."
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