Direk Joey after his ‘humbling experience’

As a filmmaker, Jose Javier Reyes is best known for his feel-good romances, like May Minamahal, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Iisa Pa Lamang, and the multi-storied Radio Romance. But last year, he became controversial when his Live Show (originally titled Toro), about the story of live sex show performers, was banned, causing a furor and the forced resignation of Nicanor Tiongson as MTRCB chief.

"It was a humbling experience for me," Joey says, "what with some people calling me a pornographer. But ultimately, I realized it’s not really a question of pornography but a question of politics. Up to now, I’m still proud of Live Show. It was acclaimed in the Berlin Filmfest and became the cause of protest rallies in Mendiola against censorship. I came to know who my real friends are."

Is this the reason why he is reportedly still not on speaking terms with directors who resigned from the Directors Guild of the Philippines at the height of the controversy, like Peque Gallaga, Laurice Guillen and Chito Roño? "I want to clarify that. Peque resigned a long time ago because of his disillusionment with the film industry. In the case of Laurice, it’s because of her faith, and with Chito, it’s his decision and I respect that. There’s only one director I will never talk to again for the rest of my life."

And who could this be? "I cannot say her name. But with what she did in the industry in a time we need to be united, you can see the real dimension of a person and you dread to think of what else she can be capable of doing." Can you guess the identity of the director Joey is referring to?

"Right after Live Show, Joey continues, "I thought no other producer would get me. It’s good I had another project with Regal Films that had long been finished, Minsan May Isang Puso. Both films subsequently got several nominations in some award-giving bodies. I was so glad when I got an offer from ABS-CBN to direct Judy Ann Santos in a soap opera, Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka. At least, may trabaho na uli ako. God really provides. Because when I was terminated from Sa Puso Ko a few months later due to cost-cutting, on the same day, I got an offer from Malou Santos to direct a new film, 9 Mornings. This is based on the script of Antonio Sison that won the second prize in the 1999 Film Foundation scriptwriting contest. And after I finished shooting that, Mother Lily called me to do a film for her and I chose to do one of my dream projects, based on the play of Orlando Nadres, Paraisong Parisukat. That was a rare opportunity because in these days when the industry is down and only few companies make movies, it is a real blessing when someone asks you to do a project that is near to your heart."

What are Joey’s other dream projects? "First is my Experimental Cinema award-winning script of Flores de Mayo. I was so surprised when I saw Sofia Coppola’s Virgin Suicides because the story is something like that, but I was ahead of her because I wrote the script in 1982 pa. Then, I want to do a local version of Macbeth, with Gretchen Barretto as my dream choice to play Lady Macbeth. I also want to film a finalist in the Film Foundation Scriptwriting Contest, Ang Kristo ng Dagat Bughaw by Jonard Yleana, which is about Christ’s second coming. And last is a project I know no producer would dare finance, Orlando Nadres’ Hanggang Dito na Lamang at Maraming Salamat Po, which starred the late Lino Brocka on stage. This time, I want Joel Lamangan with Piolo Pascual as the young man and Maning Borlaza as his friend."

We know Joey has been writing the scripts of his own films. So how is it directing somebody else’s work in 9 Mornings? "The first thing I did is get into the head of Ton Sison. He is a Ph.D. student taking up liberation theology in the Netherlands and the film is about faith. He came home here and we had a long dinner where I discussed with him certain points and issues about his script. I consulted him about the changes I have to make. First, I have to make it filmable because if we’d follow his script, the budget would be very big. I also changed some of the dialogue to make it more contemporary, more Filipinized. The film is about separating religion from faith and, in the end, bringing them back together again. Although the framework of the film is Catholic, the faith we portray in it is really more ecumenical. You know, I believe there are really no accidents. This film was first offered to Laurice because of the nature of the material, but she opted to do another project and so it was given to me. What the film actually says crystallizes my own experience, what I went through after Live Show until I was assigned to do Sa Puso Ko. I felt God gave it to me because He wanted me to do it and it became personal for me. We live in a very materialistic world right now. The film is a question of what you can and will do with your life. Gene, the character played by Piolo Pascual, is a materialistic man for whom faith takes a back seat. All he is interested in is sex and money, until he meets this pre-school teacher, Elise, played by Donita Rose, during a simbang-gabi and she changes his life. Elise herself cannot forget a past love so she cannot move on. The film shows you also have to bury your past for you to be able to open up your heart again. All those who have seen the film say they were touched by it."

Joey is so pleased with his stars. "I’ve worked with Piolo in Batang PX and in Sa Puso Ko and he’s really one of our most sensitive young actors today. But with Donita, it’s my first time. The first thing I notice when I watched the rushes is how beautiful their chemistry is on screen. Ang gaganda nilang tingnan! Donita and I jammed before the shooting so we quickly became comfortable with each other. She always asks after a take if I approve of what she just did. When she found out I have a crush on a VJ sa MTV, she called him up on her cellphone and she let me talk to him. Ang sweet, di ba?"

They started shooting 9 Mornings in December of last year. "Because the film is set during the Christmas season, we had to take advantage of all the holiday decor in the malls and along Ayala Avenue," he says. "We can only shoot Donita on weekends when she flies in from Singapore so by January, we’re requesting the people at Alabang Town Center not to take down their Christmas decorations yet until we finish the film."

His movie with Regal, Masikip, Mainit, Paraisong Parisukat, has been filmed before by Elwood Perez. He is quick to add that this is not just a remake. "I expanded the play but it remains true to the spirit of what Dandy Nadres wrote." How did he make Joyce Jimenez credible in the role of a lowly shoe store sales girl? "I didn’t allow her to wear make up all throughout the film and when I shot her walking along Avenida Rizal with Jay Manalo, she blended very well with the crowd. I’m so proud of this movie because I was also able to get Tatay Chaning Carlos to play the role of the janitor in the shoe store."

9 Mornings and Masikip, Mainit: Paraisong Parisukat are both scheduled to be shown on Oct. 16. Right now, Joey is shooting another film about faith with Regal, Anghel sa Lupa starring Cogie Domingo, Dina Bonnevie, Ricky Davao and Paolo Ballesteros. From toreros to angels, Joey has really come a long way!