WRITER-DIRECTOR JAY ALTAREJOS is back with Viva where he pioneered doing the hit original BL films “Ang Lalaki sa Parola”, “Ang Lihim ni Antonio” and “Kambyo”.
His comeback film is “Memories of a Love Story”, starring Oliver Aquino, Migz Almendras, Dexter Doria and a yet unnamed lead actress.
“Sobrang saya ko na makabalik ako sa Viva as I consider them good friends, lalo na sina Veronique and Valerie del Rosario,” he says.
“I will always be thankful to them for the films I did with them before. And now, we have ‘Memories of a Love Story’.”
What’s the film all about?
“It says that what happened in the past collides with the present. It’s about two star-crossed lovers.
"Oliver Aquino is Eric, who is bisexual, introspective. His mom died in Italy during the height of the pandemic and his mom wants him to scatter her ashes sa province nila in Camarines Sur.
"There, he meets his childhood friend, Migz Almendras as Jerico, a gay enterpreneur who comes from a rich family.
"They had a past and now they’re feelings are rekindled. But then they meet a free spirited woman, Mayang, and they do sexual exploration na threesome.
"This encounter with Mayang will make them realize things about themselves and their sexuality. The more they continue to journey together, the more their past is revealed.”
It appears that their past love story was restrained by the controlling grandmother of Migz, played by Dexter Doria.
“The mother of Oliver was a housemaid before in the Dexter’s household,” Jay continues. “As we delve more into the past of Oliver and Migz, we also learn more about their feelings for each other.
"It’s not just the usual BL story about boy meets boy but it answers question of why their relationship will not prosper in the current state of our society.
"Love is not enough. Our social class and economic status will determine our relationships, whether it will be a success or a failure.
"Si Oliver kasi here is working class, anak ng magsasaka, while Migz is well educated and comes from a rich family.
"The main antagonist here is Dexter as the matriarch of a political clan in Bicol who did something in the past to prevent the love story of these boys.
"So the question now that they meet each other again is, despite their differences, can their love save their relationship? That’s what the film will answer.”
How did he cast the movie?
“I like working with people I like. I’ve worked with Oliver in several of my films, from ‘Kasal’ and ‘Tale of Lost Boys’ to ‘Jino To Mari” and ‘Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan’.
"I worked naman with Migz before, but it’s just too bad yung mga eksena niya hindi napasama sa final cut ng movie.
"I’ve also worked with Dexter Doria in the past. She was in ‘Lalake sa Parola’ and she won several best supporting actress awards for her role as a mom with Alzheimer’s disease in our movie, ‘Memories of Forgetting’.”
How important is looking back into the past for him?
“My films are confessional, often based on my own experiences. It’s important to examine our past so we can learn from it and apply it to the present.
"For me, magandang binabalikan natin ang nakaraan. Just like sa election natin ngayon na parang people have forgetten our past at gusto nilang ulitin.”
He acknowledges that people can change over the years.
“I remember meeting someone I really like, but we drifted apart. Then, 15 years later, I met him again and I realized this is not the person I used to love.
"This person is not for me anymore at this point of my life. We have become different persons, but we go back to the memory and the memory feels good.
"This is a political movie, showing how social and economic classes always affect our personal relationships, but told in a more entertaining way.”
So who is she considering for the role of Mayang?
“It’s a good role as Covid survivor siya but full of life. I want Nadine Lustre sana or Cristine Reyes. It requires a strong woman who is very sensual and willing to have threesome with these two men.
"We have to make a choice soon as we start shooting on location in Bicol by May 8. Also part of the movie is Josh Ivan Morales as Dexter's driver who is also her lover."
