Joey de Leon, Paul Soriano at Toni Gonzaga
SA unang pagkakataon ay humarap sa entertainment media si Direk Paul Soriano matapos hiranging Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications sa Winford Manila Hotel and Casino nitong Lunes ng tanghali.
Sa mismong araw ng kaarawan ni direk Paul noong Oktubre 17, 2021 siya itinalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr..
Bago pa ibinigay sa kanya ang nasabing posisyon ay natapos na niyang idirek ang pelikulang “My Teacher” na pagbibidahan ni Joey de Leon at ng asawang si Toni Gonzaga-Soriano.
Kuwento ng hubby ni Toni, “The teachers are very underrated. Sila talaga ang, you know, if ever one of our heroes growing up. They’re the ones who give us our education. They’re the ones who sacrifice so much to teach us.
“So she (Toni) said, ‘Maybe we can shed some light and write a story about the teachers.’ And she wanted to play a teacher. I know, some of her inspirations were ‘yung the movie The Intern, Blind Side, yan ang mga parang pegs niya dito.
“So we talked about it and I told her, ‘Look, Tin, if you want and you feel passion about this idea, why don’t you start writing it?’ Actually siya ang nagbuo ng concept, e. Siya ang nagsulat ng story. As you all know, Toni loves to write.
“So she wrote this and then, yeah, eventually we got a team and we started writing the script. And of course the next question was, after we finalized the concept, we wanted to do something a little bit also unique.
“So we also started studying and marami diyan kung igu-Google nyo. Maraming mga senior, nagbabalik sa high school. I believe rin sa show niya, Toni Talks, and Toni…nag-feature siya ng mga hindi pa natapos ang high school. Kasi, it’s never too late naman, e. It’s never too late, di ba?
“She wanted to say, parang, whenever you start, also make sure you finish. So, parang we were reading all these inspirational stories about these senior citizens going back to high school.
“And that’s where I kinda came in. I said, ‘That’s actually very nice, ano? Because when you have the character of Joey de Leon going back to high school, you have now parang the old school meets the new school.
“So, yan ang mga unique kuwento dito sa My Teacher. An example would be yung mga old school, di ba, mahilig silang magsulat, di ba? Mahilig silang magbasa. Or they like to sing, di ba?
“Yung mga new school ngayon, puro text, message, email, TikTok, di ba? So, may konting ganyan. When you see the movie, you will also sana introduce to a new generation the old school way of doing things. So, yan, we started writing it and writing it,” mahabang paliwanag ni Direk Paul.
Sinuwerteng makapasok sa 48th Metro Manila Film Festival o MMFF ang “My Teacher” kung saan kasama rin sa cast sina Carmi Martin, Rufa Mae Quinto, Kakai Bautista, Kych Minemoto, Jackie Lou blanco, Pauline Mendoza at ang love team in real life na sina Ronnie Alonte at Loisa Andalio.
“When we got into MMFF. So, parang you felt na this project is a big blessing because we always feel na kung aligned lahat, parang walang problema.
“Schedule, actors. We shot the film. Even during the pandemic, walang major COVID cases.
“Our greatest concern I know with him was of course si Joey is 75 years old. We were also of course very cautious about yung health niya.
“We promised the De Leon family that we would take care of Tito Joey. And yan blessing talaga, we finished everything, parang smooth lahat,” pahayag ng direktor.
Aware si direk Paul na nasa 50% pa lang ang mga nanonood sa mga sinehan at umaasa na ngayong MMFF ay umabot ito sa 80% or more.
“Hopefully, this will also start and signify the comeback of cinemas and of course the industry that we all love so much, the film industry.
“So hopefully you all can support My Teacher and, of course, the other seven entries also.
“And may this be the beginning of a merry Christmas and hopefully the rollback to all of us going back to the cinemas. I know we all miss it so much.
“So, parang revenge cinema, di ba? May mga revenge travel, revenge shopping, so let’s promote revenge cinema where this Christmas we can see long lines, happy families, everyone coming together as we celebrate the industry that we love so much, ang pelikulang Pilipino,” sabi ni direk Secretary Paul.
Samantala, si Toni raw mismo ang kumausap kay Joey na kung puwedeng magsama sila sa pelikula.
“Of course that’s our next challenge because we had to approach him, di ba? And it’s been a while since we’ve talked to him.
“But you know, what I can say about Joey de Leon is, once we’ve pitched to him the project, ang sabi niya, ‘Anything for you, Toni. Ang lakas ka sa akin.
“Exact words ni Joey de Leon. And of course to hear that from a very respectable icon in our industry, we were very honored.
“So, after a couple of months, we found the right timing, and Joey said yes. So of course excited si Toni.
“And of course ngayon ang direktor, di ba? Sino ang magdidirek ng movie? Initially naman, honestly, I wasn’t the original director of the film.
“Because I was actually directing a movie which I shot last August called The Fisher. So, parang I thought na kung magba-back-to-back ako, baka hindi ko kaya.
“But when the initial directors that we were talking to, parang it didn’t work out because of schedule and stuff, and then I looked at myself, who wouldn’t want to work with Joey de Leon, di ba?
“Icon yan. Parang in my filmography as a young filmmaker, I can say that I worked with the Joey de Leon whom also we all know doesn’t do too many movies now, di ba?
“I think his last movie was sabi niya, decade ago, e, di ba? And of course I get to work with my wife. It’s been a while since I worked with my wife. My first, first film was with my wife in 2009, yung A Journey Home,” salaysay ni direk Paul.
Present sa solo presscon ni Direk Paul ang The Godfather Films producer na si Joed Serrano na co-producee din sa “I Am Toni, 20th Anniversary Concert” na gaganapin sa Araneta Coliseum sa Enero 20, 2023.
“Hope to see you all there,” paanyaya ni direk Paul.
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