"That was a crazy project": James Reid, binalikan ang paggawa ng 'Never Not Love You'

• James Reid described shooting the 2018 film 'Never Not Love You' as a "crazy project"
• Director Antoinette Jadaone apparently used unique filming techniques to make it work
• The actor views the movie as a significant departure from their earlier, sweeter rom-com works
• He also noted that the film reflected their natural growth and maturity as artists during that era

Stepping away from traditional romantic comedy formulas can be both daunting and transformative for an actor, and James Reid recently reflected on how one specific film pushed his limits.

In an interview snippet on Cinema One's The B Side, the actor and musician looked back at starring alongside former real-and-reel-life partner Nadine Lustre in the 2018 hit drama Never Not Love You, helmed by acclaimed director Antoinette Jadaone.

When asked about his experience playing the character Gio, James called it a "crazy project" right off the bat.

"Because we didn't actually have an ending... or a lot of the script. Most of the lines were just improvised," James explained. "Impromptu, which she warned me in the beginning... 'This is how I want to shoot it,'" he added.

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To achieve authentic, heightened emotions between the leads during tense moments, Direk Antoinette used creative, secret prompts that caught both actors off guard.

"There were some scenes where she would say stuff to me like, 'Okay James, whatever happens, make sure that Nadine doesn't leave.' And then she would tell Nadine, 'Whatever happens, leave. Get out of there,'" James shared with a laugh. "So conflicting instructions, so what you get is really... kind of crazy. So yeah, it was my first time to try something like that with Direk Tonet," he confessed.

Unlike their earlier lighthearted projects together, James acknowledged that Never Not Love You marked a clear shift in tone, visually and narratively.

"It was definitely something more mature. Even from like the coloring and everything, it's darker... because it's not exactly like a 'happily ever after'," James noted. "It's a bit more nuanced than that... a bit more complicated. So that was definitely a step up from the projects that we had done, as it should be... as we were growing up and maturing," he shared.

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As previously reported by KAMI, James Reid said working with Kathryn Bernardo felt natural because she was warm, friendly, and open on set. The actors spent time discussing their characters in detail, including their personalities, love languages, and dynamics. James admitted he never imagined being paired with Kathryn in the past because their fan bases were once very separate.

Meanwhile, James Reid revealed that he lost around P150 million during a difficult period in his career, saying the amount represented nearly all of the savings he had built over more than a decade. He shared that the financial setback stemmed from problems involving a former business partner at Careless Music and said girlfriend Issa Pressman helped him recognize the situation and supported him through it. James also reflected on the challenges surrounding the 2023 "Wavy Baby Music Festival."

Source: KAMI.com.gh