JC Alcantara is happy that despite his being a newbie in the entertainment industry, he has been given a chance to be the lead star in the boys’ love (BL) film “Hello Stranger: The Movie” which is slated for release this Valentine’s season.

“Ito ang kauna-unahang kong lead as Mico. First movie ko ito kaya sobrang grateful ko na binigyan ng chance ang LGBTQ na ipalabas ang BL bilang Valentine’s offering,” he said during the online press conference for the movie, last Jan. 23.

(This is my first lead role, as Mico. This is my first movie, that’s why I’m so grateful that this LGBTQ and BL film has been given a chance to be shown as a Valentine’s offering.)

In the movie, Alcantara plays a nerdy guy, Mico, whose friendship with basketball player Xavier (Tony Labrusca) blossomed into romance. It takes off from the eight-part BL digital series “Hello Stranger” which ran from June 24 to Aug. 19 last year.

Alcantara admitted that before the series started, he and Labrusca were not close. It later so happened that when they began shooting the movie, the first scenes shot were their scenes together.

“Hindi namin pinaghandaan ang chemistry namin. Kapag magkasama talaga kami, parang nag-iiba ang character ko as Mico. As JC, parang kapag kasama ko si Tony, parang hindi ako,” Alcantara revealed. “Saka nagkuwentuhan kami, getting to know each other kapag magkasama kami sa set para mas makilala namin ang isa’t isa.”

(We did not prepare for our chemistry. When we’re really together, it is like my character changes as Mico. As JC, when I am with Tony, it’s like it’s not me. We also talk, getting to know each other when we are on set, for us to know each other better.)

Alcantara also did his best to play his character, as honestly as he can.

“Talagang inaral ko si Mico. Kumbaga, kailangang pagbutihan ko,” he said. (I really studied my character Mico. To put it, I really needed to do it well.)

There is a scene in the movie shown in the trailer where Labrusca’s character attempts to kiss him. This led to Alcantara being asked if he is as aggressive as the character of Xavier.

“Aggressive ako,” he quickly said. “Kumbaga, mas gusto ko ‘yung ako ang mag-a-attempt na mag-kiss.” (I am aggressive. We can say that I prefer being the one who attempts to kiss.)

But he also said that sometimes, he could play the baby. Meanwhile, when he was asked if there would be a real kiss between him and Labrusca in the movie, Alcantara declined to reveal.

“Kasi sa mga BL series ako ang palagi ang tina-tag. Tapos ‘yung picture ko ‘yung umiiyak ako. Lahat ng BL series nag-kiss na, kaming dalawa lang ni Tony…,” he quipped, referring to the absence of a kissing scene with them in the series.

(When it comes to BL series, I usually get tagged, in pictures where I cry. All BL series already had kissing scenes, except us Tony.)

JC Alcantara Hello Stranger trailer — JC Alcantara. Image: screenshot from trailer of “Hello Stranger: The Movie,” YouTube/Black Sheep

In jest, Alcantara addressed Labrusca, “Tony, baka naman… i-kiss mo na ako. I-kiss mo na ako. Ang dami nang nag-aabang na fans natin. Abangan n’yo na lang po.”

(Tony, just maybe, kiss me. Please kiss me. Many of our fans are waiting for it. [To the fans,] please just wait for it.)

Directed by Dwein Baltazar, “Hello Stranger: The Movie” starts streaming on Feb. 12 via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV, Cignal PPV and Sky PPV. Distributed by Cinexpress, tickets are available at an early bird rate of P150 from Jan. 20 to Feb. 11, and P200 on Feb. 12 onwards.

A digital premiere night will be held on Feb. 11 via KTX.ph, with tickets at P200. JB

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