From script girl to film director

We have very few women directors so we’re glad Cathy Garcia-Molina, who directs Star Cinema’s latest romantic comedy, You Are The One, now joins the short list of female filmmakers. Cathy rose from the ranks. A MassComm graduate of UP in 1992, she is the youngest of nine kids.

"I’ll be 35 on Nov. 28, but our eldest is 56," she says. "We moved a lot, so I spent my childhood in Bicol where I finished elementary then moved to Occidental Mindoro where we stayed until I was 14. I was a high school junior when we moved to Angono, Rizal. I come from a family of singers. Most of my siblings sing abroad. Merong Japanese citizens na sa tagal ng pagkanta nila roon. As a child, I was not fond of watching movies. But I sang and danced a lot in school presentations. I was already taking up MassComm when I got fascinated with film. One teacher influenced me a lot, director Marilou Abaya whose Karnal I love so much. When I was doing my practicum, I was sent to Viva and worked as an intern for director Chito Roño in his film, Narito ang Puso Ko that won a grand slam for Lorna Tolentino as Best Actress in 1992. I was the script girl and direk Chito liked me so he took me to his next project, Ikaw Lang, for Moviestars Production, with Vilma Santos and Ronnie Ricketts."

By that time, she has resolved to stay in the movies. "Other film companies got me also, like Regal and Seiko Films, and gave me the chance to work as assistant director. I assisted direk Joey Romero in Maricris Sioson, Japayuki starring Ruffa Gutierrez and direk Abbo de la Cruz in Singsing ni Pacing. Then direk Ruel Bayani told me direk Olive Lamasan was looking for a female assistant director for Star Cinema’s Maalaala Mo Kaya, The Movie, where she debuted as a film director. Because of that, I was able to enter ABS-CBN. I also assisted direk Olive in the Sharon Cuneta movies Madrasta and Minsan Minahal Kita. I also assisted direk Rory Quintos in Basta’t Kasama Kita starring Aga Muhlach and Dayanara Torres and I got back to direk Chito for Eskapo and Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara.

"They also got me on TV and I worked as assistant director in shows like Maalaala Mo Kaya, Star Drama Presents, Calvento Files and Gimik. It was direk Lauren Dyogi who gave me the chance to direct in Gimik, where I got to direct Judy Ann Santos. Then I became the co-director of my first soap, Marinella, followed by Mangarap Ka with Piolo Pascual. In 2000, I was given the chance to direct my own first episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya, entitled Lollipop, starring Vina Morales and Ian de Leon. Last year, I got the chance to direct in the movies, an episode in the romantic trilogy, Bcuz of U, where I did the Sandara Park episode. My first full-length film was Close to You early this year, starring John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and Sam Milby. It was such a hit that they asked me now to direct Sam again in You Are The One opposite Toni Gonzaga."

Doesn’t she dream of doing a serious film? "As of now, I’m quite happy with the romantic comedies they assign to me. Let’s face it, that’s what people want to watch these days. But eventually, in the not-so-distant future, I hope they’ll give me the chance to do a serious drama or even a horror film with bigger stars. As of now, it’s okay that new and young stars are assigned to me as I’m a newcomer myself. I also want to do a new youth movie like Bagets."

Cathy is married to Phillip Molina, a video engineer, and they met at ABS. "We were married in 2001. We had our first baby after four years. Our son is turning one on Sept. 26. A month after that, I’m giving birth to our second baby, this time a girl."

How was it working with Toni and Sam in You Are The One? "I also megged Sam in Close to You, but his role there as a balikbayan rock star is really very simple compared to his role here that requires drama. I was wondering, ‘What will be his input here?’ I had many apprehensions, even with Toni, because she’s known as a host and comedian. But it turned out they were both okay.

"When I asked them to do their dramatic scenes, I didn’t have any problem at all. They both cried easily. They also have angst. And they have good chemistry on screen. Toni plays Sally, a bubbly government employee who wants to join her family in the US. Sam plays Will, a disgruntled US Embassy consul. When Toni applies for a visa, Sam denies her one and that’s how their relationship starts: on the wrong foot. It’s a heartwarming film with plenty of kilig moments, perfect for those who love watching romantic films."

(You Are The One will open on Aug. 30 in theaters nationwide).