MANILA, Philippines — Christmas time is Metro Manila Film Festival time, and MMFF means another Vice Ganda movie.
In response to those who criticize the “Unkabogable Star’s” MMFF movies in the past, saying that the movies lack depth, Kapamilya host-actor Vice Ganda proudly said that his new movie “Fantastica” is not all comedy, but a film with a heart.
Speaking before the media during a press conference on Tuesday held at Dolphy Theater, Vice admitted that when he first started doing a movie, he just wanted to entertain the viewers with his wittiness, without even thinking about the movie’s moral lesson.
“Nung nagsisimula kami ni Direk Wenn, super patawa lang kami ng patawa. Nung nagsisimula ako ng ‘Petrang Kabayo,’ sabi ko kay Direk Wenn, wala na kong pakialam kung ano bang matutunan sa pelikulang to,” the “It’s Showtime” host said.
“Nung nagsisimula ako, para sa akin ‘yung mga learnings, assignment na ng iba ng tao ‘yon. Feeling ko kasi ang assignment ko lang ay magpatawa,” he added.
Nonetheless, as time passed by, he realized that making a movie has its bigger purpose.
“So nagsimula ako puro patawa lang ako nang patawa hanggang eventually, I realized that movie making is not just a simple arts. It’s something that has a bigger purpose, not just entertaining people,” he said.
He credited Star Cinema because he said the film company will not tolerate movies that only show comedy without a lesson that the audience can take with them.
“Habang nagtatagal ako sa paggawa ng pelikula, ‘yun ang nauunawaan ko. Sa Star Cinema, hindi sila papayag na patawa lang nang patawa kasi maraming eksena na hinayang na hinayang ako dahil sa bloopers lang mapupunta. Kasi sabi nila, kailangan nating magsacrifice ng ilang nakakatawang eksena para bigyang daan ang totong puso ng pelikula. Kasi kung puro na lang tayo patawa, mawawalan ng puso ang pelikula,” he said.
“Sa ‘Showtime,’ sa 10 taon na ko nagpapatawa. Other than pagpapatawa, gusto ko may iba naman akong purpose na ibigay sa ibang tao at nagawa namin ‘yun sa pelikulang to,” he assured.