Direk Joel looks forward to more advocacy films

MANILA, Philippines - It has been 20 stellar years that director Joel Lamangan has been dazzling us with his movies. It could be drama, comedy, musical, action, mainstream or indie.

Is there something that direk Joel still wants to do? With the more than 60 feature films he made, which ones are closer to his heart? With his position as president of Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino, does he have any political ambition?

In an interview with direk Joel on the set of his latest film Ded na Ded, he looked back at his past and forward to his future.

You have been directing films for more than 20 years (since 1991 with Darna starring Nanette Medved, not counting Kalapating Musmos in 1985), which are the ones you consider most important in your career?

“That is difficult to answer because lahat ng pelikula ko malapit sa puso ko. But if I have to narrow it down to five only I can come up with Pangako ng Kahapon (1994), The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995), Bakit May Kahapon Pa (1996), Bulaklak ng Maynila (1999) and Deathrow (2000).

“Pangako was my first serious film after doing a series of love stories. Flor because it was my first time to work with Nora Aunor and gave me the Golden Pyramid for Best Picture and Actress for Nora at the Cairo International Film Festival in 1995. Bakit May Kahapon because I experimented with Nora in this film and it was a different Nora Aunor in terms of characterization in her performance. She even won a Best Actress Award from Penang, Malaysia. Bulaklak because it was my first film adapted from a novel by Domingo Landicho and Ricky Lee wrote the script. Deathrow was the first film which tackled minors in jail. Flor, Bulaklak and Deathrow were screened at the Toronto International Film Festival while Kahapon and Deathrow also competed in Cairo.

Of all the shooting days that you have done, which one is the most unforgettable?

“My first day of shooting with Nora for Flor kasi yun ang first time ko siyang makilala. I did not know how to react pag nakita ko sya. Kasi I was just in my fourth year as a director eh Superstar na siya nun. It was a dream come true for me.”

You have directed films in all genres and lahat ng magagaling at sikat na artista from Nora, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Maricel Soriano to Judy Ann Santos, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Marian Rivera, do you still have a dream movie?

“Naku, good question. Actually dream movies. Dalawa sila. Yung una ay medyo autobiographical. It is about a boy growing up in Cavite and being raised by his grandparents. At saka, I want to do a horror film. Yan na lang ata ang genre na di ko nagagawa. Walang gustong mag-offer eh. Ha ha ha! But seriously, I want to do something which is real horror like The Exorcist or The Shining. Sana mabasa ito ng mga producers at alukin akong gumawa ng horror film!”

From mainstream, you are crossing over to the independent cinema. Why is that? 

“Actually my first indie film was in 1997 pa yung Kadre starring Cesar Montano. Then in 2008 and 2009, I did a trilogy of gay-themed movies: Walang Kawala, Heavenly Touch and I Love Dreamguyz. In 2009, ginawa ko din yung Dukot, that was first advocacy film. Tapos nagkasunod-sunod na sila. Sigwa, Deadline and most recently yung Patikul. I will soon be starting Migrante about OFWs sinulat din ni Boni Ilagan starring Jodi Santamaria and Allen Dizon. We will shoot abroad for this film. Kung matutuloy sa Israel sana kung walang problema.”

But you are not totally abandoning mainstream cinema?

“Naku hindi. I love doing mainstream pa rin. In fact, I just started Ded na Ded with Gabby Concepcion, Ruffa Gutierrez, Pokwang and Jillian Ward. After this, I will start Hototay. Pang Metro Manila Film Festival and reunion movie ko with Nora.”

(Note: Hototay is the seventh instalment of the Mano Po series produced by Regal Films. All but one film were directed by direk Joel and featured the country’s biggest stars. Mano Po 1, 2002, with Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Ara Mina and Kris Aquino. Mano Po 3: My Love, 2004, with Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon. Mano Po 4: Ako Legal Wife, 2005, with Cherry Pie Picache, Rufa Mae Quinto and Zsa Zsa Padilla. Mano Po 5, Gua Ai Di, 2006, with Lorna Tolentino, Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin; and Mano Po 6: A Mother’s Love, 2009, with Sharon Cuneta. Mano Po 2 was megged by Erik Matti while direk Joel directed Filipinas starring Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Aiko Melendez for the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival. Direk Joel is currently finishing the afternoon soap Pahiram ng Isang Ina on GMA. He has done TV shows for ABS-CBN — the last one was Vietnam Rose — and for the past four years, he has been working with GMA.)

There are news that you are again transferring to another network, is this true?

“Yes, I am moving to TV5 and will direct Valiente. But I am not under contract with TV5. I am not sure kung blocktimer sila but this will be produced by Tony Tuviera for Archangel Media. I think this is a division of TAPE, Inc.”

You are the president of Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP), what are the goals of the organization?

“NMPP is an advocacy group for the benefit of the industry workers. It gives scholarship to the children, housing and health benefits to low-rank staff of the industry like bookers, checkers, stuntmen, among others. We also proposed a bill lowering taxes. We also want the formation of the national film commission. We are also working on the intellectual property rights para naman mabigyan ng royalty ang mga talents. Tapos, we are trying to implement that the number of working hours should be only 12 to 16 and not 24 hours. Beyond that, dapat may overtime pay ang mga tao.”

With your advocacy films and being the NMPP president, do you have any political plans?

“Ha ha ha ha, naku walang wala! I think working on my advocacy films is already my contribution because they present the realities of life. Sana, makuha nito ang attention ng ating mga mambabatas para mabigyan ng solusyon ang mga problema.”

Any plans after 20 years?

“I would like to direct more advocacy films kasi yung mga taong walang boses, nagkaka boses sa mga advocacy films. But I will still continue doing mainstream movies and direct soap operas for television.”