Coffee Prince (2012 TV series)
Coffee Prince is a 2012 Philippine television drama romance comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based on Sun-mi Lee's novel Coffee Prince. Directed by Ricky Davao, it stars Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica. It premiered nationally on October 8, 2012 on the network's Telebabad lineup replacing One True Love, and globally on October 9, 2012 on GMA Pinoy TV. The series concluded on November 23, 2012 with a total of 35 episodes. It was replaced by Pahiram ng Sandali in its timeslot.
Premise
Andy is a hardworking young woman who supports her mother and sister after the death of their father. To sustain their daily needs, she earns a living as a tricycle driver. Arthur, on the other hand, is a happy-go-lucky and wealthy bachelor whose family owns the biggest coffee factory in the country. His grandmother constantly pressures him to settle down, but Arthur is not yet ready to tie the knot.To avoid the dates arranged by his domineering granny, Arthur hires Andy to pretend to be his gay lover. He doesn't know that Andy is just pretending to be a guy to keep her job in Arthur's coffee shop. Desperate to pay off her family's debt, Andy is left with no choice but to agree to Arthur's plan and to continue with her charade.
Complications arise when Andy starts to fall in love with Arthur. He is likewise unable to control his feelings for Andy and he starts questioning his sexuality.
Cast and characters
Lead cast
- Kris Bernal as Andrea "Andy" Gomez
- Aljur Abrenica as Arthur Ochoa
Supporting cast
- Benjamin Alves as Errol Ochoa
- Max Collins as Arlene Manahan
- Celia Rodriguez as Mamita Ochoa
- Tessie Tomas as Elizabeth "Beth" Gomez
- Leo Martinez as Ernie Muling Tapang
- Ces Quesada as Lorna Ochoa
- Ronnie Henares as Oliver Ocgolhoa
- Boy2 Quizon as Ervin Tanchinko
- Steven Silva as Bamboo Buendia
- Fabio Ide as Leo Bonito
- Sef Cadayona as Baldo
- Kim Rodriguez as Mylene Gomez
Background
From January 1 to March 19, 2008, GMA Network aired the series, and just like in South Korea, it spawned a huge following and fascination among Filipinos, and is considered as one of the best Korean series the network has aired.
Overview
Production and development
On September 26, 2008, in an intimate lunch with the press people, GMA Network's lady executives, headed by Wilma Galvante, shared their plans for the rest of 2008 and for the first quarter of 2009. Galvante announced that the network has bought the format rights of Coffee Prince to produce the local version.Since then, excitement reaches the series' fanatics, as well as, the loyal viewers of the network. There were plenty of speculations as to whom the network would choose to lead the Filipino version of the said series. Actresses, Jolina Magdangal, Carla Abellana, Chynna Ortaleza and Sheena Halili were some of the names reportedly vying for the female lead role. In one of her interviews , Abellana denies the rumor, but said she loves to do certain roles . "I've tried acting as a tomboy in Carinderia Queen last year , and I loved it! Many told me that the role fits me," says Abellana.
There's also a speculation that the said project is intended for Dennis Trillo and Jennica Garcia. In one of his interviews , Trillo confirmed that his next project after the fantasy-adventure series, Gagambino, should be the local adaptation of Coffee Prince. But unfortunately, the network had decided to shelve the project for the moment, as they want to concentrate more on original materials. And so, Trillo and Garcia made the romantic-comedy series Adik Sa'Yo, instead.
July 2012, the network bosses announced that they are back to the drawing board for Coffee Prince, and this time, with Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal in the lead. This was after the network shelved the supposedly reunion project of Abrenica and Bernal with Rhian Ramos, the straight-drama entitled Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko.
The production team wants to deliver the series as a real Filipino television series rather than just a remake of an original Korean show. Screenwriter, Des Garbes Severino assigned as the headwriter of the series. While there are many similarities to the original series, some changes were made by adding more interesting twists and turns, new characters and Pinoy flavour to it. "When we adapt, we get the main story or the main premise. Most of the major plotlines are intact. We adapt it to our local setting. For instance, in the original version, Andy is a delivery girl. But we're not familiar with that, although we do have delivery boys. So we've made her a tricycle driver. If you notice, the Korean version, though a romance-comedy, is more on light romance. This time around, we explore the concept of romantic comedy. There will be funny scenes along with heartwarming moments," Severino shares. She also admits that doing an adaptation is quite challenging. The creative people behind Coffee Prince are also faced with the task to make the story, given the character arcs, more interesting and better than the original. "Die-hard fans, who know every twist and turn of the story, won’t get disappointed because the iconic scenes such as Arthur carrying Andy on his back and he running after her from condo to restaurant asking for apology will be there,"she added. The producer hired actor/director Ricky Davao to handle the series.
Casting
Coffee Prince served as Abrenica and Bernal's reunion project and first romantic-comedy series in GMA. In preparing for the role, Bernal said she really had to study how a real man acts and respond to situations before she went in front of the cameras. She even learned how to drive a tricycle and even willing to cut her hair short to make her role more realistic. Bernal added that she really ensures she gets to familiarize with every scene for each episode. Abrenica, on the other hand, couldn't be any happier to reignite his onscreen chemistry with Bernal, stated that their relationship as onscreen partners is incomparable and deep. He added that he's very comfortable with Bernal so there's no big adjustment between them. When it comes to his role, he considered it as his most challenging role so far. "I made character research here. There's a part in the story that I will question my sexuality. That's quite challenging for me," he added. Both Bernal and Abrenica underwent several workshops under Director Maryo J. Delos Reyes before the cameras roll, in preparation for their characters. Series' director, Ricky Davao is all praise for his lead casts, described that Bernal is a delight to work with and Abrenica is quite serious and very sensitive. "I'm very happy with my cast, they are all good and they fit into their roles," he added. Davao also had a short cameo appearance in the show. He played Mando, Andy's loving father.Benjamin Alves and Max Collins were assigned to play Errol and Arlene's characters. Alves relates himself to his role, said that: " I'm responsible, and I know what needs to be done. I take every bit of information in before I express myself -- but, this is due to character's sad back story, which involves Collins' character breaking his heart," he says.
The show revolved not only on the main character's comical romance, but also at the fictional coffee shop called Coffee Prince, and its baristas. One of those is Boy 2 Quizon who played Ervin. Quizon stated that it's his first gay role and naming Hollywood's Chris Colfer as his peg. "Actually, it was a concept of our director, Ricky Davao. He wants me to do this. It's fine with me, because I don't wanna limit my acting ability," he added. Sef Cadayona originally auditioned for Ervin, but ended up portraying Baldo. He was told by the producers that it was better for him to play Baldo role, as he already played gay character in 2011 primetime series, Time of My Life which also starred Bernal.
Shared equally vital roles in the series are veteran actors, Tessie Tomas who played Beth, Andy and Mylene's mother. This series marked as Tomas’ comeback project for the network after four years. While her contemporary and Champoy co-star, Leo Martinez played Arthur's business partner, Manong Ernie. Ronnie Henares and Ces Quesada portrayed Oliver and Lorna, respectively, Arthur and Errol's parents; Celia Rodriguez played Errol and Arthur's strict and domineering grandmother, Mamita.