Direk Zig Dulay admits having fear as he works with Marian Rivera
For the first time, critically acclaimed director Zig Dulay is working with Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera for a drama series.
Direk Zig is Marian’s director in the upcoming GMA Prime series “My Guardian Alien,” which serves as her comeback to television.
Admittedly, Direk Zig did not expect that he and Marian would get along given that it was their first time to work together.
He says, “Ang sobrang sweet niyang tao. Nagulat din ako kasi first time. So, siyempre, ang tendency ko kapag ganyan… aloof kasi akong tao or direktor.
“Parang hindi ako ma-chummy-chummy, pero noong kami? Sweet siya. Parang lahat ng agam-agam, lahat ng takot na nasa akin nawala kasi ano siya, parang barkada, kaibigan, kapatid. Gano’n siya every time na nag-shu-shoot kami.”
But what really matters for Direk Zig is how Marian trusted his ways in terms of handling scenes.
“Nararamdaman ko yung tiwala niya sa akin, which is importante para sa akin na direktor na nagtitiwala yung artista niya.
“To think na Marian Rivera ‘yan, queen ‘yan, di ba? Reyna ‘yan.”
Is that where his initial fears of working with her were coming from?
Direk Zig answers, “Oo, somehow… natatakot ka kasi ayaw mo siyang ma-fail.
“Siyempre, parang nagtitiwala siya sa ‘yo, so gagawin mo yung lahat ng makakaya mo. ‘Tapos collaborative enough naman si Marian na ‘yun yung ikinakatuwa ko.
“Kasi dahil nga na nagtitiwala siya, nagtitiwala din ako sa kanya. The usual din pinag-uusapan… paano mapapaganda [yung show].
“Parang sa akin, sobrang na-touch ako or parang claim to fame somehow na, ‘Uy, nakipag-work ka kay Marian,’ parang ganon.
“’Tapos sobrang saya, sobrang gaan niya na katrabaho. Tapos abangan nila, ano siya… parang pilot day pa lang, pilot week pa lang, ipinakita niya na talaga kung gaano siya kahusay.”
FreebieMNL spoke to Direk Zig during a press conference for “Firefly” last December.
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Out of Direk Zig’s league
Direk Zig is originally known for directing movies that make it to film festivals. When he ventured into television, he became more popular for his epicseryes: “Sahaya (2019),” “Legal Wives (2021),” and “Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022).”
That’s why he can say that “My Guardian Alien” is something that is out of his league when it comes to directing.
Of this, the director says, “Parang ang daming mga bagay na ginagawa ko ngayon na not so me. Sumabay lang siya doon sa point na nasa era ako ngayon na gusto kong gumawa ng something out of my comfort zone… pero ang daming iba. So, double work sa akin.
“Super challenging na gagawa ka ng isang genre, gagawa ka ng isang bagay na hindi ikaw, so you have to equip yourself. Kailangan mong mag-research, kailangan mong magbasa, yung parang ganun. Sobrang challenging.
“Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ko kayang i-push ‘yon kasi iba. Even ‘tong ‘Firefly,’ hindi ako ‘to, e. Even yung ‘Guardian Alien’, hindi rin ako ‘yon. The next one, hindi rin ako ‘yon.
“So, tine-take ko na lang siya na baka kailangan kong maranasan yung iba’t iba bago pa ako magka–edad, habang kaya pa ng katawan, so yun, laban-laban na.”
Direk Zig admits that there is pressure with his new show, but he is clinging to his actors—Marian, Gabby Concepcion, and Raphael Landicho—to make everything work.
“Siyempre, may pressure na yung nauna ko, ‘Sahaya’, mabigat ‘tapos maganda rin, nagustuhan ng mga tao. ‘Legal Wives’, nagustuhan rin ng mga tao, ‘tapos ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra.’
“Pressure ito, pero sinasandalan ko naman si Marian, si Sir Gabby, ‘tapos yung bata. Ginagawa naman namin yung best namin.
“Pero ‘yon, natatakot ako para sa sarili ko. Doing things na hindi ako, but at the same time, na-tsa-challenge din ako, na-e-excite na ma-try yung ibang bagay na hindi ko lubos maisip na gagawin ko.”
READ ALSO: “Firefly” Creators Recall Journey From Being MMFF Underdog To Best Picture
“My Guardian Alien” coming soon
Just recently, GMA-7 has already released a teaser for Marian’s comeback, which will air in April 2024.
The photo showing Marian only says, “Tao lang po. Tao nga ba?”
What should viewers expect from “My Guardian Alien?”
Direk Zig says, “Light-light lang kasi ‘yun naman yung point kung bakit nagustuhan din ni Marian ‘yun.
“It’s about family siya, kaya niyang maipapanood ‘yun sa mga anak niya kasi katulad nito, magic realism din ‘yun, fantasy din siya. Kasi ang role ni Marian dito ay kwentista din, storyteller.”
Aside from “My Guardian Alien,” Direk Zig is also doing the upcoming primetime series “Widows’ War” with Bea Alonzo and Carla Abellana.
READ ALSO: GMA Creative Head Belies Report That Bea Alonzo’s Shows Are First Offered To Marian Rivera
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