She’s lost count of how many people have come up to her to tell her how her films touched their lives. She fondly recalls people who said they and their lovers have gotten back together because of “One More Chance.”
“In a way, we serve people by entertaining them, by giving them hope that life is still beautiful, that life is still worth it and it’s worth loving again. Where can you find a job that gets you to places, that lets you move people?” said Direk Cathy, whose body of work include box-office hits “My Amnesia Girl,” “Unofficially Yours,” the widely popular John Lloyd Cruz-Sarah Geronimo film series, “Lobo,” and a slew of “Precious Hearts Romances” dramas.
Direk Cathy is one of the 40 directors signed up by ABS-CBN, the home to a remarkable roster of prolific creatives who consistently bring something new to Philippine television, sealing their distinctive marks on their films and TV programs, and on the entertainment industry at large.
Being a director, meanwhile, is a personal fulfillment to veteran director Jerry Lopez Sineneng. “I’m privileged to be a director because I create products and stories. It has been difficult and challenging, but fulfilling because it has been my dream since I was a child,” he quips.
It took Direk Jerry ten years to get assigned his first directing job in ABS-CBN. Before that he worked as art director, production designer, location manager, and casting director in another production company, and assigned as writer, assistant creative manager and launched as director for the landmark Judy Ann Santos soap “Esperanza,” which redefined teleseryes in that it pioneered shooting large-scale outdoor scenes.
Direk Jerry’s impressive body of work includes directing “Walang Hanggan,” “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” “Hiram,” and movies “Ang Pulubi at ang Prinsesa,” “Videoke King,” “Ngayong Nandito Ka,” “Soltera,” and Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang?”
With a string of highly successful projects, do TV ratings and box-office gross reports make it harder for the two directors to do their job?
“Creatively and personally, I don’t pressure myself too much. Entertainment is also a business, so you definitely can’t take ratings and box-office out of the equation. But don’t take them too seriously because you might end up telling a story for the sake of those two,” Direk Cathy says.
Direk Jerry agrees, “Ratings and box-office gross are major considerations. Will people buy my product? The nice thing about the ABS-CBN management is when they give your project a go signal, they back you up 100%, all the way.”
ABS-CBN, the country’s largest multimedia conglomerate, has signed up today’s most celebrated directors including Wenn Deramas, Ruel Bayani, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Joyce Bernal, Bobet Vidanes, Edgar Mortiz, Rory Quintos, Jeffrey Jeturian, Cathy Garcia-Molina, Mae Cruz, Jerome Pobocan, Malu Sevilla, FM Reyes, Lino Cayetano, Nuel Naval, Don Cuaresma, Erick Salud, Trina Dayrit, Arnel Natividad, Francis Pasion, Jojo Saguin, Nick Olanka, Dado Lumibao, Katski Flores, Frasco Mortiz, Ricky Rivero, Rechie del Carmen, Toto Natividad, Manny Palo, Richard Arellano, Tots Sanchez-Mariscal, Ted Boborol, Connie Macatuno, Jon Moll, Darnel Villaflor, Avel Sungpongco, Raz dela Torre, Neal del Rosario, Mervyn Brondial, Jon Villarin, Nico Hernandez, Alco Guerrero, and Johnny Manahan.
A special feature on these directors will come out in Metro Society’s February issue, which will be available in newsstands beginning Sunday (February 10).
