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Renowned director Jerry Lopez Sineneng, primarily known for his extensive body of work with the Kapamilya network and now a signed Kapuso director, is making his debut on the streaming platform of Vivamax with ‘Rita,’ starring VMX’s obsession Christine Bermas.

After a long string of drama films and TV series with ABS-CBN, Sineneng now brings his creative vision to GMA Network, where he has been welcomed with open arms, debuting with the hit murder mystery drama ‘Widow’s Web’ back in 2022.

This time around, he is excited to mark an exciting new chapter in his career, as he ventures into the digital space with the full support of his new network. ‘Rita’ stands as a testament to Sineneng’s versatility and creative prowess, offering audiences a captivating tale of temptation and betrayal.

The lead’s challenge during intimate scenes

During the media conference held at Viva Cafe yesterday, March 14, key insights were shared by the cast and director of ‘Rita,’ shedding light on the challenges and inspirations behind the film.

WATCH our Facebook Live on the mediacon here: https://www.facebook.com/100076250205161/videos/1556107258452910

Christine, reflecting on her portrayal the titular character Rita, candidly discussed the intricacies of filming intimate scenes. She highlighted the physical demands and emotional vulnerability required, revealing:

“Actually, hindi naman ako nahirapan sa mga sexy scene. Siguro, nahirapan lang ako sa kakaungol. Like, uh!… To be honest… parang binababaan ko, ta’s inaangat, so sabi ko, ‘Wait lang, Victor, parang mahihimatay na ‘ko. Wait lang!’ Kasi, pag ungol ka nang ungol, parang yung utak mo naaano.

(“Actually, I didn’t have a hard time with the sexy scenes. Maybe I struggled a bit with the moaning. Like, uh!… To be honest… it’s like I’m lowering and then raising [my voice], so I said, ‘Wait a moment, Victor, I feel like I’m going to faint. Just wait!’ Because when you keep moaning, it affects your mind.)

“Pero wala akong complaint sa mga sex scene namin kasi lahat naman ng guys sa Rita sobrang gentleman nila and caring nila sa akin. Napulikat din ako, oo, tapos medyo sumama yung likod ko kasi siguro kaka-bend. Pero no complaint naman sa lahat ng sex scene.”

(“But I have no complaints about our sex scenes because all the guys in Rita were very gentlemanly and caring towards me. I also got cramps, yes, and my back got a bit sore probably from all the bending. But I have no complaints about any of the sex scenes.”)

Director Jerry Lopez Sineneng expressed his enthusiasm for his first-ever Vivamax directorial project, reflecting on his aspirations inspired by Peque Gallaga’s ‘Scorpio Nights.’

He said, “Kumusta? Masarap. Fulfilling for me… Yung totoo lang, when I saw ‘Scorpio Nights’ of my ‘tatay’ Peque Gallaga, sabi ko, pagdating ng araw sana makagawa ako ng—Hindi ko sinasabing ‘Scropio Nights’ ‘to ha pero—sana makagawa ako ng isang sexy [film] na kamukha ng Scorpio Night, hindi iyon ikinakahiya ni Peque, sobrang proud siya talaga do’n, lahat ng nandoon very proud. Sana lang maabot ko yun sa career ko… and thank god, I’m proud of Rita talaga… Hindi lang hubaran nang hubaran.“

(“How I feel? It feels good. Fulfilling for me… To be honest, when I saw ‘Scorpio Nights’ of my dad Peque Gallaga, I said, someday I hope to make— I’m not saying this is ‘Scorpio Nights’ but— I hope to make a sexy [film] similar to Scorpio Night, that Peque wasn’t ashamed of, he was really proud of it, everyone there was very proud. I just hope I can reach that in my career… and thank god, I’m really proud of Rita… Not just all about nudity.”)

The story’s plot twists, consequences

Embark on a journey with Rita, a newly married woman portrayed by Christine Bermas, who grapples with fidelity when loneliness strikes. Directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng, the film unveils Rita’s struggle after leaving her bar girl job to marry Ariel (Victor Relosa), an OFW. With Ariel away, Rita finds herself adrift, lacking guidance after the passing of her parents, relying solely on her younger brother Marlon (Gold Aceron).

As Ariel toils abroad, Rita succumbs to temptation with Royce (Josh Ivan Morales), Ariel’s gambling-addicted best friend. Their secret liaison takes a sinister turn when Royce demands money from Rita upon Ariel’s return, threatening to expose their affair.

As the truth unravels, Rita’s infidelity is laid bare, unraveling the fabric of her marriage. The film delves into the aftermath of her actions and Ariel’s reaction to the betrayal, exploring the complexities of love, trust, and forgiveness.

‘Rita’ not to be missed on March 22

‘Rita’ promises a riveting narrative filled with twists, turns, and tantalizing moments, streaming exclusively on Vivamax starting March 22, 2024.

Alongside the abovementioned cast members, the roster also includes Sahil Khan as Ariel’s employer.

Don’t miss its world premiere, exclusively on Vivamax, atin ‘to!