WRITER-DIRECTOR JOEY REYES is best known for his feel good love stories like “May Minamahal”, “Kasal Kasali Kasalo”, “Kung Ako na Lang Sana”.
He now forays into Vivamax territory with a scorching hot sex-drama, “Secrets”. starring Janelle Tee, Denise Esteban, Benz Sangalang and Felix Roco.
What prompted him to jump into the Vivamax bandwagon?
“I was challenged kasi my best friend, si Joel Lamangan, gawa lang nang gawa, and he asked, why don’t I try it. Sabi ko, sige, pag-iisipan ko.
"At this point, I want to make more films na bago ang tema at di ko pa nagagawa, yung naiiba. Sawa na ako sa romcom and pleasant movies. And I also want to work with the new stars we have now.”
He also wants to try the streaming platform.
“Ang Vivamax, hindi na dumaraan sa censorship so you have the artistic freedom to create what you want. And now, you have to evolve with the technology and your audience.
"Galing tayo sa pandemya, natigang tayo in making movies, pero naiba na ang geography ng entertainment.”
He thinks the taste of the moviegoing public has also changed.
“Ang hirap nang pabalikin ng mga tao sa sinehan. They’ll go to big Hollywood releases like ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Doctor Strange’, but sa local films, mas preferred nila na sa streaming sila.
"So now, I want to do the films na gusto ko talagang gawin. Very important for me kung ano yung sinasabi ng pelikula, like itong ‘Secrets’.”
He has hatched the story of “Secrets” years ago.
“Kuwento ito ng mga taong may kakaibang kulo sa loob ng kanilang katauhan. Actually, matagal na ang script na ito sa akin, but not all producers will do it.
Ang puede ngang alternate title nito is ‘Topak’. Kasi lahat ng characters, puno ng topak, lahat sila may dark side. Lahat sila, may itinatagong secrets.
"Sa lahat ng chars, yung kay Denise Esteban lang ang very open. Pero si Janelle Tee, marami siyang itinatago. With her, what you see is not what you get.”
They shot the movie on location in a beach resort in Dipaculao, Baler.
“Konti lang sila sa cast kaya naging very close kami while shooting. I really enjoyed working with this cast. Si Denise, when I first saw her, akala ko high school student na naligaw sa cast.
"Ang masaya kay Denise, parang bata lang siyang naglalaro, but when you give her instructions, kuha niya agad.
?Si Benz naman, nerbiyos na nerbiyos kasi first big break niya ito and he wants to look good on cam and he wants to do his best, which is good. I’d worry more if he just doesn’t give a shit.
"Si Felix naman, I’ve seen him in other films and I’m a fan of his work.”
How about Janelle?
“I have the highest respect for Janelle. Nang makausap ko siya, iba ang level ng conversation amin. Iba rin ang dedication niya sa trabaho.
"She’s not here just for the the money or fame, so sabi ko alagaan mo yang attitude mo kasi bihira yan.
"Janelle is a very, very smart girl, so you just explain to her what you want from her. She’s an analytical thinking actor and there’s greater depth in what she does.”
He obviously enjoyed doing “Secrets” as he has now agreed to do more projects for Vivamax.
“Three more films are lined up for me, plus a series na si Janelle uli ang leading lady ko. Sana matuloy lahat.
"I’m enjoying doing movies na hindi lang basta sexy or sensual, but puede mong sabihin ang isang mas malalim na tema as you want to make a deeper statement as a filmmaker.
"I did ‘Phone Sex’ and ‘Live Show’ before sa Regal. But sa ngayon, para na lang silang ‘The Sound of Music’, kasi nag-iba na ang style at sensuwalidad ng filmmaking sa streaming.”
As a director, he cares so much for his actors.
“Ang katawan ay instrumento ng isang aktor, so it’s not a big deal na they show their body kasi they’re just portraying a character.
"Prinoprotektahan ko naman ang aming mga artista sa pag-iilaw, sa treatment, as I don’t want them to be just porn stars.
"We make it as light as possible. I’ve always been very caring with my actors. I want us to have mutual respect and I found that in all the cast members of ‘Secrets’ which starts streaming this Friday, June 10.”
