WRITER-DIRECTOR DARRYL YAP is currently Viva’s fair haired boy.
After “Jowable” hit it big in 2019, his works are now being shown one after another: “Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar”, “Tililing”, “Kung Pwede Lang” and now, “Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam”. Coming up next is “Revirginized” starring Sharon Cuneta.
“When Viva got me, I gave them 17 stories, most of which I have done as plays in our theatre group in Olongapo,” he says. “Out of the 17, 11 stories ang nagustuhan nila at yun ang makikita nyong sunod-sunod na lumalabas ngayon.”
His very first movie with Kim, “Jowable”, earned more than P100 million at the box office. How does it feel that their next work together is now just being shown via streaming and not in theaters.
“I also dreamt of having a premiere night for ‘Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam’ and with it surpassing the P100 million mark. Kaya lang, di nga naituloy dahil sa pandemic.
"Kaya lang, naisip ko, bakit ba ako malulungkot, e yung iba mga walang trabaho, ako, heto, busy. Ipinagpapasalamat ko na lang sa Diyos na nabigyan pa ako ng chance to share this, na makapagbigay pa rin ng aliw, ng mga pelikulang puno ng aral at inspirasyon at nagpapasaya sa viewers.”
So how is it working with Kim Molina again?
“I’d love to work with Kim for the rest of my career. Kasi masaya kami lagi sa set, e. I have many stories for her that she can give life to.
"Reunion namin ito, kasi she launched me and I launched her in ‘Jowable’, first movie namin pareho. People see her as a comedian but she’s really a very sensitive actress.
"She instinctively knows what you want her to do in a scene. Siya pa’ng magsasabi kung anong gusto mong ipagawa sa kanya, naa-anticipate niya.”
In “Tililing”, he was bashed for allegedly making fun of people with mental illness.
Now in “Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam”, he has a “ngongo” character in Jerald Napoles as someone with a cleft-palate. Isn’t he afraid he might get bashed again for this?
“I don’t want to discuss the character of Jerald as Ngongo in a presscon. I want to discuss it after the people have seen the movie.
"I don’t think kapag napanood na nila ang pelikula ay need ko pang mag-explain. I don’t want to explain my art, I don’t want to explain my movie.
"I am assuring the public that I am showcasing the ngongo character with sensitivity and respect.”
He says he’s very careful in handling the “ngongo” character.
“I did not ridicule him. This is actually a move to show the public that, kung noon hindi nagagamot yun, ngayon, nagagamot na and they are actually an important part of the community.
"The movie tries to make the public understand that they are coping on a day to day basis sa pambu-bully at madalas nakakatanggap ng panlalait.
"Si Jerald dito as Ngongo ang opposite ni Kim na walang pakiramdam. Si Ngongo nararamdaman niya ang lahat at siya ang magiging daan para makaramdam si Kim as Tasha, lalo na ang saya at sakit ng pag-ibig.”
“Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam” will open on June 11 streaming on KTX.ph, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV, SKY PPV, Cignal PPV and Vivamax.
