‘Only We Know’ director on Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes’ ‘surprising’ chemistry

MANILA, Philippines — Charo Santos and Dingdong Dantes are paired for the first time in “Only We Know,” a film already generating online buzz for the onscreen chemistry that surprised even its director, Irene Villamor.

“10/10. Nagulat din ako na meron,” said the director, who previously megged such romantic films as “Meet Me in St. Gallen,” “Sid and Aya,” “Five Breakups and a Romance,” as she rated the acting bigwigs’ teamup on the sidelines of the poster reveal event for what’s shaping up to be an unconventional love story.

The poster — an actual still from the romantic drama — captures Charo and Dingdong’s characters, Betty and Ryan, locked in an electric gaze that speaks volume of what is going on between them — which for now, only the stars know as they are not spilling details just yet. Produced by Star Cinema and Agosto Dos Pictures, “Only We Know” will hit cinemas nationwide on June 11.

Nevertheless, Charo, who is fully embracing acting again after years of being behind the scenes, foremost of which as president and CEO of media giant ABS-CBN, shared, “It’s a story about love without labels. Kasi ‘di ba tayo mahilig maglagay ng labels or we like putting things in a box, we stereotype things? But these are two people who met each other and went with the flow — just following what they felt.”

The idea of the pairing was brought up seven years ago by friends, according to direk Irene.

The lead stars with director Irene Villamor during the official poster reveal event at Trinoma.

“Dingdong was the one who actually told me that someone offered him a Dong-Charo movie. There was a concept and a script already, and Dong said that ‘I hope you will direct,’” recalled the filmmaker, who worked with Dingdong in “Sid and Aya.”

“When we went to the meeting where I met Ma’am Charo for the first time, I said, I had another story in mind.

“When I presented my concept, they also liked it. From there, the communication became constant on the possible story.”

After years of waiting and multiple iterations, the film finally made it to production. Direk Irene revealed that the changes were due to shifting circumstances and perspectives brought about by the pandemic.

“Marami siyang iterations kasi nagbabago yung panahon. Initially, the concept would bring us out of the country… Then the pandemic happened, which changed everything. The perspectives changed, there were new realizations that we had to make adjustments to the script.”

“The good thing was that the script was distilled to its very essence,” she added.

“Only We Know” had to be shot in just 13 days last year — a tight schedule designed to work around the challenges caused by the current state of the industry. Still, the constraints proved to be a creative advantage. Shooting in chronological order allowed the characters’ emotional arc to unfold naturally and helped build the actors’ rapport in real time.

“‘Pag nasa shoot, dun ka lang magbu-build (chemistry). We had a script reading before but it wasn’t the final script yet. They still had a lot of input. I had to rewrite, and it became more fitting and mas makilala mo sila.

“(The) slowly opening up of Ryan, the character of Dong to Charo’s Betty, and also Betty’s character na confident as she’s an English Lit teacher, so may alam talaga siya mundo, aside from her age and everything. She’s been through a lot.

“Sa eksensa na mismo nararamdaman mo na as they read, may mga jokes aside, they also talk about their personal lives, they had the opportunity to do that on set.

“And matanong si Ma’am Charo. Marami siyang concerns. Very curious. She also became Betty to Dong, (who would also be) slowly opening up to her. Kahit na off cam, nag-usap sila.”

While not much has been revealed about the plot, “Only We Know” centers on the unlikely connection between a woman in her 60s who is recovering from a failed marriage and a man in his late 30s to 40s who is widowed. Both meet at a time when they are single — and perhaps, open and willing to welcome whatever life brings.

“Sana ma-accept, sana maging curious din ang mga tao,” direk Irene said, hopeful of the film’s reception. “Siguro depende sa tao na manonood, kung ano yung magiging pananaw sa ganito. A lot of people don’t look at the age (gap). I think we’re very open now.

“It’s a story about waiting… It’s an experience.”

“Only We Know” was recently screened for a group of directors, and direk Irene was moved by their reactions.

“We had an advance screening for directors, and I was surprised by their reactions because they cried. May kanya-kanya silang take (on the story), depending on where they are in their lives,” she shared.

“Napaisip sila sa buhay nila. They suddenly opened up about their lives, saying they want to go home and make memories with their loved ones… They were saying every scene made them think and that the characters, it’s as if they are very real people and that you know them.”