Actors Kelvin Miranda and Kira Balinger were visibly emotional as they met with the showbiz media last Monday at Valencia Events Place in New Manila, Quezon City, to promote their upcoming movie "Chances Are, You and I."

Both actors expressed uncertainty about the movie's completion due to the pandemic. The film started principal photography in South Korea in 2022.

"Ang tagal din ng inaantay namin kasi hindi namin alam kelan mangyayari ito. Hindi ko nga alam kung matutuloy pa ito. Mixed emotions talaga ako ngayon," said Kelvin during the media conference.

(We've been waiting long because we don't know when it will happen. I wonder if it will continue. I have mixed emotions right now.)

Kira, 23, expressed her enthusiasm for landing her first starring role.

"Emotional ang moment na ito dahil ang tagal naming inantay ito ni Kelvin. Ang dami naming pinagdaanan. Our director fought battles for this. So ngayong natuloy na ang aming movie, napakalaking blessing nito para sa amin. Natuloy rin ang pinaghirapan namin.

(This moment is emotional because Kelvin and I have been waiting for this for a long time. We have been through a lot. Our director fought battles for this. So now that our movie has been completed, it is a huge blessing for us. We have also worked hard.)

"Ilang beses ko na rin pinanood ang trailer kasi gusto ko na talaga siyang mapanood ng buo," she said. (I have watched the trailer several times because I really want to watch it in its entirety.)

While filming, Kira and Kelvin were romantically linked, but the stars insisted they were just friends.

"Gusto ko lang linawin ang issue. Alam naman ito ni Kyra. Hindi po naging kami. Wala pong ligawan na nangyari. Yun lang po ang lilinawin ko para hindi na mag-isip yung iba.

(I want to clarify the issue. Kira knows this. We have never been. There has been no courtship. That's all I will explain so that others don't have to think about it.)

"Inamin ko yung totoong nararamdaman ko noong ginagawa namin ito pagdating sa character. Nagpakatotoo ako para sa character ko. Binigyan ko ng buhay. Dala na rin siguro ito sa pagmamahal ko sa trabaho ko.

(I admitted my true feelings regarding the character when we did this. I was honest about my character. I gave it life.)

"Totoo na close kami sa isa't isa. Walang masama roon dahil pinagkakatiwalaan namin ang isa't isa. Doon nangyari yung magic. Hindi kami natuloy at wala kaming naging relasyon," said Kelvin.

(It's true that we're close to each other. There's nothing wrong with that because we trust each other. That's where the magic happened. We didn't work out, and we didn't have a relationship.)

Kira added: "I think nasabi na niya lahat. I think if you're a good actor, magiging totoo talaga yung nararamdaman namin. It takes a lot of guts to use your true emotions to show vulnerability, but it didn't affect the quality of our relationship."

"Magkaibigan po kami. Magkatrabaho po kami," Kelvin, 25, said. He shared his process while making the romantic-comedy-drama flick.

"Before my call time, lagi akong nagigising ng umaga. Gigising ako ng 4 a.m. para sa 6 a.m. call time. I workout and the I read the script. Then pupunta na ako sa makeup room. Kakainin na ako doon and then I memorize her face, even her voice, the way she talks, the way she laughs. 

"Ginawa ko yung process na yun para ma-imbibe ko yung character and makabisado ko siya bilang kabisado. Pinagkakatiwalaan namin ang isa't isa. Nagiging mas madali ngayon dahil nakikita ang chemistry and emotions. Hindi siya pinilit. Sa mga lock-in namin ganun ang ginagawa ko. Walang mintis yun," Kelvin said.

Both stars confirmed that they are single and not currently in romantic relationships.

Director Catherine "CC" O. Camarillo said it was not difficult to show them in love in the movie because they are passionate actors.

"Both are passionate actors. So hindi na naging mahirap para ilabas ang emotions nila. I was able to guide them based on my vision," the director said.

Director CC is behind popular ABS-CBN series such as “Halik” (2018) with Jericho Rosales and Sam Milby “Wild Flower” (2017) with Maja Salvador and Aiko Melendez.

She is also active in films, starting with director Chito Roño. Her first assignment was “Bata, Bata Paano Ka Ginawa,” followed by “Tanging Yaman,” with director Laurice Guillen. She has also done more than 35 movies with Bb. Joyce Bernal.

“Chances Are, You and I” under Pocket Media Productions, Incorporation is written by Director CC's daughter, Ellis Catrina, who admitted to being inspired by popular Korean dramas when she started writing her script.

'Chances Are, You and I'

Kelvin plays Soleil Sikat, or “Sol,” who is convinced death is inevitable and we are all bound to perish. He is a pessimist.

He realized, however, that no matter what circumstance he was in, we determined our future. There’s no escaping the responsibility.

Kira is Gabriel Sinag, or the bubbly “Gab,” who believes life has a perfect ending. She has a bright personality and does not entertain pessimism. She is undoubtedly an optimist.

Kira reminds herself that life is beautiful and bad experiences make us appreciate the good ones. She also learned that suppressing pain is not healthy. The only way to deal with pain is to accept it.

The two are both diagnosed with brain tumors. They meet in a hospital where they are both confined and get intrigued with each other. They set an adventure that was decided by flipping a coin.

They may be poles apart, but the two have one thing in common deep inside. They are looking for something missing in their lives. Their journey finds them at odds, even if their friendship continues to grow.

Winter in South Korea

While filming in South Korea in November, the cast and crew endured extremely cold weather. The team shot scenes in Korea where everything was covered in winter snow. They had to focus on their roles and forget about sunny Manila.

Both stars attested that they had forgotten about the winter cold once Director CC shouted, “Action.” Only after their director shouted “Cut” did Kelvin and Kira realize they were in cold Korea.

Nanginginig kami sa sobrang lamig. Kahit na ang kapal na ng suot namin, ang lamig pa rin. Pero may isang eksena roon na hindi na talaga namin napigilan ang sobrang lamig," said Kelvin.

(We were shivering from the cold. Even though we were wearing thick clothes, it was still cold. But there was a scene where we felt the extreme cold.)

"So naglalakad kami sa isang open area. Ang lakas din ng hangin. Hindi na namin napigilan na nanginginig kami habang naglalakad sa eksena."

(So we were walking in an open area. The wind was also strong. We couldn't stop shaking while walking around the scene.)

Kelvin could not be more thankful that “Chances Are You and I” rekindled his love for motocross. He did not expect to do the sport again, but he was so thrilled that he was riding again. He wants to explore the world and cross continents on a bike.

Kira, who is super scared of heights, wants to try skydiving. The sport is just on her bucket list, and she wants to explore it one day.

“Chances Are, You and I” was chosen as one of the Spotlight Entries from May 25 to 26 at the Jinseo Arigato International Film Festival, where Kelvin and Kira can showcase the film to Filipinos in Japan. The stars of the film and the director will grace the event and attend the screening in Japan.

The film's soundtrack, "Demonyo," was composed by Juan Karlos "JK" Labajo, "Mapa" by SB19, and "Anghel" by Brando Bal.

“Chances Are, You and I"  will open in local cinemas nationwide on May 29 and will have a premiere night at SM Megamall on May 28. The film is produced by Pocket Media Productions, Incorporation, in partnership with Happy Infinite Productions, Incorporation, and Pocket Media Films. Regal Entertainment will distribute the film.