“After my script was accepted in the filmfest, there were other suggestions as to who should play the lead role of Victor,” says Direk Jojo. “But first choice ko si James and I stuck with him kasi napanood ko siya sa soaps niya sa GMA-7 and I felt he’s underrated. At hindi ako nagkamali. Nangungusap ang mata niya e. Ang galing-galing niya sa role ng isang binatang iniwan ang buhay magsasaka sa probinsiya sa paniniwalang bubuti ang buhay niya sa siyudad, pero ang nangyari, naging miembro siya ng isang sindikato at naging masama siya. Maraming action scenes, pero marami ring dramatic scenes. In one scene, pinaglakad ko siya, pero sabi ko, gusto ko, pagdating niya sa marker niya, kailangang tumulo ang luha sa isa niyang mata. Nagawa niya, sakto, isang mata lang. In another scene with child actor David Remo, nagningning ang luha sa mata niya sa tama ng ilaw at nakakapangilabot ang epekto. Lahat kami sa set, napaiyak. Malaki ang chance ni James manalo as best actor sa awards night”
“Pilapil”, which represents rice paddies and the life of a farmer that James want to escape from, is the third movie of Direk Jojo. His first was “Sugarol”, about cockfighters, starring theatre actors and was an entry in the recent Singkuwentro Filmfest. He has also completed “Miracle”, with Alvin Anson and Krista Miller, now in post-production. “Itong ‘Pilapil’ lang ang may malaki-laking budget kasi may P1.5 million grant from the ToFarm Filmfest, pero kinulang pa rin at nag-abono pa ako kasi maraming malalaking action scenes where we even hired guns, na hindi naman namin nagamit kasi nagka-gun ban during our shoot dahil sa election.”
Direk Jojo started as a scriptwriter at ABS-CBN for “Maalaala Mo Kaya” and other shows, then he moved to GMA-7 and wrote some soaps. He now writes Chris Tiu’s “I Bilib”. “Pero magdirek talaga ang dream ko. Pinadala ako ngayon ng GMA sa CineMalaya Institute to study filmmaking kay Direk Carlitos Siguion Reyna. Hopefully, after mapanood nila sa GMA itong ‘Pilapil’, pagtiwalaan na rin sana ako ng management na magdirek ng shows nila.”
“Pilapil” also stars Pancho Magno as a cop who’s forced to be an assassin, Rez Cortez as a corrupt retired general, Diva Montelaba and Karl Medina as the parents of the young James Blanco, plus Orlando Sol, Archie Adamos, Rob Sy and BJ Forbes. Their Gala Night is on Sunday, July 17, 6:30 PM at SM Megamall and awards night is on Wednesday, July 20, at Shangrila Makati.
