Why Brillante Mendoza is directing Duterte's first SONA

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza wants to showcase the natural and simple character of President Rodrigo Duterte when he directs the Chief Executive’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.

Mendoza, the director behind award-winning indie films Thy Womb, Taklub and Ma' Rosa, said he was tapped by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for the task in a bid to bring Duterte closer to the people.

“In terms of direction — siyempre yung iba nagtataka kung bakit may director — gusto nating i-clear yun na kaya may direktor dito ay para mas ma-reach natin ang order ng mga shots and just to make sure also na ma-capture kung anong klaseng Presidente siya,” he said in a press conference at Batasang Pambansa Monday.

“As much as possible, ang gusto namin mag-achieve ay yung mag-communicate siya at makapag-communicate sa mga tao—that even if it’s the SONA, hindi lang siya yung parang formal na nagsasalita,” the director added.

Mendoza joined Andanar for an inspection of the House of Representatives complex ahead of Duterte’s SONA so he could check its layout and speak with other officials involved in preparations for the event.

While the director wants to present Duterte as natural as possible, it is by no means going to be a simple task. According to a Facebook post by state-run PTV-4 network, a total of 14 cameras, consisting of robotic cameras and drones, will be “utilized and considered” in the coverage of the event.

Mendoza said he also wants the lighting at Batasan not to be “flat” so Duterte will not appear too formal or stiff on screen.

“Normal light siya na even if it’s lit, hindi siya mukhang inilawan para normal pa rin ang dating ng presidente pag napanood siya ng mga tao sa telebisyon, mas makikita natin ang normal niyang appearance, hindi siya yung parang flat lang,” he said.

Although it is Mendoza’s first time to be involved in preparations for a SONA, he said he will not necessarily be charting unfamiliar territory because the films he has made focus on the day-to-day issues of ordinary Filipinos.

“Ang kagandahan doon, sa pelikula ko ang kina-capture ko doon yung spontaneity ng acting, even the camera movement kaya siguro hindi ako gaanong nahihirapan [sa SONA] kasi ayoko nung masyadong nakakahon. Maganda na kung ano yung mangyayari, ma-capture mo,” he said.

Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping said Filipinos could expect a “world-class production” since Mendoza is at the helm of Duterte’s SONA.

Following the event, the director said his work with the administration will continue since he will be making information campaigns for the PCO.

Mendoza said the videos he will be making for the government are in line with his advocacies as film director.

“Ang maganda doon, in line sila (videos) sa mga advocacy ko. If you notice, the 13 films I did in the past 10 years ay tungkol sa mga social issues. Yung recent film ko (Ma' Rosa) alam naman natin tungkol sa drugs and corruption. So aligned rin sa mga ginagawa ko,” he said. —JST, GMA News