July 12 20, 2001
Individually, they're hot. Whenever, wherever...you will find the face of at least one of them in a TV show, movie, commercial, billboard, magazine cover or poster. Danilo Barrios is already awarded best new movie actor; James Blanco is best new TV actor; and Cogie Domingo? Well, he's a three-time best actor nominee lang naman.
But together, they're explosive. Together, they have the capacity to change the current youth-oriented scene. Together...well, that's the key word-for it is near impossible to get these three cutes and talented guys...together. And it's not just a case of highly in-demand stars having conflicting schedules.
In this group of three, you have two stars who are part of fiercely competing soaps [Danilo is in Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan; Cogie is in Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin]; fiercely competing youth-oriented shows [Danilo is in G-mik; James is in Click]; Fiercely competing musical variety shows [Danilo as part of Streetboys is a regular of A. S. A. P.; Cogie is a regular of S. O. P.] and heck, fiercely competing networks! But here they are, behaving like regular kids - kicking sand and having dun while shooting 24/7 KEWL [pronounced cool with a twang] in a beach in Subic. They're really, like their title, quite kewl; none of them taking the competition thing seriously.
The other problem that usually turns up when you cast three hot stars is the managers. Most fans may not be aware of this, but some managers go so far as counting close-ups, timing the lengths of dialogue, or having the script revised to make his alaga more angat. Not so with these three - even their managers are kewl.
Cogie's manager Joji Dincong, Danilo's Chito Roņo, and James' Popoy Caritativo are so-called new breed of talent managers: progressive, sensible and transparent; understanding of the creative process.
So what makes the team-up of the three stars click on-cam as well as off? As with most groups, even barkadas, they hit it off well because they are very much alike but also very much different. As Direk Roel Bayani (famous for directing quality dramas like Maalaala Mo Kaya, Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako and Larawan, and now directing his first movie under Regal) says: "Lahat sila yung typical na bagets na sobra ang energy, active, at basically magaan at masayahin. Pero may dating ang bawat isa that makes them different."
For Direk Roel, Cogie is the effortless star. "kahit ano pa ang gawin mo, hindi mo mapipigilan ang pagsikat ng batang iyan," he declares. "He exudes that Leo confidence - yung alam niyang he's the king (of all zodiac signs). He's good and he knows it. Pero hindi naman mayabang.
Danilo is no doubt the dancer. "Very makulit, very spirited. A bundle of energy talaga," says Direk Roel. "kahit hindi gumagalaw at nakaclose-up lang, pati mukha nag e-exude ng energy."
James is the opposite of the two in terms of attitude. "He is so shy and unassuming. Ang smile niya yung sheepish, hindi yung bigay na bigay. When they are talking about a topic that they are all passionate about - yung boses ni James hindi mo maririnig. And when he's with people, parang hindi siya artista. It's like, he's cute, but he doesn't know it."
In the trio's first movie together, they play characters close to their true selves. Cogie is this rich, sosyal kid who is used to getting his way. May pagka-brat, in short. James is the quiet, often serious, nerdy type. Danilo is street-smart, maabilidad, may pagka-jologs pero cute and endearing.
The roles are tailor-made for the actors. "My job as a director is to let them be and get out of the way," Direk Roel laughs. "The challenge is to set up the atmosphere where they can be themselves. For them to project kung ano yung natural - kasi yung natural pa lang nila, may value na. Nakakatuwa na. And besides, you have a cast who you don't have to teach how to act. Magaling na sila even if they're all young and new in the business."
The story takes place all in one day. The barkada just wanted to score tickets to a bikini/ beauty contest held at the beach. Getting fake tickets instead, the three go on separate adventures, all fast paced and "napakataas ng energy," says Direk Roel, "kasi nga everything takes place in one day."
"One-day movies are exciting because the audience is aware that there's a time limit. You know that it's not gonna drag. Plus, our audience now are so exposed to the pacing of American movies and MTV, they don't just want you to be fast, they expect it!"
Cogie, James and Danilo converge in the end, but somehow, with everything that they went through, they are transformed forever; they undergo a coming-of-age. They discover something about themselves, and they become a bit more mature for it.
The title 24/7 KEWL is youth speak, very now. As in: kids now want to look, talk and be cool, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's a need that every young person goes through," says Direk Roel. "It's a necessary phase, so it's not kababawan.
Despite what seems like a shallow mission, good youth movies also tackle family, friendships, self-esteem, asserting one's place in society," he explains. "Hindi nga lang ganoon kaspelled out."
Adds Direk, "More than the story I am very excited over the fact that it's such an event. To bring together Cogie Domingo, James Blanco and Danilo Barrios is not an ordinary everyday thing. Parang may kuryente sa hangin. As they say, casting pa lang, event na!"