Direk Aya almost scolded everyone in “T.G.I.S.” except one, Anne Curtis!
Household TV director Aya Topacio has been used to handling newbies since she started her career.
In the mid-90s, she was an assistant director for the VIVA youth-oriented show “T.G.I.S,” which jumpstarted the careers of Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, Sunshine Dizon, Dingdong Dantes, and Anne Curtis.
Working with directors Mark Reyes and Dominic Zapata, Direk Aya learned how to make the actors feel comfortable while being “medyo strict” to unleash their full potential.
She recalls, “Na-adapt ko yung working with Direk Mark Reyes on how he handles the cast, he was like a family kasi kaya lumabas doon yung relationship at saka galing ng artista.
“That goes with Direk Dominic Zapata, they were tandem kasi that time, I was there as an assistant director, sa kanila ko natutunan yung kailangan maging komportable yung artista sa set para mailabas mo sa kanila yung galing.
“Although that time, medyo strict tayo pero tama naman yung magagalit ka or kailangan may limitation. Pero there’s a way of doing it at yun yung nakita ko na naging effective kasi halos lahat sila sumikat talaga, e.”
(bottom row) Chico Ventosa, Onemig Bondoc, Lester Llansang
Direk Aya remembers scolding almost all the cast except for one!
She says, “Lahat sila. Everybody, even si Bobby, si Onemig [Bondoc], si Red [Sternberg], tapos si Polo [Ravales], Dino Guevarra.
“Si Anne kasi, hindi, e. Lovable kasi si Anne although yung language is a barrier.
“And yung mga ibang cast namin before, Jason Aguilar, di ba? He was part of ‘T.G.I.S,’ yung second so talagang dati, Chubi del Rosario, yun talaga very strict kami ni Direk Dom. Pero we let them feel na it’s work kasi pagkatapos ng trabaho, we explain bakit nangyayari.”
FreebieMNL then asked if there is one distinct memory that stuck with her about getting mad at a “T.G.I.S.” cast member.
She shares, “Hindi ko na lang papangalanan, ha. It was in one of those shows, napagalitan siya kasi pinilosopo niya yung direktor na kasama ko, the director was giving instructions.
“Siguro playful siya, sobrang playful nitong actor na ito, so biniro-biro niya si Direk. E, yung sa akin, pagdating sa ganung biro na seryoso na yung trabaho, medyo foul na yun, e, at nag-uumpisa siya.
“So, yan yung time na galit na galit ako tapos ang dami kong sinabi sa kanya. So that was one of the experiences. Naging okay naman.
“Actually, lahat naman sila, naging okay. Even Dingdong and everybody, alam nila yun, e. Istrikto ako, yung ginagalaw ko yung [mukha nila]. ‘Ito lang titignan mo, hanggang dito ka lang, marker yan.’ Ganun namin kasi ginagawa noong araw.”
(bottom row) Dingdong Dantes, Antoinette Taus, Anne Curtis, Chubi del Rosario
FreebieMNL spoke to Direk Aya after the press conference of her Vivamax movie, “Mahal Ko Ang Mahal Mo,” at the VIVA Boardroom on May 29, 2024.
READ ALSO: Antoinette Taus Finally Speaks Up About Child Rumor In The Past
Doing a Vivamax movie
Now, Direk Aya also handled newbie actors in “Mahal Ko ang Mahal Mo,” which is headlined by VIVA’s sexy stars Angelica Hart, Angeline Aril, and Van Allen Ong. The film is now showing on the streaming app.
During the presscon, Direk Aya was surprised and at the same time, impressed that these actors did not fret when they started shooting sensual scenes.
She says of her actors, “Marami akong naririnig but then, experiencing that on the set, it was really surprising for me. Akala ko kasi, merong mga… like before kasi, wayback when I was a production assistant, may mga telesine na may sexy scenes kaming ginagawa.
“Nagtatago pa yung artista and everything and it’s difficult for them to do it, although it’s in the script. ‘Tapos may mga limitation din.
“Coming into this, jumping into this [project], nagulat ako kasi yun yung masasabi kong professional sila, alam nila na we will do this kaya maganda, magandang experience.”
What did she like most about her artists in the film?
She answers, “Ang nagustuhan ko kasi, acting is being honest, e. Yung magiging honest tayo sa nararamdaman natin.
“Sa akin, bilang director, mahalaga yun kasi palagi kong tinatanong sa artista ko when they allow me whenever I ask them how do they want me to help them para yung proseso ng paggawa ng project, mas madadalian kasi it’s a matter of trust talaga. Yun ang importante and being honest is very important kaya alam ko rin papaano ko sila iha-handle.
“So, ganun siya, ganun ko siya nagawa, kaya sabi ko sobra akong nag-enjoy.”
But Direk Aya admits that she was hesitant when the Vivamax project was first offered to her.
She explains, “At first, medyo hesitant ako kasi madami kang kino-consider, like, I’m coming from a soap, I’m coming from a rom-com and normal naman siguro sa first timer na, ‘Tama ba ‘tong gagawin ko? How will I approach them?’
“But then again, it’s based on my life experience on how I will deal with all the sensuality and express my real self here na ito siya, e. Nararamdaman siya, wala siyang pinagkaiba sa totoong nangyayari sa atin. So, yun ang ginamit ko kaya yun ang nakatulong sa akin.”
Ultimately, “Mahal Ko ang Mahal Mo” was a full circle moment for Direk Aya as someone who started in VIVA.
“Yes, di ko yan ikakailala, ito yung nag-complete talaga kasi dati, ito ka lang, ito siya, limited siya.
“Pero dito kasi, merong drama side, may a little action, and that sensuality nga na medyo nalabas ko.”
Now, Direk Aya is busy working on the Kapuso primetime series “Pulang Araw” as second unit director with Dominic Zapata. The project headlines Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, Sanya Lopez, and Alden Richards.
READ ALSO: Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, David Licauco, Sanya Lopez To Banner GMA-7’s “Pulang Araw”
Banner Art Dani Sison
