Maris Racal shared her process for studying her script for the award-winning film Sunshine.
"Because we're number 1 on Netflix, here's a little peek of the script SUNSHINE ☀️ I still can’t believe this role found its way to me. Forever grateful to my director @tonetjadaone and the entire @project8projects family for trusting me with Sunshine," she posted on her Instagram page.
In the video she shared on Instagram, Maris showed how she labeled every scene in her script with pieces of masking tape. "I've never done this before pero ishe-share ko na 'yung script ko. Naglalagay ako ng mga tape sa every page. Kunwari sequence 16... See? Mga ilang oras 'to ginawa nag-gupit-gupit ng masking tape and then manually sinusulat 'yung mga number ng sequences," she stated.
She explained why she uses this detailed method, sharing: "I like doing that kasi I get to really memorize or know the script by heart."
Maris also revealed some of her initial notes for building her character. "Ito 'yung mga first few notes ko dito kay Sunshine. Nakalagay dito nung nalaman na ni Sunshine 'yung situation niya. Nung nalaman na niya na buntis siya, ever since nung clinic time, naka-autopilot mode na siya para bang may isang goal na siya," she shared as she showed the notes for a scene.
"She really did not want to be pregnant or to have a baby. From the scene na nalaman niyang buntis siya onwards, tumatakbo sa isipan niya na meron siyang goal and that's really important in the film. Hindi mo talaga siya makikitang really present. She seems to be always so distracted. She's there in the scene but she's actualy not there; she's thinking about something else. 'Pag nakakausap niya 'yung bata dun lang siya nagiging present," she relayed.
Fans online were quick to react to Maris' post.
"You were incredible in the film, Maris. SO PROUD!" one fan commented.
Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Sunshine started streaming on Netflix on November 26.
Back in February, the movie won the Crystal Bear for Best Film at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.
Sunshine premiered in Philippine cinemas in July.
Maris shared that she trained for a year for her role in the film.
"I really pushed my limits and trained for it. Even though it was hard, I pushed," she shared in a 2024 interview. "It was made through blood, sweat, and tears. We really worked hard. The script is from 2020. It made me very emotional because I trained for a year. I saw the movie, the trailer, and other things that were familiar to me. It's a great story."
In an Instagram post in January 2024, Maris shared how the movie further molded her as an actress saying: "Sa film na 'to, I've grown so much as an actress."
Maris said that she immediately said yes when the movie was pitched to her way back in 2020. "Um-oo kaagad ako. Iyak ako nang iyak after ko mabasa ang script (at kahit na ilang ulit ko siyang basahin, iyak parin ako haha)," she said.
The actress remarked that the film will impart a beautiful message to audiences.
"Ito 'yung project na magiging proud ako na nagawa ko dahil sa sobrang ganda ng mensahe," she stated. "Forever kong babaunin ang natutunan ko dito."