Songs for Selina brings a heartfelt tale of music, friendship, and sacrifice to Amazon Prime
LOS ANGELES – R&B royalty Jay R and his wife, singer-actress Mica Javier, deliver a powerful debut film with Songs for Selina—a raw and resonant musical drama now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Drawing inspiration from their personal experiences in the music industry, the film tells a story of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the painful pursuit of dreams in a business that often demands more than talent.
Film Synopsis
Songs for Selina follows the story of Maya and Selina, childhood friends bonded by their deep love for music and shared dreams of making it big as a duo. Their journey takes a dramatic turn when a chance encounter propels them into the competitive world of the music industry.
Their artistic innocence is shattered when powerful music executive Emily Santos (played by Rachel Alejandro) singles out Selina as the star with true potential. Maya must confront a painful truth: to make their dream come true, she may have to step aside. As Selina ascends into stardom, Maya is left to navigate heartbreak, solitude, and the complicated intersection between loyalty and ambition.
The film’s nuanced portrayal of creative partnership, emotional resilience, and artistic integrity brings rare emotional depth to the music drama genre.
Behind the Film: Jay R and Mica’s Vision
Songs for Selina is a deeply personal project for Jay R and Mica Javier, who co-developed the story based on their own journey and those of their peers in the entertainment world. Produced under Jay R’s independent label, Homeworkz Entertainment Services, the project is both a love letter to Filipino artistry and an honest look at the costs of success.
Jay R, born Gaudencio Sillona III in Glendale, California, has long been a trailblazer in the Filipino R&B scene. Since the success of his platinum debut Gameface, he has built a career not only as a performer but also as a producer and entrepreneur. With Homeworkz, Jay R has consistently elevated independent Filipino music, and Songs for Selina marks his expansion into film with the same mission.
Mica Javier, a Manila-born artist who trained in New York and modeled internationally before returning to the Philippines, brings both onscreen power and offscreen storytelling vision. She plays the lead role of Selina and helped shape the film’s emotional arc.
“This film is about the dreams we all chase, and the truths we’re forced to face along the way,” said Jay R. “We wanted to show what the journey really looks like—from the highs of artistic fulfillment to the lows of personal sacrifice.”
All-Filipino Cast, Global Stage
The film showcases a stellar all-Filipino cast, including Rachel Alejandro, Gab Pangilinan, Gian Magdangal, Audie Gemora, Rachel Coates (as Maya), and Mica Javier herself in the title role. Jay R also appears onscreen as Nick.
Shot entirely in the Philippines, the film features authentic locations and local talent, giving viewers a vivid sense of Filipino cultural context rarely seen in global releases. Despite its deeply rooted local setting, Songs for Selina is already making waves abroad.
Originally intended for multi-platform release later in the year, Amazon Prime Video was so impressed with the film that it accelerated distribution, making it available in the U.S. even ahead of its Philippine premiere.
World-Class Music and Post-Production
The soundtrack is another standout. Jay R wrote and produced all the original songs featured in the film, with a score composed by Emmy Award-winner Denise Santos—formerly with Hans Zimmer’s team—and celebrated Filipino-American artist AJ Rafael.
Post-production, including editing, color grading, and sound design, was completed in Los Angeles, ensuring a polished finish worthy of global distribution.
A Milestone for Filipino Independent Cinema
More than a film, Songs for Selina is a creative milestone—a passion project that speaks to the power of representation and the universality of human struggle. For Jay R and Mica Javier, it’s the culmination of years of dreaming, surviving, and believing in Filipino stories.
Songs for Selina is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
CAST
Mica Javier – Selina
Rachel Coates – Maya
Rachel Alejandro – Emily
Gab Pangilinan – Nina
Jay R – Nick
Gian Magdangal – Ryan
Anne Gauthier – Chloe
Ben Deatha – Ramil
Dean Rosen – Daryl
Audie Gemora – Noy
Nicole Laurel – Paula Nieva
Leanne Mamonong – Alex
Tami Monsod – Rita
George Schulze – Mitch
