THE VIVAMAX erotic trilogy series, “L”, starts streaming this Sunday, February 28. Written and produced by Jon Red, “L” has three episodes with three different directors who he personally selected to helm his passion project.
The directors are good friends: Roman Perez Jr., Topel Lee and EJ Salcedo.
All the directors are men. As they say, “barako”, no one is gay so the treatment is all from the a real man’s point of view. Direk Topel directs the first episode, “Larawan”, while Direk EJ megs “Liko” and Direk Roman wraps up the trilogy with the final episode, “Lipat”.
So how is it working together?
“Magkakaibigan kami so we have a good working relationship,” says Direk Roman who directed the hit movies “Siklo” and “Hugas”. “Nag-assistant director ako before to both Direk Jon and Direk Topel.
"For ‘L’, Direk Jon took us away from our comfort zones and challenged us to do stories na hindi namin talaga usually ginagawa. But he gave us the freedom to treat the series with different flavors, and we made sure na iba-iba ang stories and also the treatment to all the sexy scenes.”
The show’s lead star is Vince Rillon who Direk Roman has helmed in “Siklo”.
“Siya si Lukas, the link to all the stories. He is jilted by his girlfriend, Stephanie Raz as Lana, and the trilogy is about the journey ng isang lalaking nawawala, naghahanap, sumusubok na baguhin ang buhay niya dahil galing siya sa isang malaking break up.
"This is told from a man’s point of view and how he can overcome the hurt he felt from his failed relationship. Part ng sensibility ng character ni Lukas yung love scenes and sex scenes. Naghahanap talaga ng sensuwalidad ang isang lalaki and we’ll show that here.
"Nahirapan ako sa tone kasi dapat, yung hindi pa nakikita sa Vivamax. Lahat kami, we explored and we think na-achieve namin yung tatlo. I’m so happy to work with my co-directors kasi suportahan kami. Collaboration talaga ito.”
Direk Topel is better known as a horror film director with such scary flicks as “Ouija”, “Basement” and some episode of the “Shake Rattle & Roll” series.
“This is the first time I directed a sexy, erotic film and I admit na nangangapa ako at the start,” he says. “I’ve never done anything like this, so i watched the other directors how they do it and I learned from them.
"The title L revolves around Love and Lust, so maraming maiinit na eksena. Artsy yung episode ko kasi Lukas here is a visual artist. I studied fine arts at nakatulong yun sa nuances ng performance ni Lukas as an artist. His partner here is Ayanna Misola as Louise.”
Direk EJ is best known for the indie film “Third World Happy” starring Sam Milby and Jodi Sta. Maria. He directs “Liko” where Vince is a driver who picks up the mysterious Cloe Barreto as Liza and beds her.
“Viewers can relate with the characters kasi lahat sila, may pinagdaraanan, may hinahanap sa buhay,” he says. “The audience will get three different stories about life, love, lust and longing.
"Lahat naman tayo, we all experience life, love and lust, and we’re longing for something, right? Iba-iba lang ang story and experience natin sa ating paghahanap.”
They had to make sure each of them will offer something unique.
“Yes, we three directors had a lot of meetings to make sure hindi pare-pareho ang treatment namin sa kuwento and sexy scenes.
"Yun ang naging challenge sa amin: to make sure three different minds and sensibilities will offer different dramatic and sexy scenes in the show. So tiyak hindi madedehado ang viewers when they watch it.”
