On February 11, director Ricky Rivero recounted the box-office director Wenn Deramas’s influence on him as a filmmaker, mentor, and friend.
At the advanced screening of D’ Aswang Slayerz, Rivero highlighted his close friendship with the late director.
“Si Direk Wen is not only my mentor, he was my friend. Kumbaga on and off cam magkasama kami ni Direk Wen. Pag wala akong trabaho, tambay ako sa bahay nila, magswi-swimming kami sa club house, ililibre niya ako ng — sa Tivoli Royale. Ililibre niya ako ng sine, kakain kami sa labas, kumbaga naging malaki ang naging parte ni Direk Wen sa buhay ko as a mentor and as a friend.”
He also recalled how they got to work with each other on Rivero’s first showbiz project.
“Kahit noong first project ko with ABS-CBN, noong pumasok ako sa ABS as locations manager in 1997, Claudine-Rico Yan pa ‘yon, first directorial project ‘yun ni Direk Wen, first teleserye niya. ‘Yun din naman ‘yung first teleserye ko as a locations manager, so from 1997 all the way hanggang sa nawala si Direk Wen, kumbaga lagi kaming magkakasama sa mga– may isang taon siguro na hindi kami magkakasama, pero kahit sa mga taong hindi kami magkakasama nagkikita pa rin kami, hindi lang kami magkasama sa trabaho.”
He then attested to the legacy of the late director in the Philippine Entertainment industry.
“Ang laki ng influence niya sa akin as a director. Talented si Direk Wen, I’m sure hindi naman lihim sa buong Pilipinas kung gaano kahusay si Direk Wen sa pagpapatawa, sa dami ng mga blockbuster movies na ginawa ni Direk Wen. Kahit nga na one-tenth lang noong success na nakuha ni Direk Wen, sana biyayaan tayo ng Panginoon.”
When asked if he’s the next Wen Deramas, Rivero asserted that he only hopes to reach a portion of the director’s success.
“No, there will only be one Wen Deramas, forever in the Philippines, and then hopefully, sabi ko nga, kahit kaunti lang noong tagumpay niya, nakuha ni Direk Wen, mapagtagumpayan din ni Direk Ricky Rivero.”
The D’ Aswang Slayerz, stars Mel Martinez, Athalia Badere, and Sharmaine Arnaiz, had an advance screening at Sta Lucia East Grand Mall (Cinema 9) on February 11, 2023.
The supporting cast features Christian Antolin, Rosie Bagenben, Magdalena Fox, Lester Tolentino, Benjie Rosales, Dawn Dupaya, GJ Dorado, and Chelsea Bon.
Directed by Rivero, D’ Aswang Slayerz has a planned theatrical release sometime in March 2023.
