MANILA - Actress Claudine Barretto shot down speculations that she will be leaving her mother network after signing a two-film contract with Viva Films.

The ABS-CBN actress said she just "wants a little freedom" to pursue film projects. Barretto said she still has things to prove when it comes to making better movies and making a mark in the film industry.

"Hindi naman ako umalis, I'm still going to be work[ing] with them konting freedom lang ang hiningi ko," she said. "It's just showing what I have to show sa industriyang ito in doing better movies pa. Kasi sayang ang oras sayang talaga ang oras," Barretto told ABS-CBN News.

Barretto, a pioneer of Kapamilya's Star Magic, signed a contract with Viva on Thursday, October 8.

The actress said she is thrilled to work for the film outfit and make new movies, since it has been 3 years since she starred in one under ABS-CBN's film outfit, Star Cinema.

Barretto's last film under Star Cinema was the box office horror film "Sukob", with Kris Aquino as one of the lead stars. She said conflicts of schedule prevented her from doing a film with Star Cinema.

"I'd been really wanting to do a movie for the longest time. And medyo parang hindi nagtutugma sa schedule when we are about to start sa Star Cinema. Hindi natutuloy dahil I'm doing a soap," she said.

The actress became restless during the movie hiatus and felt she has "to take some risk[s]" in terms of her career.

"Meaning kasi, for how many years, nasa loob lang ako ng Star Cinema, hindi lumalabas. Ang last movie ko we have to remember is Sukob noong 2006. So parang feeling ko na-miss ko ang big screen," she said.

Barretto wants to experiment with film genres and try working with new co-stars and directors. When Viva offered her a project, she said she sat down with ABS-CBN executives like Star Magic head Johnny Manahan and Mariole Alberto, to ask permission.

To prove she will not be leaving the network, Barretto said she will be doing a television series with her eldest sister, Gretchen Barretto.

She is also set to do a movie with Star Cinema next year.