PERCI INTALAN used to be the top production executive of TV5, but when it closed down its entertainment arm, he formed IdeaFirst Company with his partner Jun Lana.
They have since produced their own hit films like “Die Beautiful” and “Panti Sisters”, as well as award-winning films like “Anino sa Likod ng Buwan” and “Kael, 15”.
They also went into TV production and did the online hit “Gameboys” and the TV5 primetime soap, “Paano ang Pasko” which was extended and became “Paano ang Pangako”, now shown week nights at 7:15 PM after TV5’s newscast, “Frontline Pilipinas”.
“When we did ‘Paano’, it was originally intended only as a special telecast for the Christmas season,” Perci says. “Pero naging ‘Paano ang Pangako’, puno ng commercials, at ilang beses na kaming nakagawa ng big scenes na pang-season finale.
"Nawiwindang ang scriptwriters namin kasi we thought patapos na, then na-extend nga nang na-extend hanggang sa heto, umabot na ng Semana Santa. We’re so thankful to all its loyal viewers for their support.
"Nagkakaroon na nga kami ng separation anxiety ng cast and crew kasi naka-four cycles din kami ng lock in taping sa set namin sa San Pablo. We all became close and they're happy na maraming pumupuri sa performances nila.”
Perci is one of the show’s directors and he is proud that they have a good run, but “Paano ang Pangako” will now finally have its conclusion with a special telecast on Black Saturday, April 3.
“We will have a marathon of 6 episodes, to be shown from 2 PM to 8 PM or six hours straight.
"We cannot go beyond Holy Week kasi yung new TV5 show, ‘Nino, Nina’ with Maja Salvador, will replace us and start its telecast on April 5.
"Okay naman yung marathon on Black Saturday kasi nga long weekend and, ang mga tao, nasa bahay lang kasi hindi naman sila makakalabas because of the pandemic.”
The villain in “Paano ang Pangako”, Andi, was originally played by Danita Paner, who begged off to do lock in taping for the show’s final weeks so she was hurriedly replaced by Adrianna So.
How did the transition go? Do they have to cook up a scene that will show the character’s physical transformation?
“No need,” Perci says. “Ang dami ng ibang shows here and abroad na nagpalit ng artista while the show is going on, like when Regine Velasquez got pregnant and she was replaced midstream by Iza Calzado in ‘I Heart You, Pare’, so okay na sa viewers yan.
"What’s nice is may similarity ang looks nina Adrianna and Danita, pareho silang chinita at ang styling ng buhok nila, pareho rin.”
Did they ask Adrianna to somehow approximate Danita’s acting on camera?
“No, we didn’t even ask Adrianna to duplicate Danita. Iba rin ang naging atake niya.
"Ang maganda kasi, nagkaroon ng transformation yung character ni Andi after maaresto siya ng mga pulis sa last season. Makikita ngayon ng viewers kunsaan nanggaling yung behavior niya.
"Sobrang bigat ng dinadala niya and this will be explained sa kanyang back story. Ang galing ni Adrianna kasi ang laki ng eksena, one hour kinunan pero nagawa niya nang maayos.
"Kaya abangan nyo ang explosive ending ng ‘Paano ang Pangako’ sa Black Saturday dahil exciting at malaking pasabog talaga.”
