A fresh take on family drama series

MANILA, Philippines — In the tradition of crafting daytime drama, GMA 7 offers Hiram Na Anak. On top of it is director Gil Tejada Jr., who is familiar with the morning TV series timeslot. His Kapag Nahati Ang Puso made a dent in the ratings game. Premiering today before Eat, Bulaga, Hiram Na Anak adds another layer to the family drama narrative. 

“There’s no formula,” said direk Gil on handling a morning tearjerker. “It’s a matter of selecting the proper project and knowing the taste (entertainment preference) of viewers in the morning... dapat alam ni Aling Tasing yung taste ng viewers sa umaga. The morning, afternoon and evening (shows) have (their own) different (and respective) viewers.”

However, if showrunners wish to get the audiences’ nod of approval, the director shared, “From the very start, you should get their (attention and make them) curious — makuha mo para sa ganun ma-hook mo sila. From there, it goes all the way... It’s a matter of (choosing) the right program or the right show and at the same time coming up with a different approach (to) production. Creative-wise, you have to be innovative.”

Topbilling Hiram Na Anak are Yasmien Kurdi and Dion Ignacio with support from Rita Avila, Empress Schuck, Paolo Contis, Lauren Young, Sef Cadayona, Maey Bautista and Vaness del Moral.

“(You have to) bring out the best in your actors,” said Gil of his relationship with the Kapuso stars. “And of course, yung material mo nababantayan mo rin. At the end of the day, your story matters a lot.”

Direk Gil collaborated with Yasmien and Rita many times, Dion and Paolo thrice, and Empress twice. “I know them but kailangan pa ring aralin mo sila,” he said. “They should immerse in their characters... there has to be no duplication of (performances). Dapat this is a completely different character… I really talk to my actors... they should be focused on their characters. Otherwise malilihis ka sa direksyon kung hahayaan mo sila nang hahayaan. Sometimes you have to give them freedom also... you really have to guide them, which is important.”

According to the director, Hiram Na Anak is “a family drama” with domestic and external problems. As a wont, the characters will confront these conflicts to show their humanity.

Director Gil Tejada Jr.

“Getting pregnant and the ordeal that a mother goes through with it will be tackled,” shared Gil about the issues the drama will explore. Hiram Na Anak also poses the question: “How long can you wait to have a child?” added direk Gil, “(that) is very close to the heart of mothers.”

To capture the joys — and pains — of motherhood is the function of a good, engaging and nuanced writing.

“All characters should be interacting with each other, hindi lang basta nilagay mo, (na may) hiwalay na kwento,” the director said. This means that the characters have to be tightly written and their lives should be intertwined to see the consequences of their actions.

“Para sa ganun, the characters are very integral to each other,” Gil said. “Hindi pwedeng basta na lang mawala.”

What is it in drama that he seems to be naturally attracted to it?

“I see it in everyday life. You (can) relate (to it),” said Gil. “Pwede nating sabihin na yung iba na-experience mo na, nakita mo sa ibang tao. So it’s dramatizing those experiences and putting those (together and) at the same time, experiencing (them) on screen. Maybe (the drama will be) an eye-opener (to you), maybe it would educate and entertain (you). Ang dami mong pwedeng i-share na nakikita mo sa paligid.”
Similar to Kapuso drama shows, Hiram Na Anak is inspired by true stories (of case studies).

“Actually, when we portray characters (and) show (them) on screen, there should (be) a pattern. (So) you would see the parallelisms of reality and (what’s told) onscreen. The audiences won’t say, ‘That is not true (or it doesn’t happen in real life).’ Ma-appreciate and ma-endear yung tao sa napapanood nila sa character...malaking bagay yun na magustuhan nila at ma-(in) love sila.”

More than the acting and the production value, what audiences can look forward to is the story.

“May nakita ka ng katulad nito ‘pag binasa (mo ang) first page lang,” said direk Gil. “(But) when you open and read the entire book, (you’ll find out that the book has) a completely different story. There are some similarities kasi buhay yan. But when you look at the bigger picture, you can see that it’s different.”