Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo always eager to collaborate if roles fit

1 week ago 7

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MANILA, Philippines — Prime Video's "The Silent Noise" marks the fifth time Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo have worked together, and their dynamic continues to be just as strong.

In fact, their most recent collaboration "Unmarry" just released last Christmas, less than three months ago, so the turnaround for both actors seeing each other again is shorter than usual.

Angelica noted as much during the upcoming series' media conference last March 10, where she shared being approached about "The Silent Noise" while just beginning to promote "Unmarry," her first movie in four years, in the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Since "Unmarry" wrapped production in September, Angelica was well-rested upon receiving the new pitch, which she found difficulty turning away.

"Lahat nang pinapakita ay papunta sa 'yes'," Angelica shared as she praised the story, quipping that producers in the past would immediately know if she wasn't interested. "Ang hiningi ko lang ay timeline. At parang alam nila na gusto ko nacha-challenge."

The actress reiterated the point as learning Filipino Sign Language (FSL) for the series was far from a breeze, "Be careful what you wish for!"

Zanjoe agreed, sharing that he now chooses his projects carefully. Before, he would immediately accept if he found pitches interesting, but now he even weighs where shooting locations are.

The actor also said he'd never done a character with multiple layers and yet he can't show them all off just yet, something that series director Onat Diaz — whom Zanjoe worked under in "Dirty Linen" — helped with.

He then quipped being asked if he was willing to work with Angelica again after just coming doing "Unmarry" together, "Wala namang problema na makatrabaho kami lagi kung talagang bagay naman sa amin at alam naming kaya gampanin ang mga characters."

Prior to "Unmarry," Zanjoe and Angelica previously did the 2018 series "Playhouse," the 2012 movie "One More Try," and overlapping appearances on sketch show "Banana Split."

'Unmarry' vs 'The Silent Noise'

After initially wondering if she and Zanjoe had to unlearn things from "Unmarry," Angelica pointed out that "The Silent Noise" was a different animal altogether, plus the actors' comfort levels were quite strong.

"Hindi namin kailangan i-discuss ano magiging atake namin," the actress shared. "Mayroon kaming tiwala sa understanding at trabaho niya, at ganun din siya sa'kin."

Rather than working on their dynamic and chemistry as a married couple in the show, Angelica said they worked more on their individual characters again with the help of Diaz.

Angelica further identified the differences in the two projects, like in "Unmarry" her and Zanjoe's characters are only friends and do not have children together.

The movie also had some lightness to it, whereas "The Silent Noise" was straight up a suspense-drama and adding to the difficulty of delivering lines was doing them in FSL.

"Aasahan mo lang talaga is yung expression ng mata, yung connection na mayroon kayo," Angelica also said.

Zanjoe jokingly added that "The Silent Noise" was not a continuation of "Unmarry" where their characters there got together to start a family.

On a more serious note, Zanjoe focused more on emotions and chemistry within the family on top of the technicalities because that was what the series hinged on.

The actor also pointed out he has no real experience being a dad of three — Zanjoe currently shares one child named Sabino with wife and fellow actor Ria Atayde — so the fatherly instincts he may have are different.

"'Yung yung masarap na journey sa paggawa nito... hanggang saan ba ang puwede gawin ang isang tao para hindi mawala ang pamilya kahit alam nang nagbabawi siya?" Zanjoe explained.

Parenthood

Portrayang a parent as an actual parent is something Angelica is aware of too, having welcomed her daughter Amila Sabine in 2022.

Back then as a childless actress, she would have to imagine the levels of love a parent could have, apply it, then wait until the director called for a good take.

"This time minsan nagkakaroon pa kami ng debate, yung 'Ay sandali lang Direk, pag ganyan yung anak ko, 'eto ang mangyayari!,'" Angelica shared, because those levels of love are now coming from a real place. "Alam mo na paano makipagpatayan pala kapag yung anak mo ay agrabyado o malalagay sa pahamak."

The same could be said for playing a married person, which she and Zanjoe did in "Unmarry" as individuals undergoing annulment but still hoping to save their marriages.

Zanjoe echoed Angelica's thoughts on the last point, being people who know the real consequences of possibly losing a spouse (Angelica married entrepreneur Gregg Homan a year after having their daughter).

For "The Silent Noise," Zanjoe said he is more certain of the emotions he needs to display because he didn't have to just rely on research or how his parents raised him.

"Mas nararamdaman ko na. Iba rin pag na-experience mo yung puyat at pagod na hindi ko naman [alam] nung gumanap ako ng tatay dati," Zanjoe shared, ending he now knows the length of the patience required to be a parent.

"The Silent Noise," which also stars Zaijan Jaranilla, Mutya Orquia, KD Omalin, Joem Bascon and Mylene Dizon will premiere on Prime Video this March 20.

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