How Maris Racal Won the Role of a Lifetime in Sunshine
MARIS RACAL – Director Antoinette Jadaone breaks her silence on why she handpicked Maris Racal for the role of a pregnant gymnast in her powerful new film.
Renowned filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone recently explained her choice of casting Kapamilya star Maris Racal as the lead actress in her upcoming movie Sunshine. The revelation came via Project 8 Projects’ official social media accounts, where the director elaborated on what made Maris the ideal choice for the role.
In the film, Maris plays Sunshine, a young gymnast who learns she is pregnant during the crucial week of her national team tryouts. As she faces this life-changing dilemma, she crosses paths with a mysterious girl, played by Annika Co, who questions her decision to seek out someone selling illegal abortion pills.
“Bakit si Maris? Kasi wala na talaga akong mahanap. Charing,” the Sunshine director quipped, blending humor with honesty in her response.
Jadaone pointed out that Maris had the physical traits essential for the character. Her slender, petite frame and background in dance provided the natural poise and movement necessary to believably portray a gymnast on screen.
“Meron siyang yung physique of a gymnast. So she’s petite, she’s lean, dancer din siya so meron na siyang gracefulness in her movement–– physicality ng isang gymnast na check niya na agad. Siguro yun yung hinahanap ko sa artista na magpla-play ng Sunshine,” Antoinette explained.
The director also praised Maris for her acting talent and intuition. Having worked together previously on The Kangks Show and Simula sa Gitna, Jadaone observed how Maris brought genuine emotion and instinct to her performances.
“Yung someone na itre-treat yung scenes based on how she sees it instinctively as an actress,” she said. “Kadalasan, kapag ang isang artista nabibigyan ng isang role na out of her comfort zone may nabibigay siyang pag arte na masusurprise ka,” she added.
Sunshine is set to premiere exclusively at SM Cinemas nationwide on July 23. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has given the film an R-16 rating.
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