Jasmine feels pressured over Cinemalaya award
Jasmine Curtis Smith thinks her Cinemalaya Best Supporting Actress award is a double-edged sword. For her, it’s a source of pressure and inspiration.
The pressure comes, not from the fact that she’s slowly moving out of older sister Anne Curtis’ shadow. It comes from the feeling that more eyes are on her.
“People are gonna start looking at how I act,” Jasmine says.
But she doesn’t want this to bring her down. She wants to look at her first-ever award as a source of inspiration, proof of how well industry people regard her portrayal of confused teenager Yael in “Transit.”
Trusting her instincts
Jasmine admits her award took her by surprise. All she knew, is that she just trusted her instincts – that of her co-actors who doubled as her acting coaches in Tel Aviv, where “Transit” was shot.
“We didn’t have an acting coach. We depended on each other as actors.”
It also helped that Jasmine listened to her Ate Anne’s words of wisdom as an actress.
“She’s been in the industry longer than I have,” shares Jasmine. Nakakuha ako ng tips on how to act in a certain way, how to deliver line.”
Jasmine knows Anne is talking from her experience as a star of countless mainstream movies, which is totally different from indies.
But Jasmine points out that she was still able apply the acting tips Ate Anne gave her to good use in giving life to Yael.
On being selective with showbiz projects
Jasmine is just as glad she has become selective with projects, choosing only the ones she can give justice to, because of her age, her looks, etc.
“I’m choosy about my roles, not just because I’m thinking of awards. I would break down the role and see if it fits me and how I want the public to see me. This way, mabibigay mo ang gusto nila (the audience).”
Otherwise, Jasmine warns, an actor would just do a role for the sake of having a project.
“Where’s the passion there?” she asks.
Transit's commercial run
Now that the film’s producer, Paul Soriano says he is talking to Star Cinema and Regal Entertainment about a commercial run for “Transit” come September, Jasmine and her director Hannah Espia, admit feeling nervous.
True, “Transit” won 10 awards at Cinemalaya, but a commercial run is a different ballgame. They’ll be up against bigger films, even giant foreign motion pictures.
“May kaba pa rin. You’re opening it to the entire Philippines and you have many more eyes judging the film. It still bothers me why we liked the film while others weren’t happy about it despite the awards it got,” Jasmine relates.
Hannah adds, “Some people might not appreciate us as much.”
Still, the film’s 10 awards is already half the battle won.
And Jasmine – after rewarding herself in a popular pizza parlor after the awards night – is ready for her next open auditions.
After “Transit,” it had better be good.
