Four of my favorite Olivia
Lamasan movie scenes
I met writer-director Olivia
Lamasan when I was a production assistant at Star Cinema. She was going to make
her first film, “Maalaala Mo Kaya (The Movie)” and I was going to be on the
production team as one of the PAs (production assistants). The project was
given to me on my second year out of college and it was my third full-length
movie assignment at Star Cinema. “MMK The Movie” went on to win a Best Actress
award for Aiko Melendez at the Manila Film Festival and a Best Supporting award
for Chin-Chin Gutierrez at the Gawad Urian. The film about a mother who left
her child to a cousin’s care reinforced the brand of MMK, the longest-running drama anthology in Asia
today.
“MMK The Movie” gave me a
chance to know Direk Olive who is fondly called Inang in ABS-CBN. The nickname
is so apt because she exudes that motherly instinct. She does not have children
but she dotes on her nephews and nieces. She is very “maalaga” to the people she
works with. When I was PA, she liked treating the staff to chicken barbecue and
java rice from Alex III. She is honest and down-to-earth— a natural
storyteller. I have a great respect for her because she rose from the ranks. Direk
Olive started as a production assistant. In fact, one of her personal stories
that remains with me was of how she had to start smoking when she was a PA in
order to ward off crew members who would intimidate or bully her. Clearly, this
is one woman who means business.
Direk Olive is meticulous.
She has a penchant for detail. As head of Star Cinema’s creative department,
she likes engaging writers and collaborators in introspective discussions about
the plot, storyline, sequence treatment, and especially, the script. She uses
the Tagalog verb “hinihimay” to describe this task. The closest English
translation of “himay” is “dissect.” But for Filipinos, “himay” usually refers
to what we do when we remove the shell of a shrimp or prawn, or when we remove
the bones of the fish before eating it.
Maybe the word “himay”
captures the kind of attention that Direk Olive gives to her projects. Careful.
Bit by bit. Layer by layer. Piece by piece.
Her process is very
instinctive, too. Because she is a fan herself, Direk Olive has a sixth sense
of what would work in a scene, what would move viewers to anger, kilig and tears. She also has that
magical ability to draw out the best from her cast. Aiko and Chin-Chin aren’t
the only ones that Direk Olive has helped win awards. Aga Muhlach won an Urian
Best Actor trophy for “Sana Maulit Muli.” Sharonians would forever be grateful
to Inang for guiding Sharon Cuneta to a grand slam Best Actress win for the
film “Madrasta.”
As far as directing goes,
Direk Olive’s method is sometimes unconventional. There's this story that when Direk was working on “Got 2 Believe” with Claudine Barretto and the
late Rico Yan, she would ask if Claudine had or was about to have her menstrual
period. Direk Olive would try to schedule the filming of highly dramatic scenes
during those special days because she knew that Claudine would be very
emotional then.
Direk Olive comes to my mind
now because some of her films have been digitally restored by ABS-CBN. Two of
which, “Got 2 Believe” and “Madrasta,” are among my favorite Inang movies. For
me, “Got 2 Believe” and “Madrasta” along with “Minsan Minahal Kita” and the
more recent “Starting Over Again” epitomize Direk Olive’s touch: meticulous,
moving, and very memorable. Here are my favourite scenes from the four mentioned movies.
ZsaZsa Padilla and Sharon Cuneta’s dinner scene in
“Madrasta”
Two years before Hollywood
came out with “Stepmom” starring Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts, there was
“Madrasta,” a story of a stepmother named Mariel played by Sharon Cuneta.
Mariel marries Edward (Christopher de Leon), a man with three children from a
previous marriage with Sandra (ZsaZsa). Only the youngest child is warm
towards their stepmom. The two older kids (already teenagers) are, to say the
least, aloof towards Mariel who tries her darnest to win them and be a good
mother to all three. The film is a story of an outsider who is aware of her worth but is also trying to fit in.
When Mariel finds out that
the sophisticated Sandra—her husband’s ex—wants to meet her, she tries to win
and impress her as well. In the end, Mariel receives a sincere tribute from the
person she least expected to appreciate her.
