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Newbie actress takes on challenging role in 'Unspoken Letters'

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Josh Mercado

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Young actress Jhassy Busran (center) stars in the upcoming movie " Unspoken="" Josh="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/11/21/11212023-unspoken-letters.jpg"/><figcaption>Young actress Jhassy Busran (center) stars in the upcoming movie &#x27;Unspoken Letters.&#x27; Josh Mercado</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- In 2021, newbie actress Jhassy Busran received the Best Performance (Short Film) award from International Film Festival Manhattan-New York and Best Child Actress award from Gully International Film Festival in India for her indie movie “Pugon,” which also starred veteran character actor Soliman Cruz.After doing the film and taking acting classes (headed by Ogie Diaz), Busran is set to star in her latest movie “Unspoken Letters” with Gladys Reyes, Matet De Leon, Glydel Mercado, and Tonton Gutierrez.In the movie, Busran plays Felipa who lives with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At 17, Felipa functions at the level of a seven-year-old child.“Naging okay naman ang work ko and very thankful ako sa directors na pinagkatiwalaan nila ako sa ganitong sensitive na role. Nag-research ang buong team tungkol sa condition ng role ko — na hindi kami makaka-offend. I also did my own research para ma-portray ko nang maayos ang role ko,” she said.Shining a spotlight on children with special needs, the young actress expressed: “Hindi sila iba. Katulad din natin sila. Nararamdaman din nila ‘yung sakit na nararamdaman natin, ‘yung lungkot na nararamdaman natin, ‘yung tuwa. Hindi sila ibang tao. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa mga mayroong ganung condition, you are loved, you are appreciated, and your condition doesn’t make you less of a person.”Busran also shared her own interpretation of the movie title: “Nung nabasa ko ‘yung script, dun ko na-realize na mayroon tayong mga bagay na kinikimkim lang natin sa sarili natin at hindi natin sinasabi sa mga taong mahal natin kaya nagkakaroon ng hindi pagkakaunawaan, sama ng loob. Ang laki na nung magiging pain na hawak mo hanggang sa pagtanda mo dahil sa mga kinikimkim mo. Mas okay na sinasabi natin lahat kung ano ang nararamdaman natin. “Ngayon, pinag-aaralan ko kung paano maging vocal with what I feel. Good for the mental health din po para alam ng friends and family ko ang tunay kong nararamdaman.”<div>On working with veteran artists </div>Busran expressed her gratitude to co-stars Reyes and Gutierrez for guiding and supporting her. “They are very humble. Kapag nakikita ko sila sa set, hindi mo mararamdaman na malayo na ang narating nila sa industriya. They treat everyone (lalo na sa mga baguhan) equally, na katulad lang din nila at never sila nagmamataas. Never ko nakita sa kanila ‘yung ganun kaya naging comfortable rin ako agad at nawala rin agad ang kaba ko. Napaka-professional nila. Tumutulong din sila sa ikakaganda ng film namin. Nagsa-suggest sila,” she told ABS-CBN News. “Napatanong ako sa isip ko kung kakayanin ko. As a baguhan, baka mapangunahan ako ng kaba at hindi ko magawa nang maayos ang trabaho ko at mapahiya ako. Gusto kong mag-leave ng impression sa kanila na ginagawa ko nang maayos ang work ko. Kaya sa una pa lang, binigay ko talaga ang best ko. Na-pressure talaga ako.&quot;She added: “If I’m in the scene, nagsasabi sila sa akin kung ano ang puwede kong gawin para mas natural ganyan, para mas maging maganda. Tulungan po talaga.”Talking about her experience with Reyes, she said, “Si Ate Gladys, mayroon din siyang kapatid na mayroong ganitong condition kaya tinutulungan niya ako kung paano magagawa ang role ko.”“Nung dumating si Ate Gladys, ang light ng vibe, ang jolly ng personality niya. Very mabait and very Ate sa akin.”Busran also detailed her memorable scene with Reyes. “Mayroon ditong eksena na masasampal ako ni Ms. Gladys Reyes. ‘Yun po ang pinaka-memorable. Sobrang saya na masampal ng isang Gladys. Namanhid po ang face ko. Isang malaking karangalan na masampal ni Ms. Gladys.”About Gutierrez, she shared: “Nahiya ako kay Kuya Tonton nung nakita ko siyang nakita kasi mukhang masungit siya. Nasa isang tabi lang ako nun sa storycon tapos pumasok si Kuya Tonton, na-starstruck ako. Kinabahan ako nun. Pero very mabait pala at kinukuwentuhan niya ako. Naging role model po siya sa set.”The young actress hopes to inspire other newbies, noting that practice and workshops really help.“Nag-workshop din ako para madagdagan ang knowledge ko sa acting. Then nakakilala ako ng mga taong tumulong sa akin para ma-achieve ko ang pangarap ko,” she said.She ended the interview, revealing the actresses she wants to work with. “Marami akong gustong maka-work like Ms. Jaclyn Jose, Sylvia Sanchez, Lorna Tolentino, and Maricel Soriano. Matagal na po sila sa industriya. Makikita mo sa kanila ‘yung versatility. At alam kong marami akong matututunan sa kanila,” she said during the film’s media conference in Quezon City. “Unspoken Letters” will hold a special screening on November 30 at Trinoma Cinema. It also stars Daria Ramirez, Orlando Sol, Deborah Sun, and MJ Manuel.

In 'Unspoken Letters,' Jhassy Busran plays Felipa who lives with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).