Kira Balinger —7K ENTERTAINMENT
A ctress Kira Balinger, who performs an abroad Filipino employee (OFW) in “Maple Leaf Desires,” stated the story is one thing she will very properly relate to as a result of she has a giant sister residing in Hong Kong.
“My sister and her household have been there since earlier than I used to be born. It’s actually robust for us. We’ve spent numerous Christmases with out them. The final time I noticed her and her youngsters was when the children have been nonetheless infants. I’m solely capable of see them develop up via video calls. Sure, Hong Kong is sort of close to to us, however they’ll’t simply come dwelling each time they need as a result of my sister has work,” she advised reporters over lunch just lately.
Kira is paired with LA Santos on this romantic drama by Benedict Mique. “My want is for my sister to have the ability to watch this and that it could contact her coronary heart. This film is mostly a love story for all OFWs,” she added.
READ: Kelvin Miranda, Kira Balinger’s ‘Possibilities Are, You and I’ is definitely worth the wait
Within the story, they play couple Macky and Molly, who strive their luck in Canada to hunt a greater life for his or her respective households. The couple’s journey is stuffed with challenges that take a look at their love and willingness to pursue their desires.
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Kira stated taking part in Molly was a humbling expertise. “The lives of our characters are very completely different from how LA and I stay, so the battle was easy methods to present their experiences, and even the feelings they really feel, even when these have by no means occurred to us in actual life,” Kira stated.
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‘Large accountability’
“For us, this was a giant accountability. So as to obtain this, we did immersions. LA and I attempted to commute on our personal. We additionally attended a number of performing workshops. All of those, we would have liked to course of, bear in mind and convey to Canada with the intention to painting our characters realistically. For me, the battle was principally emotional.
“Regardless of the place you might be, you discover consolation from your loved ones. That’s what I needed to point out the viewers as Molly. She left the nation not as a result of she needed to change into wealthy. It’s as a result of she needed to provide her household an excellent life. It hurts her to see them experiencing a tough life.”
The 24-year-old actress admitted that there have been instances when she thought of quitting present biz. “I like this job. I get pleasure from portraying completely different roles, however there have been numerous moments after I considered giving up on performing. Folks solely see the glamorous facet of our work.
“What they don’t know is that this business could be troublesome and really unfair to actors. However each time I think about quitting and ask myself, ‘What’s subsequent?,’ it appears like discovering one other job doesn’t sit proper with me. I like being an actress. I can’t think about myself doing one thing else. Laban lang,” she stated.
On the media gathering, Kira was additionally requested to debate the chemistry she has fashioned with LA, her main man. They met on the set of the defunct drama collection “Ang Sa’yo ay Akin,” the place Kira was paired with Grae Fernandez. She denied rumors that they’re already courting.
“Would you like us to change into a pair? Let’s do a survey first,” stated Kira, laughing. “We’ve recognized one another for fairly some time now. I really feel that we have been capable of painting our characters extra successfully due to the friendship we’ve fashioned via the years. We’ve developed belief in one another. It helped that Direk Bene was there. He’s the director we would have liked for this film. Regardless that it was laborious, regardless that there have been challenges, he did it for us.”
Kira added: “There are scenes that additionally reveal what my relationship with LA in actual life is like, how we’d tease one another, how we’d throw our traces. There’s vulnerability. Add to all this what he simply advised us right this moment—that he has a crush on me.”
When requested to share what she feels for LA, Kira stated: “Secret! Ano siya, sinuswerte?”
Eighty p.c of the movie was shot on location in Toronto, Canada. The solid contains Joey Marquez and Snooky Serna, who play Molly’s dad and mom; and Ricky Davao, who portrays Macky’s father.
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“Maple Leaf Desires” is an official entry to the 2024 Sinag Maynila Movie Pageant, which is able to run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 8 in choose native cinemas. It’s going to have its nationwide launch starting Sept. 25. It’s produced by 7K Leisure, Lonewolf Movies and ABS-CBN’s Star Magic and distributed by Quantum Movies. INQ
