JODI Sta. Maria admitted there was a point in her career where she wondered if she had the potential to be a director. However, a behind-the-scenes experience reminded her that she would rather focus on being an actress instead.
Sta. Maria cemented herself as one of the top actresses in the Philippines with a range of work through the years such as “Lavender Fields,” “Pangako Sa’yo,” and “Be Careful with My Heart.” This led her to contemplate if she has the potential to be a filmmaker someday, which she had a chance to experience while filming the drama “Unbreak My Heart”
“Minsan, na-contemplate ko ‘yan. Kaya ko bang mag-direct?” Sta. Maria admitted during a media junket for “Lavender Fields.”
“There was one time where I was doing ‘Unbreak My Heart.’ I was with Direk Manny Palo. Tatlo ang monitor niya, tatlo ang camera. Sabi ko, ‘anong gagawin ko dito, Direk?’ Eh scene ‘yun ni Joshua [Garcia], Gabbi [Garcia], and Jeremiah Lisbo. So parang, ‘Direk, sandali lang? Parang mataas ang eksena and kung pumalpak ako, siyempre masasayang ang emosyon [na ipakita].’ Sabi niya, ‘Subukan mo,’” she continued.
Sta. Maria recalled that she was confused about what she had to do at the time, noting that something needed to happen “every three or four seconds.” This made her realize that while she’s good at multitasking, she couldn’t handle the multitasking of a director.
“Na-realize ko na ang hirap. Sa totoo lang, kung nakaupo ka [sa director’s chair], ang dami mong aabalahin, ‘yung acting nila, ‘yung bawat galaw ng camera, ang movement mo,” she said. “Na-realize ko na kaya kong mag-multitask pero hindi sa ganitong paraan. Sabi ko, ‘Direk, masaya na akong maging artista.’”
Sta. Maria also reflected on her longstanding career in the entertainment industry, noting that she worked with a lot of actors and actresses already. But if she has the option to choose, she would love to work with someone who’s not from ABS-CBN.
“Ang dami ko nang nakatrabaho. Being so long in the business, halos lahat nakatrabaho ko na… I guess, ‘yung mga gusto kong , marami sila pero wala sila sa ABS-CBN. Ang dami magagaling na actors ngayon, ang daming revelation, ang daming underrated, ang daming magagaling from theater,” she said.
Sta. Maria recently wrapped up her revenge drama “Lavender Fields”. She shared that she will take a break from acting to focus on her master’s degree in clinical psychology. (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
