Director Perci Intalan does another gay-themed movie titled Mahal Kita, Beksman, which is set to be shown on the big screen starting November 16.
Prior to this movie, Direk Perci was also at the helm of the hit movie Born Beautiful (2019), which was a sequel of the equally successful Paolo Ballesteros-starrer Born Beautiful (2016). The former was directed by Perci’s ex-husband, director Jun Lana. Both films were co-produced by their company called The IdeaFirst Company, which also produced the LGBTQIA-themed film Bwakaw (2014).
In a pocket interview with Direk Perci recently, GMANetwork.com asked if it was their intention to consistently produce movies with such themes.
“Pareho kami ni Jun when we started IdeaFirst… Of course, wala naman kaming goal na, ‘Let’s always do LGBTQ na films.’ Hindi nga namin napag-usapan nang diretso talaga, e. Pero after, I guess, all those years na nasa broadcast; si Jun, after all those years na nasa mainstream…
“Noong nagawa yung Bwakaw, parang ang daming na-open up sa amin na ang saya, ang sarap gumawa ng kuwento na magandang kuwento pero does not necessarily conform sa kung anong familiar sa tao. So, nag-decide kami na gusto namin gumawa ng kuwento na bago, na hindi susugalan ng ibang producer.
“Sa awa ng Diyos naman, doon kami nag-succeed. Mas nagsa-succeed pa nga kami kapag ganun kaysa mainstream na ginagawa namin, e.”
Direk Perci admitted that there are still Pinoys who are not keen on watching such movies, some are even always on the look out for producers to make mistakes.
However, instead of being disheartened, Direk Perci said, “Alam mo, actually, ginagamit ‘yan as a challenge.”
Then, he recalled pushing for his idea of Paolo Ballesteros appearing as Mama Mary in Born Beautiful.
He said, “Naalala ko yung Born Beautiful, controversial yung ending nun, e, yung apparition ni Paolo as Mama Mary. We were brainstorming kung ano yung ending kasi magpapakita ulit si Pao as Trisha, dream sequence lang naman. Pero nagtatalo kami kapag nagpakita siya, ‘Sino siya?’ alangan namang as Trisha, e, nasanay nang nagdadamit siya as Beyoncé and ano… Pero nagawa na naming lahat.
“Ako yung nag-point out, sabi ko, ‘Nasa langit siya, e, so magpapakita siya as Mama Mary.’ ‘Tapos lahat ng creatives na nandoon, ‘Paano natin gagawin yun, mapapaaway tayo.’ , gawin natin nang maayos.
“E ako, nagpupunta ako ng Baclaran… I’m very religious person. Hindi kasi ginagaya niya yung ina-idolize niya. So kailangan, malinaw lang na si Trisha ay hindi si Mama Mary, kailangan may line na ganun, na ginagaya lang niya. ‘Tapos, si Jun mismo ang nagsulat, nagpabalik-balik kami just to make sure na made-defend namin.”
Direk Perci revealed that one of their co-producers actually asked them to reconsider the idea.
“Pero we had some of our co-producers approached us after, ‘Baka pwede i-reshoot na lang natin kasi ano…’ Sabi ko, kaya kong ipaglaban ‘yan. Okey lang ‘yan, wala tayong ginagawang mali,” he said.
Source: The IdeaFirst Company
It seems like producing and directing LGBTQIA-themed films will not stop with Mahal Kita Beksman.
“I actually like it kasi may mga stories that are worth telling and approaches that are worth doing. Kailangan lang talaga maingat ka na wala kang masagasaan.
“Pero, I guess, doon ako malakas ang loob kasi kung meron mang magki-criticize sa amin, usually hindi napanood ang pelikula. Kasi, kapag napanood mo, wala naman,” Direk Perci concluded.
Originally published on GMA News.
