It was after shooting a film in 2019 that director Mae Cruz Alviar said she was first pitched the idea of shooting a film with Coco Martin and Angelica Panganiban.

“Actually, it was just pitched to me when we were doing Unbreakable. Surprise nga yun eh. Nagulat ako na parang sila yung tineam up,” she shared during the Love or Money virtual presscon held last February 27.

Watch the Love or Money trailer here:

READ: Director Mae Cruz-Alviar on shooting ‘Four Sisters Before the Wedding’: ‘Never a dull moment’

Unlike Angelica whom she has worked with several times with in the past, direk Mae revealed how she prepared to work with Coco for the first time. “Si Coco naman I reviewed his films prior to working with him para alam ko yung mga nagawa na niya, para at least may reference din ako kung ano yung puwedeng magamit pa or what. Para at least kabisado ko kung ano sila as actors. Ang masasabi ko sa kanilang dalawa, si Angge mahilig yan maglaro off-cam pero pagtungtong niya sa set, alam mo na nagtatrabaho na yan. Kumbaga she’s in the zone. At saka take one na artista yan. Alam ko na yan pag drama, i-close up mo na,” she shared.

The Star Cinema director said she is thankful to her two lead actors for making the movie’s concept work.

“Kasi ang tatalino nila. Gets naman nila agad kung ano yung ibig sabihin. They are thinking actors and they’re professionals. Si Coco is the same. He is willing to be directed but at the same time, collaborator din. They’re both collaborators actually. Masarap silang katrabaho kasi napapagaan yung trabaho ko bilang director because meron silang inputs. Kumbaga hindi lang ikaw yung nagdidikta or nagsasabi kung ano yung mangyayari. You create the characters together and at the same time, may nabibigay sila more than yung kailangan mo.

“Ang suwerte ko that I got to work with them and this is an unusual team up. I’m so happy that I got the chance to do a love story na hindi love team. Coming from out of nowhere parang naging mag-partners and sobrang masaya ako sa outcome nung chemistry and how they created it,” she explained.

Even though she was working with two accomplished actors, direk Mae said she had no problem being on top of the project. “No matter ano yung role, si Angge she’s been around for so long, and si Coco he’s also a director, pero they allow themselves to be directed. Kumbaga ang sarap magtrabaho at makitrabaho sa ganung artista. It was challenging lang sa umpisa pero parang later on hindi ako nahirapan sa kanila because of their openness, their willingness, and sa galing nila sa kanilang craft,” she explained.

Love or Money stars Angelica Panganiban and Coco Martin. Directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar. Tickets will be available online starting March 12 via KTX.ph, iWant, and Skycable Pay-per-view.