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Jerome Ponce on new BL series onscreen partner Teejay Marquez: ‘Malupit talaga yung smile niya’

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Rhea Manila Santos

After playing a gay role in his last teleserye, Jerome Ponce admitted he did not expect his next project to be the lead role in the BL series Ben X Jim. “What happened is pinitch muna sa akin and medyo may na-start na ako na ganun na story with <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/asoldiersheart">A Soldier’s Heart</a>, [a] teleserye about soldiers at dun meron din ganung friendship, ganyan at napupunta sa boy love story. Pero ito kasi, I trust this so much yung Regal and yung director namin kasi nakasama ko na yung director namin ng ilang beses hanggang sa last na movie ko. Alam ko kapag gumawa siya, kapag nagbigay siya ng story, alam kong kaya kong gampanan at kapag tina-trust ka, mas more on gusto mo yun kesa gumawa ka ng isang bagay na hindi mo pa kapa. Dito, hindi ko pa kapa pero trusted ko naman. That’s what pushed me para makagawa ako ng ganito. At gusto kong makita yung sarili ko sa tahak na ito, this kind of work sa pag-arte,” he said.Being paired onscreen for the first time with Teejay Marquez was also new for Jerome who helped break the ice off camera. “Nawala na (awkwardness) nung nagbibiruan kami sa script reading. Parang ginawa na lang namin na get together namin bago kami mag-work, nag-chi-chikahan kami, nagtatawanan. Pero habang nag-to-throw lines kami, dun pa lang nag-uumpisa na yung biruan para pagdating sa set medyo kumakapa pa ng mga eksena until eventually lumalabas na yun bigla,” he shared.Jerome said he and Teejay got along very well on the set of Ben X Jim which made it easier for them to portray childhood friends in the series. “Pag nakausap mo siya, alam mo yun dire-diretso na. Yun yung maganda lahat kasi. Ako yun yung na-appreciate ko. Sa isang iglap na magkasama lang kayo, nag-hi pa lang kayo, alam mo yun, ma-fi-feel mo agad yung vibe. Tapos yung mga times na nagkakatawanan na kami, pinaka-likeable talaga at malupit talaga yung smile niya. Kahit off camera, the best,” he added.During the Ben X Jim virtual media conference, Jerome also shared how their onscreen chemistry happened. “Ako kasi nung nakasama ko si Teejay sabi ko heto na ‘to, trabaho ‘to at tatanggalin ko lahat ng wall ko sa sarili kung anong gagawin sa akin, kung anong gagawin ko. Yun lang. Eventually nagkaroon ng chemistry na yung dynamics namin kung paano kami magsasabi ng linya, kung paano kami maghahanap ng tamang dikta at saka yung kilig, yun,” he explained.Ben X Jim is directed by Easy Ferrer and presented by Regal Entertainment, Inc. It premieres online starting October 15, Friday on the Regal Entertainment Channel on YouTube.

‘Ben X Jim’ star Jerome Ponce shares how he broke the ice with his new onscreen partner.