“AKO po, na-shocked sa trailer,” sexy actress Shiela Snow declared after watching for the first time the trailer of her first starring role in director Temi Cruz Abad’s Vivamax flick, Kalikot.

Shiela plays a professor (Salve Uzon), who recently separated from her husband. She is serious in her professional job, but when she’s not working, she gets flirty and reverts to her old life.

There are a number of sexy scenes in the trailer, more so in the film. Shiela apparently has to get used to doing sexy scenes in her Vivamax projects.

Arah Alonzo, meanwhile, plays Jenna who is the student of Salve and the feisty girl friend of Arnel (Van Allen Ong).

In 2023, Arah previously played support in the TV mini-series Araro and Ssshhh, as well as acted support in Mac Alejandre’s Sex Games and Pam Miras’ Star Dancer and Stag – all playing sexy roles.

It is only now in Kalikot where Arah gets stellar billing and she cannot be any thankful. “Gusto ko ‘yung role ko ngayon kasi dati, probinsiyana, para akong bata,” she said. “Pero ngayon, Gen Z ako.”

Shiela also gets her starring role in Kalikot.

“Before kami mag-shoot, gusto kong maging professor talaga,” Shiela admitted. “Nabanggit ko ‘yun sa friends ko. I think, napanindigan ko naman siya.”

Shiela found one scene really challenging. “Humugot ako tapos umiyak,” she shared. “Nahirapan ako at that time kasi meron talaga akong pinagdadaanan personally. I think na-execute ko naman ang scene na maayos dahil relatable ang nangyari.”

However, the scene that became challenging for the two actresses differed from the ones that affected them personally.

Direk Temi simply asked Shiela when was her last failed relationship and tears came rolling down her cheeks.

“Binilangan niya na ako agad, ‘Okay, 3-2-1, action’,” Sheila recalled. “Naging madali ang eksena for me.”

Every time Direk Temi gave them instructions on what to do for a particular scene, Arah made it a point to really listen.

“Naa-amaze ako sa instinct niya at sa visualization niya,” Arah said of her director. “Talagang pag nage-explain siya, nakikinig ako, all ears. Gusto kong magawa agad.”

The two female stars are also very collaborative. “Curious ako na tao,” Arah admitted. “Kahit hindi ako kausapin ni direk, ako ang nagtatanong sa kanya.

“Everytime we get a break, during our dinners, hindi ako nai-ilang sa production or even kay direk. The first time we saw each other, nagdadaldalan na kami agad. No inhibitions na. Very open kami sa lahat.”

Shiela was likewise very open with her director. “Sometimes, I even asked direk what is better to do,” she recalled. “He told me to always follow my instinct. He always validates my ideas for a certain scene.

“When it’s break time, he talked to us. When it’s work, work talaga. Kailangan mo’ng gawin ang trabaho mo. Kaya ang bilis ng shoot namin. Kung ano ang nakalagay sa call sheet, tapos kami ng gano’ng oras. Sobrang professional talaga si direk.”

So, are Shiela and Arah willing to do everything for love?

“Siyempre, mahal ko na kaya gagawin ko talaga,” Arah said. “Kahit magpaka-tanga ako. Gagawin ko ang lahat para sa mahal ko.”

Shiela, however, previously had an experience in loving deeply. “’Yung dating tanga na ako, sasabihin ko din ‘yan na gagawin ko ang lahat.

“Pero ngayon na may experience na ako, ‘pag ayaw sa akin, hindi rin ako magiging masaya. Depende rin ‘yun kung sino ang kasama ko at kung mamahalin rin niya ako.”