How the Ashtine Olviga anthology series will showcase her acting prowess

March 5 ------ Ashtine Olviga is aware of the pressure of being entrusted to lead her own anthology series — with four different characters at that — but she’s taking things one step at a time, choosing not to give in to the pressure.

Olviga is the first actress to lead the four-part anthology series “Viva One Originals: Ashtine Olviga,” covering four different genres. The episodes include “Who’s The Boss?”, “My Melody,” “Balik-Eskwela,” and “Bahay-bahayan,” ranging from comedy to romance, horror, and drama genres. Of course, the pressure is on Olviga to deliver. But the actress said she’s not the type who gives in to expectations.

“’Yung pressure na galing sa ibang tao, hindi ko ini-entertain. Hindi ko masyadong pinapansin kasi meron akong sariling pressure na binibigay sa sarili ko. Ang way ko ng pag-handle ng pressure sa sarili ko is by praying talaga,” she said during a media con for the anthology.

One way Olviga compartmentalizes her thoughts is by drowning out the voices in her mind. “Hindi ako makaka-work nang maayos if maraming boses na naririnig sa utak ko. I [try to jump] over the pressure, and dinededma ko na lang,” she explained.

From one Ashtine to another

Since the actress will be playing four characters per episode, she confessed that building them is “more difficult” than getting out of them. Not to mention, each episode took about two days to film.

“‘Yung first two taping days, sobrang kinakapa ko siya and kailangan ko lagi magtanong sa directors kung tama ang ginagawa ko and kung aligned siya sa vision sa character ko (I’m figuring out my footing in the first two days of taping, and I needed to ask my directors if I’m doing the right thing and if it’s aligned with their vision),” she recalled.

Her character in “Who’s the Boss?”, though, was challenging to get out of, since she had her co-star Rufa Mae Quinto’s traits in her system, especially her trademark tone and mannerisms. After all, the series is a body-swap comedy, and she had to embody the actress-comedienne down to the T. “Ang mahirap for me is bumitaw sa character ni Ms. Rufa kasi ‘yung pananalita niya, around three days bago mawala sa sistema ko,” she said.

Olviga, who hopes to do an “Ang Tanging Ina”-esque project in the future, also explained that she makes sure to study the script down to its tiniest details. Getting technical, she pointed out that the script contains what she needs to bring her character to life. “Sa ganyan, hindi ako masyadong nahihirapan kasi binabase ko [kung paano ako] umarte sa script mismo. Malayo rin ang bitaw ng linya nila. Siguro iniisip ko ang pagbitaw ng lines ko para maiba sa previous na ginawa ko. Kumbaga, kailangan mo lang aralin ang script kasi nand’un na lahat ng kailangan mo,” she said.

The anthology marks a turning point in Olviga’s career. A former P-pop star who still harbors love for singing and dancing, acting was her renaissance. Thanks to “Ang Mutya ng Seksyon E,” “Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak para kay Luna,” and “Manila’s Finest,” the public became aware of what she’s capable of. This time, she is ready to reach greater heights and establish herself as a bigger star. But aside from success, the actress attributes it to God.

Source: inquirer.net