A teen series is expected to focus on relatable teenage emotions that scream puberty and youthful angst. How often do we see one that is able to combine multiple genres in a single bowl, though? GMA Entertainment Group’s freshest Sunday teen drama, “Sparkle U: Ghosted” is a bold and welcoming attempt at achieving exactly that.
In an online media conference with the main cast composed of Sparkle teens Sofia Pablo, Allen Ansay, Liana Mae, and Princess Aliyah, together with veteran actress Rufa Mae Quinto, the protagonists of Sparkle University’s second installment shared the different challenges posed by creating a multi-genre series.
“May pagka-horror, meron ding romance, may halo ring comedy,” Pablo says. She will be playing Alessi, Zach’s ex whom he ghosted.
Ansay plays Zach, a confident young guy who’s at the center of a three-way romantic conflict, getting entangled with his ex Alessi (Pablo), and his present girlfriend Sela, portrayed by Mae.
“May struggle sa pag-portray ng emotions kasi never pa naman ako nagmahal in real life ng dalawa at the same time, but with Direk Barry [Gonzales], nakuha ko na yung role through time,” Ansay shares about the challenging nature of his character.
“Sabi ni Direk [Barry], kapag ginawa ko siya dapat maramdaman ng audience na mahal nya pareho,” he added.
Mae, who’s playing Sela, is definitely up for the challenge despite acting for her first ever show. “Sobrang thankful po ako like, wow, nung una na-pressure ako kasi lahat sila hindi first time, ako first time. Nung tumagal po, naging comfortable din ako,” she says.
The series’ horror component comes in the form of a Quinto-type ghost, a character by the name of Ms. Agnes Gasper. She is the lost soul of a former teacher set out to seek justice and haunt the school.
Asked about her role portrayal, Quinto sounded no less than positive. “Nakakatuwa na ginawa namin ito. Ghost ako dito tapos ‘di ako nag-make up. May puso rin habang nakakatakot, nag drama rin ako.”
Veteran actress and highly touted comedian Quinto who signed with GMA’s Sparkle Artist Center in 2022 after a brief showbiz hiatus, has nothing but good words for the project, detailing her fun and fulfilling experience in working with youthful talents.
“Natutunan ko sa kanila maging fresh. Masaya ako naka-trabaho ko ang new generation, masarap mag adapt [sa new generation],” she says.
Ultimately, the second installment of Sparkle U revolves around five teenagers and their campus lives intertwined, mutually cut through by the presence of Ms. Gasper’s ghost.
“Nakatulong ang horror element sa pagiging exciting ng love interests, nakatulong para mabuild yung characters,” Aliyah says.
The cast are all in agreement that this horror-comedy intersection only makes the teen drama even more dynamic - a defining moment for the burning conflicts and burgeoning friendships that all make seeing a ‘ghost,’ and being ‘ghosted,’ a bit more bearable.
