To better portray a color blind artist in his first movie, “Love Is Color Blind,” young actor Donny Pangilinan had to go through a particular process.

“In terms of preparations, I [actually] met [with] a color blind artist,” Pangilinan said during the online press conference for the movie, last Thursday, Dec. 2.

“We went through a whole interview. We asked him about his feelings, how did he find out (about his being color blind). Ano ang nuances na ginagawa niya, ano ang mga struggles (What are his nuanes and what are his struggles),” he explained. “You know, all the questions that needed to be asked so that I could slowly get into the character. It was a whole process.”

Even the movie’s director, John Leo Garcia, made sure to put Pangilinan in the zone.

“Before the scenes, nilalagay talaga niya ako sa puwesto ni Ino na ganito ka, ganito ang nararamdaman mo, tanggalin mo si Donny,” Pangilinan shared. (Before the scenes, he puts me in the position of [the character], he says, “You’re like this, this is how you feel, remove Donny.”)

“Kasi (Because) many times our characters are very different talaga (really), eh, like what we’re going through. I have to find a way to relate to Ino even if I was born to the same struggles which was hard and challenging but in the end worth it naman (also),” he added.

The film tells the story of Cara (Belle Mariano), a young student who fell secretly in love with her best friend Ino (Donny).

“Sobrang hardworking niya (She’s so hardworking),” Pangilinan said of her leading lady. “Gagawin niya lahat para lang makuha ang scene or ‘yung kailangan ng role niya. (She will do everything to get the scene or what is needed in her role). Nakita ko talaga na (I really saw that) there’s nothing that will stop her from learning and showing what is to be shown,” he said of Mariano.

Pangilinan admitted that there’s pressure on him for his first movie, but more than that, he is grateful.

donny pangilinan IG — Donny Pangilinan. Image: Instagram/@donny

“I’ll never get tired of saying na sobrang (we are really) grateful lang kami to be given that trust. More than anything, we’re grateful to be with this cast and crew, everyone behind the scene, direk, everyone talaga (really). It’s been a journey, a rollercoaster ride,” he said. “Marami din kaming pinagdaanan, good and bad, but at the end of the day, tama ‘yung sinabi ni Belle, meron kaming movie and we’re so blessed.”

(We also went through so much, good and bad, but at the end of the day, what Belle said is right, we got a movie and we are so blessed.)

“Love Is Color Blind” will be streamed on Dec. 10 on KTX, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV, Sky Cable PPV, Cignal PPV, and Smart GigaPlay. Fans may also catch the virtual premiere is scheduled on Dec. 9 at KTX.ph. JB

LOOK: Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano make it to billboards in NYC, Dubai, Korea