Director Jay Altarejos enjoys directing the young cast of Blusang itim

DIRECTOR JAY ALTAREJOS is the busiest GMA-7 director now since he’s megging two afternoon soaps at the same time: “My Lover, My Wife” and “Blusang Itim”. “Nag-overlap kaya three days, three days ako sa kanila,” he says. “Buti patapos sa end of the month ang ‘My Lover, My Wife’ kaya luluwag na sked ko. It’s rating very well kaya ilang beses na kaming na-extend. But the ending won’t be the usual happy ending. Somebody will die at meron hindi magkakatuluyan. I can’t reveal the details para abangan naman ng viewers. Basta I’m thankful puro magagaling ang artista ko rito led Luis Alandy, Nadine Samonte and Maxene Magalona.”

How’s it working with newcomers Kylie Padilla, Frank Magalona and Winwyn Marquez in “Blusang Itim”? “I enjoy directing them kasi bago ang approach nila, fresh ang attack nila sa roles nila, at mababait pa sila kaya they just follow what you tell them to do. They all have good potential.”

What changes did he do the original material to make “Blusang Itim” a drama serial? “Mas mahaba ang participation dito ng parents nila. Jackielou Blanco as Esmeralda is so in love with Gary Estrada as Gerald so she pretended she’s pregnant so he’d marry her, but Gary still chose to may Rita Avila as Rhea. Jackie will then do everything for Rita to lose her baby. As a result, when the baby is formed, it’s deformed and ugly. Gary knows Rita will be dismayed to see their ugly baby, kaya pinakiusapan niya si Jackie to switch their babies. Jackie’s baby is a boy, Edward, who becomes Lucho Ayala. Rita’s baby is a girl, Jessa, who becomes Kylie. Aapihin ni Jackie at ng mother niyang si Marissa Delgado nang husto si Jessa as she’s growing up and people around will make fun of her because of her ugly face, until she gets hold of the magical ‘Blusang Itim’. Si Frank is Angelo, the model who falls for her when she became her beautiful alterego, Jessica. Mother naman nito si Maritoni Fernandez. Carl Guevara naman is Melchor, her childhood friend who defends her from her tormentors kasi yung mother niya, pangit din like Jessa, si Maureen Mauricio.”

Jay is a noted director of pink films like “Lalake sa Parola” and “Lihim ni Antonio” but since he got busy with TV work, he hardly has time for movies now. “I’ve started a film on child prostitution and we shot with the Quiapo procession as background last January. One of these days, itutuloy ko ito.”