Director E.M. Reyes: Sense and sensibility

He doesn’t drink, smoke, dress flamboyantly. Nor does he use his power to intimidate people with what they call the director’s presence. What E.M. Reyes has is a good dose of artistic sensitivity and a constant awareness that his ego must always be in check. What’s even more astonishing is that you’ve probably never heard of him.

This maverick television director has a clear grasp of his politics, specifically, the politics of local television. "A lot of people tend to make you feel that they know a lot, when in truth and reality, they know too little," he says, specially in the television industry where competition can be harsh and nasty.

They say that for a director to be successful in dishing out a daily dose of larger-than-life drama, he should have a taste for the surreal, as well as the out-and-out icky-feel of mundane mushiness. But for the highly intelligent E.M., the challenge lies in striking a balance between all possible emotions and thought patterns.

"I love emotions – all sorts of emotions. I am inspired by them, motivated by them, amused by them, amazed by them and occasionally aroused by them," he explains, adding that this opportunity to work on a daily dramathon can satisfy his quench for understanding all facets of human feelings.

When the idea of being at the helm of Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas was first broached to him, he understood that it was a Herculean task to take on. First, Pangako sa ’Yo was so successful it is a tough act to follow. Second, the real life romance of Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa has turned cold with the entrance of Cindy Kurleto in Jericho’s real universe, thus disappointing many of their avid followers. But the young director remains undaunted.

"I love challenges. I love things that do not seem normal to other people. When I was young, I hated order and being common. I’ve always enjoyed the process of creation," he says, adding that working with actors and seeing them transform into their respective characters when he gives the cue is a priceless feeling.

Moreso, revealing a character’s soul on camera is less a matter of technique than of timing and trust for E.M. "Specially among actors, it’s all about finding that moment when a person is totally open, which means you have to get to know them, make them trust you, and more importantly, make them trust themselves, then boom, you make the connection to their core and capture it on your camera."

I believe that anyone who can survive the grinding pressure of sustaining our interest and curiosity in a daily soap opera has something truly worth exploring. And to understand this promising young director, so reticent, so aloof and – dare one use that abused word? – "cool," we need to know about his interestingly bohemian, surprisingly instinct-based background.

The third among four siblings of an accountant and a beautician who are both offshore residents now, E.M. grew up in Nueva Ecija glued to television. When he was introduced to film, he’d choose to watch the classics of the ’50s and the ’60s more than what his peers would fall in line for.

After graduating cum laude in Film and Audio-Visual Communications from UP Diliman, E.M. worked as script continuity supervisor for movies like The Dolzura Cortez Story and had valuable stints working as right-hand man for women directors like Rory Quintos and Olive Lamasan. After a few projects, he packed his bags and tried to see if Canada can offer what he was looking for.

With his own money, he’d enroll in courses on international cinema, film appreciation and criticism. He was particularly fond of the courses offered by York University in Toronto. If he had more money to spare, he’d travel to new places for more learning opportunities, and frequented not only the artistic and intellectual salons of le tout Paris and Berlin but also spent his time observing people and experiencing their cultures.

When he decided he’d be happier and more productive here at home, he immediately reconnected with his colleagues and mentors, and call it perfect timing, the ABS-CBN higher-ups were looking for a director to take over Jerry Sineneng’s job for the then afternoon soap Marinella.E.M. got the job and poured everything he knew into it. After that came Recuerdo de Amor and people in the know started to take a more lingering look at him and his work.

Among the local film directors, E.M. has the highest respect for the works of Mike de Leon. "I think he’s in a class all his own. He has done comedy ( Kakaba kaba ka ba?), social realism (Sister Stella L) and even romance (Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising), beautifully combining sense and sensibility, flair and fervor." E.M. hopes that in God’s perfect time, he’d also be entrusted with a project that will showcase his sensitivity and promise as a filmmaker.

"I’m not in a rush. There are emotions I may not know and understand yet at this stage in my life, and I’d like to have sometime to explore all possibilities and areas of learning. I’d like to grow older and get more experience before taking the plunge," says E.M., who reveals that his other passion is to sing with his church choir.

Meantime, E.M. is optimistic about the enormous challenge that faces him and his co-director Jerome Pobocan with Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas: to go higher in the soap opera ratings game and getting the network executives to have a high regard for their creative outputs.

In an arena where strong personalities usually dominate the playing field, director Erick M. Reyes is a perfect example that real power lies in the one who possesses an unclouded sensibility of himself and his art. Here’s a nice guy we could root for in the land of swollen egos.