Musician and TV screenwriter Mcoy Fundales on Tuesday, August 16, revealed how he got into scriptwriting, eventually falling in love with it.
During the virtual media conference for his latest single Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw, the musician-scriptwriter shared that he thought he would tell stories through his songs.
“When I discovered scriptwriting, mas malaya pala, mas maraming room to express my imagination. So I fell in love with scriptwriting,” he said in front of select press members, including LionhearTV.
He realized, “Mahal na mahal ko ang scriptwriting. Ito pala ‘yung mahal ko na late ko nang nadiskubre.”
The musician added, “TV, writing, dito na talaga ako. It’s something na I’d like to do until I get to be lolo.”
Fundales began his journey to being one of GMA Network’s best scriptwriters after the late director Bert de Leon urged him to appear in a show that starred comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, featuring Vic Sotto.
He was not cut out for on-screen work, being an “awkward” actor. But he enjoyed the brainstorming process on each episode of the sitcom.
“Ang na-enjoy ko—kasi maaga akong dumarating sa tapings. Ang na-enjoy ko ‘yung brainstorming for the episodes, doon ako na-exposed sa creative team. Sila pala ‘yung nag-uusap-usap, ano ‘yung isusulat na episode.”
The musician added, “Nae-enjoy ko ang on-cam pero nae-enjoy ko ‘yung…nagulat ako kasi habang nagbe-brainstorm ang creative team, nagpi-pitch in ako ng mga ideas, on what to do, and what to write.”
His first writing stint was in 2015 when Direk Jojo Nones took him as part of the creative team for Pepito Manaloto. Fundales’ first responsibility was to just pitch in ideas.
“Luckily, ‘yung mga sina-submit ko na mga ideas, ‘yun ang nade-develop na script. Tapos, dahil gustung-gusto ko na ang ginagawa, ako na mismo ang nag-decide, na nagkukusa ako noon na nanunuod ako ng episode, binabasa ko ang script.”
Michael V, the sitcom’s creative director back then, suggested that he should write a part of an episode. Then he made the musician do an entire episode.
From there, he became an official Kapuso script writer, being offered by GMA Network a writing contract. He has made scripts for the now-defunct show Dear Uge, All-Out Sundays, as well as during the first season of the reality talent competition StarStruck.
Fundales is also writing for the gag show Bubble Gang.
