JOEY REYES writes and directs his first series for Vivamax, “An/Na”, a four-part drama that starts streaming on September 25.
“It’s much more tiring to make a series than a movie,” he says.
“Mas marami kang dapat i-cover at dapat kontrolado mo ang pag-shoot sa buong material kasi you don’t shoot it chronologically but depende sa location.
"Kaya kailangan, alertong-alerto ka sa lahat ng nangyayari para alam mo ang puno’t dulo ng mga eksena.”
Why did he choose the life of a secret prostie for his first series, “An/Na”?
“This is actually a whodunit, a dark crime-mystery. Kasi Anna is murdered and the story shows the investigation on what happened to her. It’s very interesting kasi she leads a double life, a double identity.
"This is hard kasi marami kang sekreto, lagi kang may kaba kasi marami kang itinatago and you cannot come out in the open. It’s understandable for those who are doing this to hide it kasi they’re afraid to be judged by society.”
We notice he has mostly new stars in the cast, like Janelle Tee as Anna, Rob Guinto, Azi Acosta, Micaela Raz, Migz Almendras, Greg Hawkins, Axel Torres.
“A lot of people are judgmental about new stars and they say naghuhubad lang yan. So every time I talk to them, I tell them this is just a stepping stone for a long time plan in their careers.
"I’ve seen generations of actors who’ve come and gone. Ang learning ko, there are things that have changed, but there are things that haven’t.”
In the 90s, he has worked with some sexy stars of the era in films like “Phone Sex” and “Live Show”.
“I’ve worked with the likes of Ara Mina, Klaudia Koronel, Hazel Espinosa and Anna Capri. There are similarities and differences with the sexy stars today. The sense of daring is still very much there.
"Ang difference is the attitude. My favorite then was Anna Capri as she’s not only sexy but also a very good actress. She’s a thinking actress. She’ll take her clothes off and use her body to interpret, express the character she’s playing.”
And what about today’s sexy stars?
“Today, the millennial stars are raised on the internet and social media. Like Rob popular na siya talaga sa internet so may built in audience na siya.
"Most of them are active sa instagram, sa youtube. And I can say that they are not dumb. Matatalino rin sila at iba ang level of sophistication nila ngayon.
"Magagaan katrabaho and they’re all willing to learn. I enjoy working with all the other stars like Azi and Micaela kasi you learn from them and at the same time you are also able to share with them the experience that you’ve gained through the years.”
“An/Na” is his second project with Janelle after the movie “Secrets”.
“I enjoy working with Janelle kasi matalinong babae siya. Hindi naman siguro naging Miss Earth yan kung boba yan, so I hope she will be given the opportunity to do more beyond what she is doing now.
"She’s capable of tackling more demanding roles without disrobing as she is such an intelligent woman and that is a prerequisite for being a good actress.”
He is happy to do films for streaming.
“Kasi it’s not under the watchful eye of the MTRCB, so you have the liberty to create without any constraints. A great number of our theaters don’t allow to show R-rated movies, so sa sinehan, konti lang ang pwede mong paglabasan ng ganitong movies.
"E, para sa tao, mas masarap yung bawal, di ba? Kasi yung pinagkakait mo sa tao, yung dine-deprive mo sa tao, mas hahanap-hanapin nila yan. But will it last? May time ba na magsasawa ang tao sa ganito?
"We will see. But ako I believe, it’s still the material, the story that’s more important and not just the sex scenes.”
