Grace Libero

"No Boundaries" Actors Leon Barretto and Claud Laurel and Director Sarah De Las Alas Talk About Their Digital Series

Article (news)

<p>Starring <strong>Leon Barretto </strong>and <strong>Claud Laurel</strong>, <strong><em>NO BOUNDARIES</em></strong> is a student-led production. More than a thesis requirement for UA&amp;P’s Media Entertainment &amp; Management, this <strong>Last Row Productions</strong> digital series gives a glimpse of the talent and creativity of today&#x27;s generation. Days after it was posted online, viewers immediately loved it, garnering millions of views and good reviews. </p><p>At the helm of this project are <strong>V Arciaga</strong> and <strong>Sarah De Las Alas</strong>,<strong></strong> who both directed and wrote the series. In their <strong>Metro.Style</strong> interview, they shared their insights on the background of and the intention behind the narrative.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HMnvNmwbarM?si=b7iktAzsA9VpQn9x" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>“The idea for <em>NO BOUNDARIES—</em>it&#x27;s our final thesis project for us to graduate, actually. We were actually required to create a series, but only produce the pilot episode. The inspiration, actually—since most of us in our group were like loving romantic comedies—it really felt natural to take inspiration from that genre. But then, more than just the usual <em>kilig</em> moments, we wanted to tell a story that carried impact and meaning,” Sarah detailed how their series production pushes the boundaries by exploring social classes within the educational setup. </p><p>“We also wanted to challenge certain norms, like how public schools were often perceived as chaotic and raucous environments,” she added. </p><p><em></em>As to how they wound up with <em>NO BOUNDARIES</em> for the title<em></em>, Sarah tackled the challenges that arose during the title selection, saying, “It was the hardest one to think about, I would say. So the core of the story is love and connection that go beyond social class, background, and the limitations of people. Limitations of people that are often imposed on themselves or others. So it really captures the essence of what we wanted to say, that meaningful relationships can transcend differences.”</p><p>Inspired by popular Filipino book-to-movie adaptations of romantic films,<em> NO BOUNDARIES</em> follows the genre of the likes of <em>She&#x27;s Dating the Gangster</em>, of which Sarah is a huge fan.</p><p>While their pool of creative insights and resources is rich and deep, their production team also had to contend with limited resources that challenged them to work within what was realistic. “The plot was really shaped around what was achievable for us,” Sarah said, emphasizing the balance between practicality and quality.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DN781nbkgQu/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A14000995.6%2C%22ls%22%3A2963%2C%22le%22%3A3728.7999999999884%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="851" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Filipinos are fond of romantic stories to the extent that there&#x27;s even a word with no direct English translation to encapsulate that fascination: <em>kilig</em>. </p><p>Be it in the form of series, movies, or books, Filipinos&#x27; love for this genre is embedded in our culture. For the lead stars, Leon Barretto and Claud Laurel, when the story was initially pitched, they said it captured their interest right away. After all, the dynamic of a rich, popular, and a bit of a troublemaker kind of guy and a poor yet strong and kind-hearted girl is timeless. </p><p>Leon, who plays <strong>Prince Chavez</strong>, told Metro.Style, “When they pitched me the project and they told me about my character, it was something that I wanted to do immediately.” </p><p>“I agree with Leon,“ Claud began. “Considering that this is still a student-led project, I still think to this day, actually, that the quality of the show is good.”</p><p>Both Leon and Claud are admittedly rookies in acting. Claud, whose character is <strong>Princess Mae Catapang</strong>, shared, “I was also scared I might not try to live up to the character that she was trying to picture. But I loved how supportive V and Sarah were, and how they both believed we could pull this off, me and Leon. And one thing that is exciting about my character is that she&#x27;s headstrong and hardworking.” </p><p>As someone who comes from a family of renowned actors, Leon did get pieces of advice from his family that helped him internalize his character better. “I think first and foremost, this is what I&#x27;ve learned from my family members who are actors as well—it&#x27;s to not overthink your character too much. Definitely being prepared is always going to be there, but in terms of overthinking it, in terms of just really analyzing your character, really just memorizing your lines, you don&#x27;t have to make it too technical.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758540926192no boundaries starring leon barretto claud laurel.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @theleonbarretto</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Acting naturally in a scene, especially for a campus-based story, is important. There has to be a balance between rawness and finesse in delivering lines and showcasing facial expressions. Sarah praised Leon and Claud for portraying their characters with such balance. She gushed, “Visual-wise, they&#x27;re pretty perfect for the series already. Even their height difference and everything. And then when we did script reading, table reading, that was when we really saw there was instant chemistry that was actually unexplainable.” </p><p>And it wasn’t only the directors who noticed their spark, as Sarah noted, “Even other people, they were like, &#x27;Wow, these two really have natural chemistry.&#x27; That&#x27;s why we&#x27;re thankful for it,” Sarah said.</p><p>Since <em>NO BOUNDARIES</em>, which now has a second episode, received positive reviews, we asked if they consider this a stepping stone for an acting career. Leon was the first to answer, saying, “This project means so much to me, and I&#x27;m so passionate about this project specifically because I do acknowledge it&#x27;s my first acting gig. So I wanted to treat this project as a stepping stone or just testing the waters, if I really love it.” </p><p>“I&#x27;ll be honest, though,“ he quickly added. “I&#x27;m still thinking about it because, definitely, entering the industry has its pros and cons, but in terms of the art and the craft, I deeply loved and appreciated it because of this project.”</p><p>Claud, on the other hand, said she’s open to possibilities. She shared, “For me, as a stepping stone for a career—I&#x27;m going to be honest, this is not even close to my field that I&#x27;m taking in college, but as a stepping stone, if the opportunity presents itself, why not, right?” She also mentioned that even as a kid, she had always enjoyed being in front of an audience. Claud continued, “From when I was young, I would always push <em>sa</em> mom and dad <em>ko na, </em>‘Oh, I really want to be a performer, to act, and to just be out there,’ but they were both persistent on finishing my studies first.” </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GYv6uaUZcTA?si=wYvEchidWCHQfChZ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“Viewers can definitely expect even more emotions in episode 2, and along with the introduction of a new character who will add more depth to the story,” Sarah said. </p><p>A school requirement that turned into a passion project, <em>NO BOUNDARIES </em>is a clear example of what today&#x27;s young creatives can achieve when they push the boundaries of storytelling. <em></em></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Check out Leon Barretto&#x27;s YouTube channel for the episodes of </strong><em><strong>NO BOUNDARIES.</strong></em></div><div><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">Lead photo from <strong>@theleonbarretto</strong></p>

<p>A school requirement that turned into a passion project, <i>NO BOUNDARIES </i>is a clear example of what today's young creatives can achieve when they push the boundaries of storytelling.</p>

A school requirement that turned into a passion project, NO BOUNDARIES is a clear example of what today's young creatives can achieve when they push the boundaries of storytelling.

Thesis-Turned-Passion Project: 'No Boundaries,' Starring Leon Barretto and Claud Laurel, Offers a Fresh Yet Familiar Take on Rom-Com

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

People

Thesis-Turned-Passion Project: 'No Boundaries,' Starring Leon Barretto and Claud Laurel, Offers a Fresh Yet Familiar Take on Rom-Com

Arci Claveria

Published Sep 22, 2025 08:30 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 22, 2025 09:10 PM PHT

Read More:

People

No Boundaries

Leon Barretto

Claud Laurel

Rom-Com

Series

Culture

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.