In a press conference held on May 25, esteemed actress and director Laurice Guillen shared her thoughts on the highly anticipated television show ‘Unbreak My Heart.’
As one of the cast members and a renowned figure in the industry, Guillen opened up about the advantages of this groundbreaking collaboration between former rival networks GMA and ABS-CBN.
For Guillen, this project marked her return to acting after a considerable hiatus. Having spent several years directing teleseryes for GMA 7, she took a temporary break from her acting career. However, when Dreamscape Entertainment offered her the opportunity to be part of ‘Unbreak My Heart,’ the first collaboration project of ABS-CBN Entertainment, GMA Network, and Viu Philippines, Guillen did not hesitate to seize the chance.
During the press conference, Guillen commended the professionalism of the cast and crew involved in the production. She stated, “They come to the set prepared, and especially when we were abroad, we got the chance to exchange ideas and be together and so on.”
Transitioning from directing to acting posed both excitement and challenges for Guillen. She explained, “It was fun and challenging. Personally, challenging din kasi matagal ng hindi ako umaarte. Pag ikaw yung direktor, utak ang gumagana. Dito, yung buong katawan ang gumagana,” highlighting the shift from primarily using her mind as a director to employing her entire being as an actress.
Guillen had to tap into her own resources to deliver an exceptional performance, and this exhilarating experience brought both joy and frustration. Reflecting on her role, she shared, “I’ve been having fun, and I have been having some frustrations.”
The collaboration between GMA and ABS allowed for a unique advantage in casting. Guillen mentioned, “Nung panahon ko, wala naman yung exclusive ka sa ABS, at exclusive ka sa GMA, so you get to work from all the networks. But this time, one of the advantages of this collaboration is for the production, they can cast anybody that they want to cast.”
The freedom in casting decisions enhances the creative possibilities of the show, providing opportunities for talented individuals across networks to come together and bring their unique strengths to the project.
Furthermore, Guillen expressed her enjoyment in working with familiar faces as well as newcomers. The collaboration offered her the chance to reunite with people she knew while also building new connections.
The challenges of shooting “Unbreak My Heart” were not limited to the creative aspects alone. Guillen recounted the physically demanding shooting conditions, particularly during the European leg of production. She shared, “Shooting in Europe, in winter. May mga eksena kaming nangangatog kami sa lamig.”
Laurice Guillen’s involvement in ‘Unbreak My Heart’ marks a significant moment in her career, as well as in the collaboration between GMA and ABS. As the television show premieres, viewers can anticipate a compelling and captivating performance from Guillen and the entire cast of ‘Unbreak My Heart.’
