THE GONZAGA SISTERS WITH DIRECTOR FIFTH SOLOMON
SISTERS TONI & ALEX GONZAGA joined the Metro-Manila Filmfest in 2018 with the romcom, “Mary, Marry Me”.
They’re now back in this year’s filmfest with a horror-comedy, “The Exorsis”, directed by Fifth Solomon who also helms Diego Loyzaga and Barbie Imperial in the romantic drama, “Dulo”.
What is the story of “The Exorsis” all about and what roles do they play?
“I play Gina at kapatid ko si Alex who plays Dani,” says Toni. “We’re orphans and as her Ate, parang ako ang naging nanay niya.
"Magkaiba ang personalities namin. Pormal ako at masyado akong goal-oriented, opposite ni Alex na happy go lucky, free spirit, lives day by day. Lahat ng angst ko sa mundo, binubuhos ko sa kanya.
"May grocery business ako and when I got an opportunity to go abroad, di ko maiwan ang business ko, kasi nga iresponsable si Alex. One time, sabi ko, sana, malasin siya at ayun, may nangyari nga sa kanya.”
It so happened that a mysterious girl was passing by their store that night and figures in an accident. She dies and her spirit wanders.
“Ako ang nakita niya,” says Alex. “At ayun, sumanib yung kaluluwa niya sa katawan ko. Habang possessed niya ako, nagiging violent ako and attacks everyone, including my own sister.
"So si Ate, maghahanap siya ng exorcist para mapaalis yung evil spirit na ayaw umalis sa katawan ko.”
The movie is co-produced by Viva Films and Toni’s TinCan Productions.
Direk Fifth says he actually directed this before “Dulo”, but “Dulo” will be shown ahead as it opens in Vivamax on December 10. So how is it doing a horror-comedy?
“Mahirap, kasi hindi naman ako talaga pang-horror, pang-comedy ako,” he says. “But with the help of Toni and Alex, batuhan kami ng ideas, mas napadali ang proceso.
"Actually, nasa New York kami ni Alex when we brainstormed about movie concepts and she told me to do a movie where she and her Ate Toni can star. Then we had dinner sa bahay nina Ate Toni at nagbrainstorm na kami para makabuo kami ng movie.
"They want a comedy but dahil sa pandemic, naging horror-comedy so we can shoot in lesser locations. We made it sure na hindi puro horror kasi we want to attract kid audiences din, so pag dumarating sa point na sobrang horror na, binabali namin para haluan ng comedy.”
Toni says they didn’t make to join the Metro Filmfest.
“Last year pa ito tapos pero hindi namin mai-release kasi nga sarado ang mga sinehan. We’re wondering kung maipapalabas pa ba ito sa theaters then the Metro filmfest came at ipinasok namin doon. So when we made it, we rejoiced.
"Yehey! We made it to this year’s MMFF! See you all sa Pasko! Kasama rin namin si Melai Cantiveros sa movie, just like in ‘Mary, Marry Me’, and shooting the film was a breeze kasi we’re all comfortable with each other.
"Doing a horror-comedy also brought back memories of the first horror-comedy I did with Star Cinema, ‘D Anothers’.”
Both she and Alex are now married. How’s their relationship now?
“We still find time for each other. Laging may time kahit may asawa na kami pareho. Dadalawa lang kaming magkapatid, kaya yung bond namin, connected na talaga kami.
"Ang communication namin, tuloy-tuloy, so lagi kaming updated about each other kahit magkaiba na ang tirahan namin.”
“Ang Ate ko ang una kong sinabihan when I found out that I was pregnant at siya rin una kong tinawagan when I lost it,” says Alex.
“Her presence and her love for me, they’re always there, nararamdaman ko, pati husband niyang si Kuya Paul na para ko na rin talagang kapatid.”
Don’t they feel any pressure with the seven other entries in the festival?
“Ayaw naming i-pressure ang sarili namin sa ibang entries. Sa ngayon, we’re just so happy na napasama kami sa filmfest kasi akala nga namin hindi na maipapalabas ito dahil sarado ang mga sinehan.
"Ibang Alex ang mapapanood nyo rito. Full blast kami ni Melai sa pagpapatawa. Nakakatakot pero matatawa kayo. Kami lang ang horror-comedy kaya, don’t miss it, friends!
"Balik sine na tayo at deserve nyong matakot at tumawa ngayong Christmas holidays. We promise, mage-enjoy kayo nang husto.”
Didn’t they experience any scary incident while shooting the film?
“We did,” says Toni. “Sa eksenang sinasapian na si Alex, bigla akong nahimatay habang hawak ako ni Melai. Lahat sila, nagpa-panic na.
"Si Alex, iyak na nang iyak. Tumawag ng ambulansiya at dadalhin daw ako sa ospital. Pero bigla akong tumayo at sabi ko sa kanila, it’s a prank! Hahahaha!”
