DIRECTOR JOEL LAMANGAN is the busiest the director in this pandemic season. So far, “Anak ng Macho Dancer”, “Lockdown”, “Silab” have been shown via streaming.
Already in the can are “In the Name of the Mother” with Snooky Serna, “Huling Birheng Bakla sa Balat ng Lupa” with Teejay Marquez and Sean de Guzman, “Deception” with Mark Anthony Fernandez and Claudine Barretto, and now “Bekis on the Run”.
He’s also shooting “Walker” about streetwalkers. Some folks are wondering if he still has time to sleep?
“Hindi ko naman sabay-sabay ginagawa ang movies ko," he says.
“May ilang buwang pagitan in between them.
"Mula nang mag-lockdown last year, maraming nawalan ng hanapbuhay, buti nga’t may producers pang willing pa rin to make movies, so nagkakaroon uli ng hanapbuhay ang mga kasama ko.
"At salamat sa Diyos kasi wala pang nagkasakit na sinuman sa mga kasama sa mga pelikulang ginawa ko.
"We follow naman kasi all the needed protocols to make sure safe ang lahat sa lock in shoot, like swabbing, washing hands and social distancing. May health protocol officers on the set to guide us.”
He wants to emphasize that “Bekis on the Run”, written by Ricky Lee, might be a comedy but it has an advocacy.
“Kasi may ugali ang mga Pinoy na laitin at pagtawanan ang mga bakla. Comedy ito pero ginawa sa paraang may makukuhang aral ang viewers.
" Ang message ng movie is dapat, hindi binubully, pinagsasamantalahan o inaapi ang mga bakla. Dapat maging fair tayo sa lahat.
"Sa panahon ngayon, dapat politically correct ka, kaya ang mga direktor dapat pag-aralan ang mga panuntunan para hindi ma-offend ang LGBT members who need more acceptance in our society. The movie also touches on corruption sa gobierno and closet gays sa military.”
Among the cast members, it’s only Sean de Guzman who he has worked with before in “Anak ng Macho Dancer”, “Lockdown” and “Huling Bakla”.
“Pero sina Kylie, Diego at Christian Bables, first time ko to work with them and natuwa ako kasi nakita ko kung gaano sila kahusay na artista at magiging maganda ang kinabukasan nila sa sining na ito.
"Nagawa nila anumang required from them nang mahusay.”
He was surprised by Kylie.
“She is not just a beauty queen, but he has natural talent for acting. She has the intelligence to understand her character.
"As a director, I find it easy to talk to her kasi intrinsic sa kanyang ang pag-arte.
" Si Diego naman, he’s a born actor, sensitive, which is not surprising since his parents are both actors. He knows the objective ng character niya at lahat ng gagawin niya sa eksena.”
He personally handpicked Christian as Diego’s effeminate brother.
“I saw his past movies at napatunayan na niya roon ang kanyang pagiging mahusay na artista. Siya ang first choice ko sa ‘Huling Bakla’ kaya lang busy siya then on TV.
"Wala akong naging problema sa kanya kasi hindi lang sa pagbabakla-bakla siya magaling kundi even in other roles.”
He’s happy everyone on the set is very professional.
“Maganda ang attitude nila lahat sa trabaho. which is very important. Walang reklamador.
"So there is no instance na nagtaray ako o napagalitan ko sila. I feel fortunate that they’re all very dedicated, pati si Lou Veloso who as the gay mother ng mga bading.”
