Jasmine Casandra Ojales Curtis-Smith: I went to the open auditions for Cinemalaya. I didn’t know anybody and I just want to try my luck and experience ‘yung applying for a project where you don’t know anyone. I wasn’t expecting anything when I talked to Director Hannah Espia. Nang paalis na ako, they called me back and said ako raw ang gusto nila for the role of Filipino-Israel girl named Yael in the story. I couldn’t believe it. First time ko mag-try out, nakuha agad ako.
I was so happy when Direk Hannah told me I was her first and only choice. But it’s a difficult role kasi I’m supposed to be born and raised in Israel and I don’t know how to speak Tagalog. All my lines are in Hebrew, so they got me a dialogue coach. We shot in Israel for nine days. But even before we got there, my Israeli coach was already teaching me on skype how to speak my Hebrew lines correctly. Ang hirap! I have to memorize them pa.
My mother in the story is Irma Adlawan and I have an Israeli actor playing my boyfriend, Omer Juran. Omer was very helpful in helping me deliver my lines with the right pronunciation and emotion. Si Tita Irma naman, naging mommy ko talaga siya sa Israel shoot. She helped me a lot and I’m so thankful to her. ‘Pag walang shoot, we explore Jerusalem together. I love her.