Toni Gonzaga’s wild chase in “Starting Over Again”
Many of the characters in Direk
Olive’s films seem to be foolish people. There’s Lino (Piolo Pascual) who risks
everything to look for his missing wife in “Milan” and Gerry (Aga Muhlach) of
“Sana Maulit Muli” who leaves a thriving career to follow his girlfriend Agnes
(Lea Salonga) to the US. There’s also Shirley (Vilma Santos), a green-card
holder who willingly goes through an arranged marriage to save an illegal alien
in “In My Life.”
Perhaps the most foolish of
them all is Jinny (Toni Gonzaga) of “Starting Over Again.” When Jinny realizes
that she truly loves her ex-boyfriend Marco (Piolo) who is now with someone
else, she does everything to win him back. Jinny’s effort is eloquently and
poignantly shown in the part where she, in a short and stylish dress and
gladiator heels, repeatedly calls Marco on the cellphone and insists on meeting
him on the pretense of submitting a file. Jinny follows the car-driving Marco
all over the city via public transportation (bus and MRT) to no avail. Marco is
clearly avoiding Jinny whose love for him is obviously greater than her pride
and dignity. (How many of us can say that our love is like Jinny's?)
Richard Gomez and Sharon Cuneta’s rendezvous on the Morayta overpass in “Minsan Minahal Kita”
Sharon played a mistress for
the first time in her career in “Minsan Minahal Kita.” As Diane, Sharon falls
in love with Albert (played by Richard Gomez) who, like her, happens to be in a
sad marriage. The conservative Diane resists being a mistress until finally she
gives in. One of the best scenes happens when Diane patiently waits for Albert
on the Morayta overpass, holding a plastic bag containing a soda drink with a straw on
one hand and a paper bag containing food on the other, anxious about whether he
would arrive or not. When Diane finally sees Albert, she stammers and offers
the food and drink. Albert is overcome with emotion. He doesn’t know whether to
ask how she is, take what she offers, or just hug her. In the end, Albert
kisses Diane to express how he truly feels.
Claudine Barretto’s confrontation scene with Rico Yan
in “Got 2 Believe”
I mention this as the last one because it is my all-time favorite among Inang’s films.
Direk Olive is great at
subtlety and creating tension. And this part in “Got 2 Believe” showcases that.
Claudine plays Toni, an
unmarried wedding planner who has developed a closeness with Lorenz, a bachelor
photographer who seems to prefer being fancy-free. Toni realizes her love for
Lorenz and ditches the very eligible aspiring politico that the photographer had
set her up with. Unfortunately, Lorenz is in denial about caring for Toni.
One rainy day, she suddenly
shows up in his home looking more gorgeous than usual. This is a woman on a
mission. Because… 1) Toni braves the rain to seek Lorenz. 2) Unmindful of the
weather, she wears a backless top, assymetrical skirt and high heels. 3) Toni
makes up a stupid excuse that she wants to return Lorenz’s Pyrex that was the
container of the baked mac that he had gifted her. And, 4) She finally asks why
he kissed her during a visit to her office a few days before.
Lorenz’s answer might be
typical of a macho who tries to keep face but is secretly afraid, while Toni’s poised
comeback after the initial shock is the embodiment of grace. Although this is a
confrontation scene, no hurtful words are said. Toni could have very well
slapped Lorenz but that doesn’t happen either. Still, the pain and confusion
are evident in the characters’ facial expressions.
As I wrap up this piece, I
realize that Inang may be more known as a writer but she is even more effective
as a director. My fondest wish for Inang is that she gets her due recognition
as a director very soon. But knowing Inang, I feel she’s already happy doing
what she loves and helping others fulfill their dreams.
Catch “Got 2 Believe” and other films restored by
ABS-CBN at the Reelive Film Festival at Powerplant Cinema from August 26 to
September 1, 2015. For the schedule of screenings, check out www.facebook.com/filmrestorationabscbn.
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