A believer in happy endings

He has directed nine films since he started with Mara Clara in 1996. This makes Jerry Lopez Sineneng one of the busiest filmmakers in Star Cinema. "I guess I’m quite fortunate because that’s an average of more than one film a year." he says.

Born on June 10, 1965, Jerry was taking up BS Biology in UP when he learned that the College of Mass Communications was offering a course on Film and Audio-Visual Arts for the first time. "My parents are movie buffs and I’ve always been fascinated by film, so I decided to shift. I belong to the first batch of graduates majoring on Film."

Even before graduation in 1986, he was already hired as wardrobe assistant in the films of the late Director Chaning Carlos. Tagabihis ako ng artista in the comedy. Horsey-Horsey, Tigidig-Tigidig, for Regal Films in 1985. I also appeared in bit roles in the movies of Tatay Chaning, like I’d be a friend of the villain. I even played the hair stylist of Ruffa Gutierrez in one movie. Then for two years, I worked with FPJ Productions as a production assistant and I learned so much from FPJ himself. From there, I branched out into scriptwriting with the group of Director Peque Gallaga. I wrote the scripts of Shake, Rattle & Roll 2, 3, and 4 for him. When Maalaala Mo Kaya started at ABS-CBN, I sent them a script I wrote about friendship and they liked it so they hired me as a resident writer. My first script starred Carmina Villaroel and Jennifer Sevilla. It was ABS that later gave me my break as a TV director, also in Maalaala. The very first episode I directed is a horror story about a man, played by Cesar Montano, who had a love affair with a ghost. I really love doing horror stories."

But now, he is more identified with romantic comedies like Flames, Kung Ayaw Mo Huwag Mo, Labs Kita Okay Ka Lang and Videoke King. His latest assignment is another romance, Ngayong Nandito Ka, which reunites the love team of Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa after their hit film last year, Forevermore.

"I’m quite tense about the movie’s possible outcome because Forevermore is such a big box office hit," he says. "But I’m glad to work again with Jericho and Kristine, who were my stars in the very successful teleserye, Pangako Sa Iyo. We already know each other so well that just one look and they know immediately what I want for them to do in each scene. Sometimes, they can sense right away if I’m not satisfied and they’d ask me, Direk, do you want a take two? Kristine is the big surprise for me in this movie. She has quite a number of difficult dramatic scenes and I thought she wouldn’t be able to deliver. But when we shot that emotional confrontation scene between her and Jericho in a parking lot, she did it so well I can say she will surely shine in this film."

It’s common knowledge that Jericho and Kristine had a lover’s quarrel while filming Ngayong Nandito Ka. Did that help Kristine interpret her role well? "Possibly, because Kristine really gave a truly great performance in the scenes where she conveys to Jericho how hurt she is." Jerry relates, "The best way to motivate actors is really to relate their role and the scene they are doing to their real life experiences. The material of this film is really much more serious than Forevermore. The film starts with them already planning to get married. They are members of a band in Baguio and so in love with each other. But Jericho’s family runs into some financial problems and he is forced by his father to leave Kristine and marry newcomer Cindy Kurleto to help their business. Kristine, in turn, leaves to work in Japan where she meets Onemig Bondoc. That’s why we have several scenes shot in Tokyo in the middle of winter. We shot there on location for three days. Several years later, they meet again under totally different circumstances. The movie definitely has a different ambiance and atmosphere with the scenes shot in Baguio and Japan."

How is Onemig Bondoc’s performance? Didn’t he feel like an intruder in the Jericho-Kristine love team? "I directed Onemig in Pangako Sa Iyo and I noticed he has good potential, Jerry says." What’s nice about him is that he is very open. He is not ashamed to admit it when he knows he has committed a mistake."

Jerry assures us that Ngayong Nandito Ka is a feel-good movie. "I want films with happy endings because my main concern is to entertain the audience, that’s why I love the romantic films of Nora Ephron like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail where you leave the theatre feeling so light."

Doesn’t he intend to make more serious films? "If I’d be given the chance, why not? he says. My most serious work so far is Soltera, for which I got nominated as best director and which gave Raymond Bagatsing some Best Supporting Actor awards. I presented the concept to Star Cinema, they liked it, and we agreed on Maricel Soriano playing the title role. I’d also like to do horror films and even bold films."

What would be his dream project? "I’d like to do a movie on political detainees and one about a gay-to-gay relationship, he replies.." But I don’t think Star Cinema would want to produce these kinds of movies. So for now, I’ll just stick to wholesome films." What is his next assignment? "I’m directing the new soap opera starring Robin Padilla and Judy Ann Santos for ABS-CBN that we’ll start taping when they return from their series of show in the States."