One on One with Paul Soriano: ‘Kid’ Paul Soriano at ang kwento ni Pacman

UNEXPECTED para sa direktor at producer na si Paul Soriano ang makapaglabas ng pelikula under Star Cinema through the biopic ng legendary boxing champion na si Manny Pacquiao, ang “Kid Kulafu.”

Working with Star Cinema is a blessing for Direk Paul. He acknowledges the fact that Star Cinema is the leading film outfit today and at the same time, ang The Filipino Channel (TFC) ng ABS-CBN all around the world.

Positibo naman si Direk Paul na ang “Kid Kulafu” won’t be the first and last project na makakatrabaho niya ang Star Cinema.
Narito ang kabuuan ng interbyu namin kay Direk Paul.

BANDERA: May next project na ba siya na ire-release or ididirek sa Star Cinema?
PAUL SORIANO: Oo, I know. I’m actually talking kina Tita Malou (Santos, Star Cinema’s Managing Director) about the possible collaboration. Pero hindi pa pwedeng i-mention.

We’ll mention it soon kapag pwede na. But we’re looking out at scripts, we’re looking at stories. Pero there are two scripts na talagang mukhang maganda. And yes, I will direct the movie.

B: Bida ba rito ang fiancée niya na si Toni Gonzaga na contract star din ng Star Cinema?
PS: Well, actually, wala pang usapan sino ang cast. Pero story ako na muna. But when you work with Star Cinema, you got to work with the best actors also.

B: Malamang pagkatapos na ng big wedding nila ni Toni ang next film niya for Star Cinema, ‘di kaya?
PS: Ha-hahaha! Possibly.

B: Itutuloy pa rin ba niya ang paggawa ng “Open Doors” which tackles the story of the Jewish people during World War II?
PS: Ah, yeah. Dream film ko ‘yun talaga.

B: Nag-start na silang mag-research about the story?
PS: I have started the research already. I actually have the second draft screenplay. It’s all about President (Manuel) Quezon saving more than 300 Jews. That’s in 1939, before World War II.

Marami nang lumabas na history (documentary). Pero local film, wala pa. ‘Yan ang dream film ko talaga. Pero ano ‘yan, right time rin ‘yan. Epic ‘yan, e. “

B: By the time na ipalabas ang “Kid Kulafu” sa ibang bansa, may resulta na ang laban between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Sa tingin niya manalo o matalo si Pacquaio, tatangkilikin pa rin ang “Kid Kulafu” sa ibang bansa?
PS: Yeah, what a blessing, ‘di ba? Pero sa akin win or lose, Manny Pacquiao is Manny Pacquiao ‘di ba? And I really hope the people will support the film. I think it will be the best gift to Manny, to show him that we supported ‘Kid Kulafu’. Extra motivation para sa laban niya.

B: Paano niya sinimulang maisip na gawin ang pelikula tungkol sa buhay ng boxing champ during his early life?
PS: Ang kwento niyan, we were shooting a TV commercial with Manny. I do a lot of TV commercials for him. Mga four years ago I said, ‘Manny, gawa tayo ng pelikula about your life. Natuwa siya. Parang, ‘Ha? Ang dami ng pelikula. Ang dami ng documentary, ‘di ba?’

And then, sabi ko, ‘Pero Manny about your childhood ‘to.’ So, medyo natuwa siya. Talaga ‘yung that same night, tumawag siya sa akin, ‘Punta ka sa bahay, magusap tayo.’ Hanggang 4 to 5 a.m., nag-usap kami about the first 10 years of his life. Ang daming kwento. So, sabi ko that day, ‘Manny, we have to do this on movie. Sobrang cinematic ang buhay mo sa childhood.’

So, ‘yan, after that, research nang research. Tawag nang tawag. And you know, we became friends. So, and we also work on commercials. So, ayan, kita-kita tayo and eventually we finally made a script, a screen play. Last year, we were blessed to shoot the film.

