ONLY in his second Vivamax project, director Temi Abad surprised even himself when his new film, ‘Top 1,’ yielded more sexy scenes than his Vivamax debut, ‘Kalikot,’ streamed early this year.

“I tried to do something different here in Top 1 from what I achieved in Kalikot,” said direk Temi. “Hopefully, we were able to achieve that. When I rewrote the script, I didn’t realize Top 1 had more sex scenes than Kalikot, surprisingly.

“Dumoble yata, but in varying degrees naman and integral naman to the plot. Maganda naman ang experience. Hopefully, viewers will enjoy the scenes.”

Temi had to talk to his three actors – Christy Imperial, Armani Hector and Mariane Saint – before they started filming Top 1.

“I made sure they knew the rules of the game before we started everything,” the director said. “Ayokong magka-ilangan kami and they will tell me, ‘Direk, hindi natin napag-usapan ‘yan.’ I made clear to them the dos and don’ts.

“Mariane, who’s a neophyte in sex scenes, needed briefing before we started shooting. Kailangan talaga she had to get accustomed to how the Vivamax project was being done. That became challenging for me. But Mariane came up to my expectations.”

Christy and Armani were already groomed, so the two actors didn’t become a problem for direk Temi.

Admittedly, Mariane initially had her discomfort on the set of her first sexy venture. “But later on, nawala na rin,” she said. “Sobrang magaling na katrabaho si Armani. He’s very respectful.

“Every time na may love scene kami, he would always ask me kung saan ako pwwedeng hawakan dito or pwede ka bang halikan dito. I appreciated that. Si direk Temi, he would push me na may kaya ka pang gawin. Ilabas mo ‘yan. He always encouraged me.”

Armani surprisingly cried even before they started filming. “Kailangan ko rin ma-control ang emotions ko,” he disclosed. “Ang bilis kong ma-trigger sa noise at nawawala ako sa focus. But I was happy working with my fellow actors. I hope naging gentleman ako sa kanila.”

Meanwhile, the scene inside the comfort room where Christy had to make love with Armani became really uncomfortable with her.

“But I’m thankful to direk Temi dahil nagawa ko naman,” she said. “This is one movie that became quite unexpected to me dahil may crying scenes ako. Dito ko nabuhos ‘yung paborito kong genre at natuwa ako. Direk Temi guided us all throughout.”

In Top 1, an academic rivalry unfolds between Christy Imperial and Armani Herctor, made more complicated by deceitful, romantic intentions.

In this film by Temi Abad, students Azi and Dex (respectively played by Imperial and Hector) are always in a fierce battle for the top spot in their class.

However, the demure and diligent Azi consistently outperforms Dex, who often finds himself distracted by his relationship with girlfriend Missa (Mariane Saint).

Desperate to beat his academic rival, Dex agrees to Missa’s suggestion to seduce Azi, believing it will cause her to lose focus on studying. Azi eventually falls for Dex, leading to an intimate, sexual relationship.

Top 1 is not direk Temi’s own concept. It was the first foray of one of Vivamax’s associate producers, Zane Mendoza, into screenwriting.

“Top 1 is a different kind of love story,” said direk Temi. “I told myself, ‘Kaya ko ‘to.’ Dito ko ilalabas ang mga frustrations ko in high school because it is about the academic achievements of students. Academically excellent student din naman ako before.

“This film tells about how those academically excellent students and how they face their problems with regards to relationship, romance and sex. I want to show na even ‘yung mga matatalinong tao, may libog din sa katawan.

“Magaling ang matatalinong tao sa lahat ng bagay, kaya sila achievers. I want to show that in this film. Hopefully, we were able to achieve that.”