The Vivamax original series The Seniors director Shaira Advincula on Tuesday, February 22, shared a reaction to the similarities between her work and that of controversial filmmaker Darryl Yap.
In the virtual media conference of the series, she pointed out that the only identical trait between them was being “unapologetic.”
“We’re not just saying na vulgar yung characters or ganoon sila magsalita just because they wanted to but because this is how our characters really speak,” she said.
The show that stars Julia Barretto, Ella Cruz, Awra Briguela, and newcomer Andrea Babierra highlighted foul language that high-schoolers were known for.
Advincula noted, “Ganito magsalita yung mga kabataan na sinulat namin. Hindi po kasi kami nag-start with our idea na this will be a teeny bopper cute show. Gusto namin maging totoo lang.”
It will also show how a simple Pacaque Rural High School could represent the Philippines in terms of values, systems, and development.
“Makikita natin na parang microcosm nang Pilipinas yung isang public high school. Kulang-kulang yung gamit, hindi sapat yung pasahod sa teachers, sira-sira yung facilities, mabagal yung processing, may twisted values.
“The Seniors is something that’s raw, real, and something we heard stories about. It will talk about teenage pregnancies, kung paano mag-deal ng mga complicated relationships ng mga adults, and about sexuality, about discovering virginity,” explained Advincula.
The series heavily use inappropriate language and the director clarified that they leave it to the audience to be aware of the vulgarity that the show has.
“May tiwala po kami sa viewers namin an our audiences, our Filipino audiences, lalo na nitong pandemic, na mas nae-expose sa maraming films and series, are more literate nowadays.
“I know na alam nila ang pinapanuod nila. Parang hindi kasi siya yung usual na kailangang may moral lesson at the end of every story.
“Kasi parang we’re just featuring kung anong klaseng tao ‘tong mga characters namin, na meron silang mga faults in life. At normal ‘yon, at dapat nating tanggapin ‘yon. Walang sugarcoating.”
Meanwhile, the story of The Seniors is based on Advincula’s life in the province. The show also aims to refute the stereotype that those in the countryside were lame.
“Cool mag-budots ganoon. Hindi siya jejemon for us. So I don’t think na parang it’s right na porket probinsya tawagin nating cheap or tawagin nating mas nakakaangat ang mga taga-Maynila. Kasi for us, yun ang powerful, yung pagiging kanal.
That was the dominant language for us,” stated the director.
The Seniors will premiere on Vivamax this coming March 20.
