- Kris Aquino is featured in the Hollywood movie Crazy Rich Asians.
- She shared that the production knew her last name but not her body of work.
- She played the part of Princess Intan in the Hollywood movie.
Kris Aquino plays Princess Intan in the Hollywood movie Crazy Rich Asians, Warner Brothers’ movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel of the same name. In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph, Kris revealed how she got the part of the billionairess Princess Intan.
Kevin Kwan published Crazy Rich Asians in 2013. This landed on the New York Times’ best-seller list which was followed up with China Rich Girlfriend in 2015 and Rich People Problems in 2017. He also served as an executive producer while John M. Chu directs the movie adaptation.
Cold call
At the time of the audition, Kris had yet to officially launch her digital platform through her own company Kris Cojuangco Aquino Productions (KCAP). In the said interview, Kris narrated how the production knew her last name but not her body of work.
“It was a cold call… They didn’t know me. They knew the last name, but they didn’t know anything. They didn’t know my body of work, so pinadala, and then I auditioned. Talagang parang manna from heaven yung biglang dumating… Ang galing ni God!”
The Audition
Kris recalled how she handled the audition phase. She noted how she loaded up on the luxurious trimmings to make her audition look authentic.
“They sent a script, and you have to act it out,” she revealed. “So, pina-production design ko para magmukhang authentic talaga.”
Kris auditioned for an ultra rich character. So, she booked a luxury suite at The Peninsula Manila which she transformed into her own vision of a rich Singaporean woman’s home. She added that she organized an A-team of glam team which consisted of house stylists, technical consultants, beauty stylists and so on.
“There were 20 people who worked on that audition with me!”
Luxurious audition set
During the whole day of March 25, 2017, Saturday, her glam team fixed the suite and her appearance to look even more filthy rich.
“Lahat ng mga Hermés na plato ko at tea set, ginamit! As in, couture ang sinuot ko talaga! Then, my online team did the Kris bio in video format, kasi they needed it for TV, e, with voiceover. Because they need to know who you are, hindi naman nila ako kilala dun. I explained, ‘Eto yung achievements ko.’ As in, parang AVP presentation talaga na, ‘This is Kris.’”
By 12 noon of March 26, 2017, Sunday, Kris and the whole team had already produced an audition video. Kris promised PEP.ph to send a copy of her audition video. She, however, has been cautious not to reveal her role as a royalty in the said movie.
Audition process
According to Kris, the audition was a demanding and multi-layered process. She submitted the video to notable Asian casting director PoPing AuYeung who gave it a go.
“Four layers bago ka dumating doon. Layer number one: The agent said go, I’m sending it now to an Asian casting director who said wala pang mahanap. So pinadala. Second layer: Nakapasa kay Asian casting director. Ginoogle ko rin si Asian casting director. Bongga naman mga trabaho niya—Karate Kid. Medyo big time. From him, pumasa. Third layer: From the producer, but L.A.-based pa—pumasa sa kanya. The last, I heard though, was the director and the Warner Bros. casting director.”
By March 29, 2017, Wednesday, Kris received news that director John M. Chu already saw her audition video. At that point, she broke the news to her three older sisters who became involved in her new adventure. She shared that they went to church every single day.
“So, my sisters talaga, every day nagsimba! Ako, lahat na ng pari, madre na friend ko, tinawagan. Kasi umabot na sa director, so that’s a super big deal! So, hintay kami nang hintay. I finally got word Wednesday night (April 5, 2017)—so this was 10 days of torture. And then sinabi, ‘You’re in!’ Oh my god talaga!”
