KYLIE Versoza, former Miss International 2016, is currently the flavor of the season in Vivamax. She is currently in “Revirginized” playing the role of Sharon Cuneta’s daughter. Then two of her new movies will be shown consecutively.

On September 10, the erotic-thriller where she plays the title role, “The Housemaid”, written by Eric Ramos and directed by Roman Perez Jr., will start streaming on Vivamax. This will be followed the week after by the hilarious comedy, “Bekis on the Run”, written by Ricky Lee and directed by Joel Lamangan, on September 17.

In the story, Christian Bables as Donald and Diego Loyzaga as Andres are brothers who try to rob a construction company to help a sick loved one desperately in need of surgery, their Nanay Pacing (Lou Veloso).

Kylie plays Adriana, a secretary working in the construction company. When the brothers get caught, they use Kylie as a hostage so they become “Bekis on the Run” when it’s only Christian who is gay. Diego is not and Kylie eventually falls in love with him.

“After ‘The Housemaid’ na mabigat na thriller, I welcomed doing something light like ‘Bekis on the Run’,” says Kylie. “I’m glad to be directed by Joel Lamangan kasi pangarap ko talaga siyang makatrabaho. Beterano at respetadong direktor siya and I felt my career won’t be complete without being able to work with him. Now, I’m glad na ayan, naka-work ko na siya, kasi it’s a great experience working with him. Tama si Jake (Cuenca, her boyfriend), who has worked with him. Marami ka talagang matututuhan from Direk Joel bilang actor. The legend is real.”

Will the LGBTQ community appreciate “Bekis on the Run”?

“I think mautuwa naman silang panoorin ito kasi dini-discuss dito ang issues na pinagdaraanan ng LGBT community, but in a fun way, so mapapasaya sila nito. I come from a beauty pageant background, na maraming gays, so sobra talaga ang support ko sa kanila and their advocacy.”

So how is it doing a comedy movie? “First time for me to do a comedy like this, but my role mismo, hindi ako nagko-comedy. ‘Yung attack ko was toned down by Direk Joel. Ginawa niyang mas drama ang character ko, pero ang labas comedy pa rin. para hindi raw slapstick. ‘Yung character ko kasi, sobrang in love kay Diego na holdaper at first time pa lang niyang na-meet. I just trusted Direk Joel at sobrang ready ako lagi sa anumang ipapagawa niya sa akin as Adriana.”

In a separate interview with him, Direk Joel generously praised Kylie, saying she’s not just a beauty queen but also an intelligent actress. How does she feel about this?

“Siempre, kinikilig ako sa sinabi ni Direk Joel and I’m so thankful. Gustung-gusto ko talagang umarte at ‘yung hunger ko para maging mas mabuting aktor, nandun siya lagi. Jake also influences me kasi he is so passionate about acting, so nai-inspire din ako to get better. I’m not a born actress, I just study my roles well. Inaaral ko talaga siya gamit ‘yung mga pinagdaanan ko sa buhay ko.

Lahat naman ng tao, nakakaramdam ng saya, sakit, sadness, so I use those emotions.”

Since she’s supportive of the LGBTQ community, will she be willing to do lesbian films? “Open naman ako to playing a lesbian role as long as I like the material as it will be a new challenge for me.

Ang gusto ko lang, may substance ‘yung script, at kailangan, gusto ko rin ang director and the other members of the cast.”

Direk Joel is pandemic busiest director

DIRECTOR Joel Lamangan is the busiest the director in this pandemic season. So far, his films “Anak ng Macho Dancer”, “Lockdown”, “Silab” have been shown via streaming. Already in the can are “In the Name of the Mother” with Snooky Serna, “Huling Birheng Bakla sa Balat ng Lupa” with Teejay Marquez and Sean de Guzman, “Deception” with Mark Anthony Fernandez and Claudine Barretto, and now “Bekis on the Run”. He’s also shooting “Walker” about streetwalkers. Some folks ask if he still has time to sleep?

“Hindi ko naman sabay-sabay ginagawa ang movies ko,” he says. “May ilang buwang pagitan in between them. Mula nang mag-lockdown last year, maraming nawalan ng hanapbuhay, buti nga’t may producers pang willing pa rin to make movies, so nagkakaroon uli ng hanapbuhay ang mga kasama ko. At salamat sa Diyos kasi wala pang nagkasakit na sinuman sa mga kasama sa mga pelikulang ginawa ko. We follow naman kasi all the needed protocols to make sure safe ang lahat sa lock in shoot, like swabbing, washing hands and social distancing. May health protocol officers on the set to guide us.”

He wants to emphasize that “Bekis on the Run” might be a comedy but it has an advocacy. “Kasi may ugali ang mga Pinoy na laitin at pagtawanan ang mga bakla. Comedy ito pero ginawa sa paraang may makukuhang aral ang viewers. Ang message ng movie is dapat, hindi binubully, pinagsasamantalahan o inaapi ang mga bakla. Dapat maging fair tayo sa lahat. Sa panahon ngayon, dapat politically correct ka, kaya ang mga direktor dapat pag-aralan ang mga panuntunan para hindi ma-offend ang LGBT members who need more acceptance in our society. The movie also touches on corruption sa gobyerno and closet gays sa military.”

Among the cast members, it’s only Sean de Guzman who he has worked with before in “Anak ng Macho Dancer”, “Lockdown” and “Huling Bakla”.

“Pero sina Kylie, Diego at Christian Bables, first time ko to work with them and natuwa ako kasi nakita ko kung gaano sila kahusay na artista at magiging maganda ang kinabukasan nila sa sining na ito. Nagawa nila anumang required from them nang mahusay.”

He was surprised by Kylie. “She is not just a beauty queen, but he has natural talent for acting. She has the intelligence to understand her character. As a director, I find it easy to talk to her kasi intrinsic sa kanyang ang pag-arte. Si Diego naman, he’s a born actor, sensitive, which is not surprising since his parents are both actors. He knows the objective ng character niya at lahat ng gagawin niya sa eksena.”

He personally handpicked Christian as Diego’s effeminate brother. “I saw his past movies at napatunayan na niya roon ang kanyang pagiging mahusay na artista. Siya ang first choice ko sa ‘Huling Bakla’ kaya lang busy siya then on TV. Wala akong naging problema sa kanya kasi hindi lang sa pagbabakla-bakla siya magaling kundi even in other roles.”

He’s happy everyone on the set is very professional. “Maganda ang attitude nila lahat sa trabaho. which is very important. Walang reklamador. So there is no instance na nagtaray ako o napagalitan ko sila. I feel fortunate that they’re all very dedicated, pati si Lou Veloso who as the gay mother ng mga bading.”