Viva Films, Studio Viva, Rein Entertainment, and Cineko Productions join forces for the romantic-comedy film ‘Elevator’ starring Paulo Avelino and Kylie Verzosa, in cinemas on April 24. Written and directed by Philip King, the movie will show us that love is found in the most unexpected places sometimes.
Paulo is Jared, an elevator attendant at a hotel-casino complex in Singapore. He has ambitious dreams, so he is also developing an innovative app for Filipino migrant workers. He pitches his concept to affluent businessmen he encounters in the elevator, hoping to entice them into investment. Despite his relentless efforts, he always gets rejected.
Until he meets Byron (Adrian Pang), a Singaporean businessman who expresses interest to be his investor. But before sealing the deal, he wants Jared to enhance his proposal with Bettina, another OFW who works as Byron’s secretary.
Kylie plays Bettina, who initially seems ill-tempered and dismissive towards Jared. They spend a lot of time working together and soon, they grow closer. They deepen their connection as they share their hopes and dreams to each other. Jared finds himself falling for her, even if Bettina once reminded him that he is not allowed to fall in love with her. Bettina also happens to be Byron’s lover, that’s why. Uh-oh.
Jared is suddenly at a crossroads of love and ambition: will he fight for his blossoming love for Bettina or his dreams of a better future?
The ‘Elevator’ cast and crew filmed for 10 days in Singapore, where 90% of the scenes took place. Its producers, Lino Cayetano and Shugo Praico, shared that they also partnered with Singaporean production outfit Dogma Films for the movie.
In an interview with the press, the director and producers mentioned how lucky they feel working with the cast. Direk Philip commended Paulo’s dedication to his role. “May sinasabi siya na ‘pwede bang gawing ganito?’ Nagulat kami na parang ganun si Paulo. Parang we saw a different layer into the character [he] brought in,” he said.
From leading-man roles to offbeat and dark characters, Paulo has showcased his versatility in the industry, having earned Best Actor accolades from prestigious events such as the 35th Gawad Urian Awards (‘Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa’) and the 46th Metro Manila Film Festival (‘Fan Girl’).
Direk Philip also expressed his hopes of showing Kylie’s different side through ‘Elevator.’ “There’s no need to force sexuality out of Kylie kasi naturally it oozes out of her,” he shared. “Baka nga people will be surprised of how she is here.”
Kylie first gained prominence when she won the Miss International 2016 crown. From being a titleholder, she eventually dabbled and found success in acting. She was hailed Best Actress at the 2022 Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards for her performance in the movie ‘The Housemaid.’
Praico also had nothing but praises for Adrian, an accomplished Singaporean actor who plays a pivotal role in the film. “Magaling. So professional. Masarap katrabaho,” he stated.
When the official trailer for ‘Elevator’ was released on March 20, netizens enthusiastically showed their excitement and support, racking up 1 million views on social media in just 10 hours. It also features Kylie’s memorable line, “Bawal kang ma-in love sa’kin” which resonated with a lot of hopeless romantics. With such overwhelming anticipation, it’s poised to become one of the much-awaited films this summer.
Rounding out the cast are Chai Fonacier, Shrey Bhargava, Shahid Nasheer, Shaun Lim, Rishi Vadrevu, and Amy Cheng. ‘Elevator’ promises to bring not just a charming romance, but also a heartwarming story about migrant workers that will surely strike a chord with Filipino audiences. Arriving in cinemas on April 24.
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