Facing off in Zero2Hero

Behind the scenes as rising Junior, Jill Mallari, left plays Re’ha and Aleia Santos plays Roze in the Mount Carmel School Theatre Club’s movie, Zero2Hero, which will reopen Hollywood Theaters today, May 21. (Contributed Photo)

When Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club reopens Regal Cinemas Theaters today with its next production, Zero2Hero, the movie will feature two characters, Re’ha and Roze, who face off over several things that many teenage girls fight over, including a boy. Taking on these roles are Jill Mallari, who plays Re’ha, and Aleia Santos, who plays Roze.

Playing the roles has been therapeutic for both actors. Mallari, a junior student, found a lot in common with her character. “When I first read the script, I thought Re’ha was a lot like me, so it’s helped me deal with similar issues in my life.” For senior student Santos, playing Roze “has been such a wild but also wonderful experience.” Like Mallari, Santos sees a lot of herself in her character. “My favorite part about playing this role is it’s really helping me understand why people are the way they are, especially when it comes to stressful situations.”

While Mallari is a veteran performer who has been active in the Theatre Club and the National Speech and Debate Association, this is Santos’ first time performing. Despite the challenges of acting for the first time, Santos has enjoyed the process. “Honestly, I’ve just been having a lot of fun, working with my classmates, upperclassmen, and others,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about all the effort it takes to make a really great production and I’m grateful for the family that we’ve become.”

Despite her experience in the performing arts, Mallari pushed herself to grow with this new role. “Unlike theatre, which requires a bit of melodrama, film requires natural acting that has been a weird but interesting adjustment,” she said. “It was kind of hard, but it definitely challenged me to improve as an aspiring actress.”

As for the story, Mallari and Santos appreciate that the movie connects to the first movie, Zero to Hero, while also charting forward with a new dynamic. The first movie, starring Kevin Bautista and Victor Cabrera, was released 10 years ago and the current movie serves as a sequel to that movie.

As for the message of the movie, Santos and Mallari agree that it is something everyone should watch and learn from. Referring to the teacher character in the movie, Aleia said, “Like Mr. Prospero says: All really good points, but it’s never that simple. There’s something for everyone in this movie.”

Zero2Hero is directed by Jedric Villar and was written by school president and the director of the first movie, Galvin Deleon Guerrero, along with Theatre Club AlumKnight Justin Ocampo.

Zero2Hero will have two screenings at Regal Cinemas today, May 21, one at 6pm and the other at 7pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Herman’s Modern Bakery, Java Joe’s, Kagman Mobil, Naked Fish, Shell Puerto Rico, Shirley’s Susupe, Tribe Marianas, and the MCS Business Office. To comply with COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines, tickets are limited and available only on a first-come, first-served basis. (PR)