B: Nangyari ba ang pag-uusap nila ni Manny bago o pagkatapos niyang maging Born Again?
PS: I think, even before that pa. So, long time in the making talaga ‘to. I mean, when you’re making a movie somebody like this, dapat at the right time.

B: Instrumental ba ang ama niya at dating direktor din na Pastor Jeric Soriano sa pagiging Born Again Christian ni Pacquiao?
PS: Well, I think my Dad, si Pastor Jeric, was there when Manny needed help. He was there to guide and help Manny. I think they met through Dyan Castillejo yata.

So, nag-Bible study sila and started from there. But you know, for me, even my Dad said that it is only God who can change Manny. My Dad was just instrumental in helping him.

Pero Manny made a decision talaga to walk with God and to go back to God. I mean, he was never really not looking for God. He was always there and talagang number one ang Panginoon para kay Manny.

B: Hindi true ang balita na ayaw sanang gawin ni Manny ang “Kid Kulafu?”
PS: No, no, no. Very supportive siya from day one. As a matter of fact, nag-sign siya ng kontrata with me to give his official permission to use his childhood story.Oo, parang ganoon, parang authorized (ako). That’s why may credit siya sa pelikula, story credit siya.

B: Nagbayad ba siya kay Manny para sa lifestory nito?
PS: Wala, wala. Binigay lang niya ‘yung story niya. I guess because of friendship binigay niya sa akin ‘yung story. So, very blessed, very blessed. I’m so thankful to Manny, honestly. He’s been very supportive.

B: Inalok ba niya ang boxing champ na maging co-producer niya sa “Kid Kulafu?”
PS: No, wala. I told Manny, you know, let me find a financing, let me find the way to make it happen. I don’t want to, you know, I’m not in this for the money, e. I’m in this for the story, e. So, ginawan ko ng paraan na he will just there to support us in the creative process in terms of the financial, the producing? Wala siya. He was not part of us. I think he appreciated that.

B: Hindi ba’t isinali rin niya sa nakaraang Metro Manila Film Festival ang “Kid Kulafu”?
PS: It was considered pero hindi kami napasok, so, okey lang. I mean, I’m not here naman to question the criteria or ‘yung jurors. Ayaw nila, okey lang. E, ‘di move on. But, blessing in disguise ‘di ba? Kasi imagine kung December, wala masyadong hype ‘di ba?

Tapos, pumasok ang Mayweather, pumasok pa ang ABS-CBN, pumasok ang Star Cinema, grabe. Talagang God really made a plan na dapat wala pa sa MMFF, mag-April 15 ka. And then, sina Ma’m, Charo (Santos), Sir Gabby (Lopez), Ma’m Malou (Santos), April 15 ang handpicked nila. So, saktung-sakto.

B: May plano ba na gumawa ng part II for “Kid Kulafu?”
PS: Oh, well, kung may mag-offer. We still have a lot of material and why not? Like I’ve said ‘yung first 15 years niya, ang dami pa. Like what our writer said, we were cutting scenes. But ang dami pa, ang laki ng story niya.

B: Is it true na hindi legally married ang parents ni Pacquiao?
PS: Ah, ngayon separated na sila. During that time, nagkasal sila.But well, I don’t know that. Pero ang alam ko talaga si Mommy D and father ni Manny, married sila. I just don’t know kung legal sila or what. Pero they were married, they were in love. It just so happen si Rosaru..gusto sa bundok. Si Dionisia gusto sa city. Kasi ang pera nandoon, ‘di ba?

B: Ano ang participation ni Pacquiao sa nalalapit na wedding nila ni Toni?
PS: Wala pang usapan tungkol diyan. But definitely, I want to invite him of course. Pero in terms of participation sa wedding, wala pa. Uh, may mga idea pa pero we still have to go, kailangan personal ‘yan.‘Di ba (kailangan) personal ‘yan?

(Editor: May tanong, reaksyon o komento ka ba sa artikulong ito? May nais ba kayong ipasulat o ipatalakay sa Bandera? I-text ang pangalan, edad, lugar at mensahe sa 09178052374)