The Diary of the Unexpected Big Stars

It’s a comeback film for James. It’s a launching movie for Nadine. So, what to expect?

When VIVA Entertainment Inc., released the photo of the character look test of Diary ng Panget’s Cross and Eya, my initial reaction was, ‘Who are they?’ I browsed through the comments of DnP Fans sighting the names of James Reid and Nadine Lustre. Then again, I asked myself, ‘Who are they?’ 

Wait, Nadine who? James who?

Thanks to Wikipedia, I have come to know that James Reid happened to be the grand winner of PBB Teen Clash 2010 and Nadine Lustre was the lead singer of Pop Girls. Unlike the usual clamor of ‘some’ fans, I may have asked “WHO” are they several times but never have I asked “WHY.” Why did VIVA choose new artists like them for a best-selling book Diary ng Panget? That has been the question of all DnP fans. But for me, James and Nadine are like breath of fresh air to mainstream love-teams in our generation.

Apparently it’s a make or break for James and Nadine. With just a music video (Alam Nya ba by James Reid) as a foundation of their tandem, how can they make it work? It was around March 2014, when James and Nadine started to make waves in the showbiz industry. The trailer of Diary ng Panget has gone viral. Their Mall Shows had always been jam-packed with screaming fans.  From then on, we welcome the birth of JaDine (James and Nadine).

Throwback April 2: I never mind watching movies all by my lonesome. I watched the first day screening of DnP and surprisingly seats were almost full. It’s a feel-good, coming out of age, teen-flick. But one thing’s for sure, the chemistry of James and Nadine is just beyond unexpected. Viva Artist Agency, or should I say, Boss Vic Del Rosario, is a genius scientist for inventing a JaDine Tandem.

The next day I woke up, they are blockbuster stars already. DnP earned 15 Million on its first day. Are you kidding me? I mean, seriously, who would have expected that from newbies like James and Nadine, including Yassi Pressman and Andre Paras? I bet you didn’t expect that. Guess what? They proved you wrong. From that day, I became a certified JaDine Fan.

James and Nadine are on their way to stardom. They are the next big thing. With no foundation as a love team, even as friends, their first movie became a hit. Wait, do I mention that every time they appear on TV be it on GMA, ABSCBN or VIVA TV, even during events, they always trend on twitter?

Unexpected as it may seem, be it for REEL or for REAL, brace yourself… the JaDine tandem is the next big thing.

Back in Talk Back and You’re Dead

Due to insistent public demand, James and Nadine are staged to come back on the big screen with another movie adaptation with the book Talk Back and You’re Dead (TBYD). Prior to revealing the cast of TBYD, I already bought and read the book. Believe me, I became an instant fan especially after reading the Volume 2 of TBYD. Samantha and Top, the lead characters of TBYD, are more matured as opposed to Cross and Eya. The conflict of the love story is way deeper, sensible, heartbreaking, heart-warming, and unpredictable. To be honest, when I read book 1 of TBYD, I was like ‘where’s the real climax of the story?’ but when I read book 2 of TBYD, Alessana has redeemed herself for writing on  an unexpected plot for Sam and Top. Therefore, let me give a shout-out to Alessana Marie, author of TBYD, for doing a spectacular job on this trilogy!

Without a doubt, the excitement of TBYD Fans, also known as the ‘Talkbackers’ and all the fandoms of James and Nadine, has been apparent since day 1 of its shooting. Fans never fail to trend the film’s every shooting day. So whenever you see “TBYD Shooting Day 1, TBYD Shooting Day 2” up to 15 as of today, it’s a proof that even the word ‘excited’ is an understatement to describe the fans’ feeling.

I always feel jumpy whenever I see BTS photos of TBYD (special thanks to production team, casts, JaDine fans club, FAB5, who always keep us updated), especially those highlight scenes of the book.  

The material is more than a teen-flick; it deserves a movie adaptation with its conflict on the characters of Miracle Samantha Perez, portrayed by Nadine, and Timothy Odelle Pendleton, portrayed by James. Both of them deserve the character adaptation as much as Joseph Marco deserves the character of Red.

Writing an article like this is an obvious manifestation on how excited I have been ever since they started rolling. Kuddos to the whole production team, Direk Andoy Ranay, the cast of TBYD, especially to James, Nadine and Joseph Marco, because I can see how sleepy and tiring the shooting days have been to them but I know they still managed to pull through.

If you guys want to relate with the excitement that I have right now, go and buy the book before watching the film on its first showing day. I will definitely watch on the first day of screening. Hopefully, I can get premiere tickets, too. J (Wishful Thinking).

So guys, please watch Talk Back and You’re Dead on August 20 in Cinemas near you. This is produced by Viva Films and Star Cinema, directed by Andoy Ranay, starring James Reid and Nadine Lustre. Let’s go guys!

P.S. When’s the release of the official movie poster?