Direk Andoy Ranay on working with ‘acting greats’

MANILA, Philippines - Who says directors are immune to intimidation? Director Randolph “Andoy” Ranay is not shy to admit that he initially felt intimidated working on GMA 7’s primetime series Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real, knowing that the cast is composed mostly of acting greats. The likes of Robert Arevalo, Coney Reyes, Jaime Fabregas, Tommy Abuel, Celeste Legaspi and Susan Africa star in the soap and they play important roles in the lives of lead stars Dingdong Dantes, Maricel Soriano and Lovi Poe.

“But I have to overcome that ‘fear,’” begins direk Andoy. “And in reality, they’re very open and very respectful to their director and to my vision. Before we started taping, I explained to them how I would want each character to be. If they still have questions, they can ask me right away at ganun ang relationship namin on the set so I easily overcame that feeling because they (veterans) also made an effort to break the ice in order for us to work smoothly. Walang nagiging problema sa flow ng trabaho.”

What keeps direk Andoy “on red alert” all the time is sustaining the viewers’ interest episode per episode “because they are the reason why we have a show and I’m happy that a lot have been watching Mrs. Real. We’ve been receiving various comments every night.” In fact, the confrontation and slapping scenes in last week’s episode became the trending topic on social media.   

The director says it never crossed his mind to make the story gentle and kind. “Taming it is synonymous to blinding the viewers about the truth. We’re portraying reality here. If we are to sugarcoat the characters, then we will lose the story kasi doon nanggagaling ‘yung drama and conflict.”

“In fact, this is very risky on the part of GMA because we are sending the message straight to the viewers that this one is real — it could happen to you, to your neighbor or to your sister or brother. It’s now time for the Filipino audience to open their eyes and realize that this thing exists. It’s part of the community na pwedeng Mrs. Real ka din pala at yung kapitbahay mo ay pangalawang Mrs. Real. And I salute GMA for this eye-opener.”

Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real centers on Dingdong’s character Anthony Real and the two women he both married. The first is the successful businesswoman Millet Gonzales-Real (Maricel) who is willing to do everything for her family, especially for her engineer husband Anthony. But never did she expect that she would one day discover another Mrs. Anthony Real in the person of Shiela Salazar-Real (Lovi). 

Direk Andoy is aware that there are some quarters who frown on drama series that touches on illicit affairs. “We can’t please everyone but I respect whatever their views or opinions are. We are here to entertain; to present stories like this. ‘Yung sa mga ayaw ng ganitong theme, sorry but I am not sorry. This is reality and we are just doing our job sana irespeto na lang din nila. I just really hope that we reach a lot of audience and for the audience to realize that stories like this do not dictate what the norms should be but only present what is around us.”

As for the kiddie viewers, the director assures the show is classified under the PG (Parental Guidance) rating. “We don’t have sexy scenes, puro emote lang. I believe this is also good for children to watch. Habang bata mabuting ipamulat na natin sa katotohanan because eventually your child will grow up and this is one reality they will face. I still believe that if they are well-guided by their parents, they will act accordingly and live up to the good values their parents had taught them.”

It is not the first time for direk Andoy to work on a story that tackles infidelity. It was last year when he directed When the Love is Gone that starred Alice Dixson, Gabby Concepcion and Cristine Reyes. Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real challenges his ability to make the show an effective tool for people to learn the effect or consequences of entering into extramarital affairs.

“I love dramas over fantasy stories but of course, I can also work on the latter. It’s just that I am more challenged to doing heavy scenes,” says direk Andoy who took up Theater Arts in UP. “Bata pa lang ako mahilig na talaga akong mag-direk-direk sa mga kalaro ko.”