Malaysian actor, writer, producer, and director Hans Isaac recently arrived in Manila to meet with Star Cinema executives in preparation of the shoot of the film Miss You Like Crazy in Kuala Lumpur. Hans will appear in the movie alongside lead stars John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. In an interview with ABS-CBN.com Hans talked about his character in Miss You Like Crazy . “I’ll play a businessman with royal blood. He and Bea’s character met in Australia, then they fell in love. He’s a widower with one kid. After his wife died, he learned that if ever he finds love again he will have to hang on to it. He has to give everything to her.”

Hans has frequently visited Manila before but this is the first time he’ll be working on a Filipino film. “I’ve worked in Thailand, Singapore, Jakarta, most of my films were done in Malaysia where I live. When I read the script of Miss You Like Crazy I liked the love story very much. It was very emotional for to read the script because I could very well relate with the character for me. I’ve been in the same situation, a few years ago. I’m looking forward to it but I admit I’m very nervous because I feel I need to deliver perfectly. I don’t want to let the actors and the production team down. I’m very open to coaching and feedback, even if they need to be blunt with me that’s okay.”

The 38-year-old Malaysian star shared he had a nice time meeting John Lloyd and Bea a few days ago when he visited them on the set. He said that since the two stars are very friendly, he believes he will have an easy time doing scenes with them. “I did a lot of research about the film production here in the Philippines. I heard a lot of good words about John Lloyd and Bea who according from my Filipino friends in Malaysia are very popular here. I met them when I visited the set of the movie. I don’t want to do scenes without first meeting them and talking with them, especially Bea who will be playing my fiancée in the movie. For me to establish an onscreen intimacy with her I believe I need to get to know her first. She and John Lloyd are very nice and humble people.”

Hans was supposed to be a part of Kahit Isang Saglit with fellow Malaysian star Carmen Soo, but he was unavailable given the two movies he was doing at the time. Hans and Carmen did a Malaysian film together in 2005 entitled Baik Punya Cilok, and he said he is very proud to see Carmen as a famous star in the Philippines. “Carmen and I had lunch together a couple of days ago and she told me that when you do TV and film here in Manila hard work is very important. You need to focus. It’s not easy but it’s still fun to do. I’ve worked in several foreign productions and I noticed that they are just all similar. Everyone must do his or her part. She told me about the long working hours and I think I’m ready for it. I’ve also done 24 hours straight shoot in Malaysia, but not seven days straight.”

Hans runs a production outfit in Malaysia, and in the past ten years he was able to direct films, write scripts, produce, and sing in musicals. His grandparents are Filipinos who migrated to Singapore where his mother was born. Hans, who is single at the moment, confessed that his mother would always advise him to marry a Filipina. “My mother had told me several times that I must marry a Filipina because Filipinas are the best women in the world. I’m single, a position I don’t want to be in honestly. Bea is a lovely girl. I’m open into meeting a lot of people. My mom was very excited when I told her I’d be doing a movie here in the Philippines.”

As Carmen successfully managed to establish a name here in the Philippines, Hans said that he is also open to doing more TV and film work in his grandparents’ homeland. “Malou Santos (Star Cinema Managing Director) said she wants to see more of me here in Manila. But I told her that I want to prove myself first before we discuss another project. I want them to see first if they like me, the audience will love me. I’m open to any project here but I want to be able to relate to the script. When I read scripts I want to have pictures in my head to see if I can do it.”

ABS-CBN.com - Napoleon Quintos