Jo Berry shares how she prepared for her role as a lawyer in “Lilet Matias”
As GMA Afternoon Prime enjoys the success of its medical drama, “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap,” the Kapuso network will now explore the world of lawyers via the legal drama “Lilet Matias: Attorney-At-Law.”
In “Lilet Matias: Attorney-At-Law,” Kapuso actress Jo Berry plays the title role of a little person who rose from the hardships of life to become a lawyer and defend the helpless.
During the press conference of the show on February 24, 2024 at Manila City Hall, Jo admits to FreebieMNL that she now feels the pressure since their show is airing next to “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap,” aside from that they both fall under the same genre.
Jo shares, “Sa totoo lang po, opo, malaking pressure. Sobrang laking pressure po nito sa akin, sa aming lahat, sa production team, sa lahat po ng co-actors ko.
“But at the same time, I think it’s good pressure naman kasi mas magsisikap kami na magawa yung maganda at magampanan ng maayos yung mga characters namin kasi yung sinundan namin din is napakagandang show.”
GMA-7’s Assistant Vice President for Drama Ali Nokom-Dedicatoria, meanwhile, is positive that the show will replicate the success of “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap.”
But even then, they want to ensure that “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap” and “Lilet Matias: Attorney-At-Law” will be an unbeatable tandem in the afternoon block. Of this, they decided to extend the run of “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap” until June.
Ms. Ali says, “Well, we hope it’s going to run as long as ‘Abot-Kamay na Pangarap’ is running now, kasi ‘Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap’ has been on-air for more than a year, so we hope to replicate that success in ‘Lilet Matias.’”
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Jo Berry’s comeback
The project serves as Jo’s follow-up project after the success of “Little Princess” in 2022.
Jo believes that this project is different and more challenging from the previous ones she did.
She explains, “Parang sa lahat ng nagawa ko ay ito po yung isa sa matindi yung mahihirap na pinagdaanan, and at the same time, iba siya sa mga nagampanan kong roles kasi nga lawyer siya dito.
“So, number one po yun na makikita niyo, yung pagiging iba ni Jo Berry kasi nga lawyer na siya and yung mga pinagdaanan niya, from saan siya nag-start hanggang sa kung paano niya ginamit yun as fuel para matupad niya yung pangarap niya.”
During the mediacon, headwriter and concept creator J-Mee Katanyag revealed that the concept of “Lilet Matias: Attorney-At-Law” was conceptualized especially for her.
How does she feel about this?
“Sobrang kinilig ako. Ngayon ko lang narinig yun… ngayon ko lang po narinig na sinabi po yun ng mga writers.
“Sobrang overwhelmed po ako kasi ang laki noong tiwalang binigay niyo sa akin at ginawa niyo ito for me. Thank you, thank you.”
IMAGE GMA-7
Immersing into the role of a lawyer
As part of her preparation for the show, Jo had to research, study legal terms and immerse herself in courtrooms to portray her role effectively.
She shares, “Nanood po kami ng series and pina-attend din po kami ng court hearing talaga with production team bago nag-start yung taping ng ‘Lilet Matias.’
“Every court scene po, may kasama kaming lawyer. Yun po yung tumutulong sa amin.
“At the same time, kapag sinusulat nina Ate J-mee, meron din naman silang consultant and kapag may mga questions kami, tulungan po talaga.
“Kapag may hindi ako naintindihan, tinatanong ko sina Direk and guided naman kami bawat eksena.”
Even if they have been taping for a longer time now, Jo admits that she still has to get used to speaking legal jargons and actuations of a lawyer
“Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako sanay. Ano naman po… para sa akin maganda rin naman po na hindi ako sanay kasi it keeps me on my toes every time.
“Kasi kailangan ko talagang pag-aralan. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin na kaya ko na siyang mani-maniin, hindi talaga.”
“Lilet Matias: Attorney-At-Law” also stars Sheryl Cruz, Bobby Andrews, Rita Avila, Maricel Laxa, Edgar Allan Guzman, Jason Abalos, Analyn Barro, Troy Montero, Lloyd Samartino, Zonia Mejia, and Joaquin Domagoso, among others.
This afternoon series directed by Adolf Alix, Jr. will premiere on March 4, 2024 after “Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap,” replacing Carla Abellana and Beauty Gonzalez’s hit series, “Stolen Life.”
Banner Art Dani Sison
