Their homes turned into sets. The director was only present via a video call. They were the lead stars as well as camera operators. These were the working conditions for Vivoree Esclito and Abi Kassem when they shot “Mag-isa” for “Stay at Home: Mga Kwento Ng Taong Bahay”.
ABS-CBN released the digital series “Stay at Home” to, not only entertain Filipinos, but also share stories that depict the lives of various individuals amidst the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the frontliners who work tirelessly to the single moms who worry about their children’s futures, these short films are relatable and heartwarming. Hopefully, these will continue to inspire viewers by planting seeds of hope.
Because of the enhanced community quarantine, however, Vivoree and Abi got creative and crafty as they shot their episode “Mag-isa”, written by Alex D Asuncion and Sandy Morales, in their respective homes. In the exclusive behind the scenes photos they shared, Vivoree’s brother CN can be seen helping as the camera operator. Abi became a one-woman television crew as she mounted the screens on her own. Meanwhile, director Aika Gaite offered guidance through a video call.
These two Kapamilya actresses are not the only ones who faced similar challenges. Aljon Mendoza and Hasna Cabral starred in the “Stay at Home” episodes “Kornbip-19” and “Yakap”, respectively. In a behind the scenes video, Aljon talked about how completely different it was to film at home compared to filming on an actual set. Hasna revealed that the hardest part for her was getting the right camera angle.
WATCH: Kornbip-19 and Yakap Behind the Scenes | Stay at Home Stories
If you have not seen the short dramas from “Stay at Home: Mga Kwento Ng Taong Bahay”, then make sure to catch each episode on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube Channel!
“Kornbip-19” is video chat between a hardworking frontliner (Mendoza) and his worried father (Jojit Lorenzo). “Yakap” is a single mother’s (Cabral) letter to her young children about unconditional love. “Mag-isa” is a series of texts, tweets, and phone calls between Mags (Esclito) and Isa (Kassem) that leads to an unexpected but much needed friendship.