The 'Sana Dati' cast talk about their Cinemalaya movie

September 25 2013

Sana Dati, the Cinemalaya 2013 Best Picture in the Directors' Showcase category, will be shown in theaters nationwide beginning today, September 25. The Jerrold Tarog film, which stars Lovi Poe, Paulo Avelino, TJ Trinidad, Benjamin Alves, and Ria Garcia, was picked up by GMA Films for a commercial release. The cast and director expressed their excitement on this decision during the movie's press conference last September 19.

"We're very, very grateful, especially to Atty. Joji Alonso, for offering to distribute the movie. And to GMA of course, for supporting us with promotion. Kasi without that, parang andoon pa rin ako sa struggle kung paano ipalabas ang pelikula sa madaming tao. So it's really me being grateful," shares Direk Jerrold.

He revealed that he wrote the film's script seven years ago. "Actually this was written seven years ago, the first script that I ever completed. The fact na inabot siya ng seven years and it ends up here with this particular cast meant ganito ang reception. It's very fulfilling, considering na matagal ko siyang hinintay bago siya magawa."

As an independent film director, does he have any frustration that his films do not get that much exposure? "Hindi naman sa frustration. kasi kada pelikula iba-iba naman 'yung expectations. May mga ginagawa akong pelikula na alam ko namang hindi bebenta pero gusto ko lang gawin. In this case, gusto ko talaga siyang makita ng madaming tao kasi sinulat ko siya na 'yun 'yung mindset."

The press asked lead actress Lovi Poe on how she treated her character, given that she has three leading men. "Iba't ibang levels eh. I don't want to reveal, but then it's just different levels kay Ben, kay TJ at kay Paulo. Iba't ibang klaseng love and level of playfulness. Ayun, ibang level of landi sa bawat isa."

As for her style in choosing projects, this is what the Premier Actress had to say. "Of course, dumadaan muna sa manager ko. We talk about it. But then most of the time, I always believe in most of the projects naman so I don't really choose that much. Hindi ako choosy. Kumbaga, alam ko na something good will come out of it, so I practically accept whatever is given to me."

TJ Trinidad was named as Best Supporting Actor in the said competition. How does he feel about getting an acting award for the first time?

"I felt great. The work in itself is rewarding for me, pero kapag nanalo ka pala, ganun pala 'yung feeling. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na na-recognize 'yung trabaho mo dahil pinaghirapan mo rin 'yun, and that you contributed to the film. Ang sarap ng feeling," he explains.

He also described how it was working with Direk Jerrold and the rest of the cast. "'Yung pag-aalaga ni Direk would be, I think, the main reason kung bakit ganoon talaga 'yung lumabas sa trabaho namin. Kasi pagpasok may kanya-kanya kaming interpretation kung paano gawin 'yung eksena. And when we execute, and it's not parang in line with his vision, there's an open line of communication between us, like 'It's a little too much' or 'You're underacting. Let's do it this way.' It's like with everything naman talaga, kailangan nag-uusap, nagco-communicate. Hindi lang kayo ng director, pati 'yung mga kasama mong artista. And since nakapagtrabaho na kami dati ni Lovi, it was a very relaxed set, nagawa namin."

Before the press conference ended, Direk Jerrold, who also won as Best Director, was asked why his film is entitled Sana Dati. "Nahihirapan ako sagutin 'yun. Actually, medyo naka-tie-in 'yan sa character ni Lovi na si Andrea, na there's this girl na hirap na hirap siyang mag-let go ng past niya. So palaging andun 'yung mindset niya. Ganun lang talaga ka-simple, actually, na Sana Dati. Nakatali lang siya sa past palagi."

Catch Sana Dati on cinemas nearest you beginning September 25. This film was given a grade of "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board. -- Text by Michelle Caligan, Photo by Bochic Estrada, GMANetwork.com