Direk Marlon’s new take on ‘Booba’ comedy

MANILA, Philippines - Filmmaker Marlon Rivera is bringing his independent sensibilities to Viva Films’ Ang Huling Henya starring comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto. The movie is now showing in theaters nationwide.

“It’s my second directorial job,” shares the director of Cinemalaya award-winning Ang Babae sa Septic Tank which gave lead star Eugene Domingo acting awards. “This is still not a mainstream (movie). It is a line production and an experiment (between) me and (Viva) boss Vic (del Rosario).”

In short, the budget for Ang Huling Henya was comparable to that of an indie but twice of Ang Babae sa Septic Tank’s. “They gave me the freedom (to do it),” says Marlon. “They gave me the money. I showed them the script. It was supervised by (Tita) June Rufino. Then it was all up to us. We did the movie for 15 days.”

Marlon and his team “tried to do it in a short span of time.” But they found out that the minimum number of shooting days for Ang Huling Henya was 15. Ang Huling Henya is “a new business model with a little gloss (may pasabog) and small budget.” Marlon and Viva did not just do an experiment on the medium, but also on the production side.

For Marlon, seeing indie filmmakers cross over to mainstream is a welcome change. It is a film development and movement that the public will learn to embrace soon. Marlon, a Communication Arts graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, says, “The indie spirit is different. It’s a new perspective which is good thing to bring into the mainstream.” Mainstream filmmaking can give indie filmmakers the access and the resources to create new stories for public consumption and appreciation.

Based on the trailer, Ang Huling Henya has good composition and reminds one of the Hollywood zombie trend.

“It has no peg,” says Marlon. “You’ll see in the end that it (doesn’t follow) a Hollywood trend.” Moviegoers have to watch the movie to figure it out — whether the zombies are contained or they will wreck havoc on an entire community.

Ang Huling Henya is Marlon and Rufa Mae’s idea, which is a play on the former’s iconic character Booba. Marlon relates that the comedian is not the character the public has been associating Rufa Mae to. She is not just smart, but also a shrewd businesswoman. “There’s no truth to (the notion). She has a good head on her shoulders,” says Marlon.

The latest Rufa Mae starrer “is not gag-based,” says Marlon. It veers away from the formula “Knock, knock. Who’s there?” comedy. “The situation is funny but also dramatic. It’s not the laugh-at-person comedy.” What will tickle the audience’s funny bones are the uncomfortable situations and ideas. “Personally, if you will break down the movie, it’s a dramatic movie. The story is about two orphan siblings,” says Marlon. Ang Huling Henya is a different take on Rufa Mae’s brand of comedy. But her signature “moves” remain intact. “There’s horror, comedy and drama in it. But it is moving,” he says.

Asked about the impact of indie movies on the local film production, Marlon replies, “It can only help the industry. Kapag dumadami ang mga director, dumadami ang ideas. Nasasanay ang mga tao sa ibang pananaw.” It will take time, however, before Juan dela Cruz can fully get hold of indies. Marlon is “very optimistic about it.”

The good news is, there’s a new breed of filmmakers who are trying new ways of telling film narratives. They have been getting the international community’s nod of approval. “It is showing new things and there’s a degree of success (somehow),” says Marlon. At the end of the day, the movie-going public is the winner as more choices are there for the taking.

(Ang Huling Henya also stars Edgar Alan Guzman, Fabio Ide, DJ Durano, Kean Cipriano, Candy Pangilinan, Ayen Laurel, Ricci Chan, Jovic Munsod and Robert Seña.)