FIFTH SOLOMON started as a dancer, joined PBB where he outed himself then started directing full length films in 2018 with Alex Gonzaga’s “Nakalimutan Kong Nakalimutan Ka”.
He has since also directed Diego Loyzaga and Barbie Imperial in the romantic drama, “Dulo”, and more comedies starring Alex Gonzaga, “The Exorsis” and “Single Bells”.
Now, Viva gives him the opportunity to write and direct a mainstream fantasy romance, “Sa Muli”, starring Ryza Cenon and Xian Lim, which is about reincarnation.
Is he aware that there have been local films before about reincarnation, like “Maruja” in the 60s (also remade by Viva Films) and “Karma” in the 80s?
“Yes, kasi when I pitched the project to Viva, Boss Vincent del Rosario, told me about it,” he says.
“But ang tagal na noon and ‘Sa Muli’ naman is for today’s generation of viewers. Ako, I really believe in reincarnation kasi i’ve seen a lot of documentaries where young people are being interviewed about their past lives.
"That’s what inspired me to write the script of ‘Sa Muli’. I also consulted a tarot card reader who told me na babae raw ako in my previous life.”
The story of “Sa Muli” revolves on Xian Lim as Pep and Ryza Cenon as Elly. Xian is a writer who knows he is now on his third life.
"He remembers his past lives and the woman who is always involved with him. He believes she is his soul mate and he knows their paths will meet again in the present life.
So, as fate would have it, their paths do cross again and they both recognize each other as their real soul mates through the years.
In their past lives, their romance always ended tragically with the girl dying.
“But this time, Xian swears na hindi na niya hahayaang maulit na namang mawala uli sa kanya si Ryza. He is determined to give their story a happy ending in the present time. What do they have to do to make sure na Ryza will not die this time?”
Fifth says the project started in 2018.
“That’s when I got the go signal from Viva then I wrote the script. Natagalan kasi I have to do more research.
"I even went to Vigan to get inspiration in writing the material, then I consulted historians about the 1900s kasi that’s the period that the love story of Xian and Ryza started.
"Bale we have three different time frames. We show them during the Spanish times, then in the 1950s, and finally, dito sa 2020s.
"Magastos siya gawin because of the period costumes and production design.”
So how is it working with Ryza and Xian?
“I’m so happy that they’re the stars assigned to me by Viva. Kasi they are both very collaborative.
"Mahirap ang movie kasi bale they are playing three different characters. E, our shooting was delayed because of the pandemic kaya natigil talaga ng matagal.
"But what is nice is that they’re both thinking actors who know kung ano ang atakeng ibibigay nila sa bawat character nila, so I really enjoyed working with both of them.
"We’re all praying that people will come out and go to the theaters to watch out movie when it opens on April 26.
"We assure them we have come up with a very entertaining romance that they will surely enjoy watching.”
