“Be careful what you wish for,” Direk Jerry says
For the first time, veteran TV director Jerry Lopez Sineneng is taking a big challenge in his career as he plunges into directing a Vivamax movie.
Known for its very sexy movies, Direk Jerry is at the helm of the movie “Rita,” headlined by Christine Bermas, Victor Relosa, Gold Aceron, and Josh Ivan Morales.
In an interview with FreebieMNL and GMANetwork.com after the press conference proper of “Rita” on March 14, 2024 at VIVA Café, Direk Jerry admits that it was hard doing the film because it is the first time he had very daring scenes in a project.
Before, he would even joke about wanting to do sexy scenes when faced with a difficult drama scene to direct.
He shares, “Mas mahirap siya kasi first time ko talaga gumawa ng ganito ka-daring, ganito ka-bold, first time.
“Dati, ang joke ko sa TV, kapag nagte-taping ako sa TV, ang joke ko, ‘Hay naku, ang hirap ng mga eksena, pwede bang mga sexy scenes na lang kunan ko?’
“Ngayon, sinasabi ni Lord, ‘Be careful what you wish for!’ Binigyan ako, ang hirap pala, akala ng lahat a-anggulo ka lang, hindi.
“Actually ang hirap, I hope na-achieve ko naman. Ang hirap na art yung ginagawa mo, hindi sex lang. Sana yun ang na-achieve namin.”
Talking about his joke about doing sexy films, Direk Jerry says, “Oo, never na kasi ang hirap pala niya! Akala ko ganun lang siya kadali.”
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Difference between “Rita” and his past projects
During the Q&A, Direk Jerry shared that doing the film was “fulfilling” for him.
Before directing “Rita,” the acclaimed director once aspired to do a film similar to the cult sexy classic “Scorpio Nights” by Peque Gallaga.
He explains, “Sa totoo lang, when I saw ‘Scorpio Nights’ of my tatay Peque Gallaga, sabi ko, pagdating ng araw, makagawa ako [sana].
“Hindi ko sinasabing ‘Scorpio Nights’ ito, ha. Pero sana makagawa ako ng isang sexy na kamukha ng ‘Scorpio Nights,’ sobrang proud ni Direk Peque doon.
“Sana lang maabot ko rin sa career ko na makagawa ako ng super sexy that I’ll be proud of. And thank God, I’m proud of ‘Rita’ talaga.
“Lahat ng mga katrabaho ko dito sa post-prod, katrabaho ko rin sa mainstream and they are honest sa akin, lalaitin ako noon kapag may hindi sila gusto.
“Gusto nila ang ‘Rita,’ ‘Maganda siya, Direk!’ Kakaiba siya. Nandun pa rin yung Jerry Sineneng kasi drama po siya, sexy drama. So, nandoon pa rin po yung puso. Yun naman gusto ko, hindi naman siya hubaran ng hubaran.”
In fact, “Rita” doesn’t have much difference from the movies and TV shows that he did in the past, except for the sexy scenes.
“Actually, honestly, pareho lang din siya. The only difference are the sexy scenes, but the work required of me is the same. Yung tutok sa TV, sa film na hindi sexy, parehong pareho yung hinihingi niyang effort from me.
“Pero sa tingin ko, ang pinagkaiba lang talaga, may sex scenes dito pero binigay ko rin siya na buong istorya, buong emosyon, meron lang budbod ng sex scenes.”
But of course, Direk Jerry was not spared from having fears in directing a project for Vivamax.
“To be honest, noong una, may fear ako kasi Vivamax, meron ngang stigma, meron siyang, ‘Vivamax?’
“Pero siyempre, nanood ako ng mga pelikula, ang dami nilang magagandang pelikula. Sa totoo lang po, ang daming magaganda. May mga awards na nga si Direk Mac [Alejandre] na napapanalunan abroad for his Vivamax films.
“Sana dumating din yung araw na mabura yung perception ng karamihan na ang Vivamax ay walang katapusang hubaran lang siya. Maraming movies ang Vivamax na nakaka-proud din naman. Art, hindi siya puchu puchu.”
“Rita,” which tells the story of a longing wife who engages in an affair with the bestfriend of her OFW husband, is set to stream on Vivamax on March 22, 2024.
Direk Jerry is a contract director of GMA-7. His series, “Love. Die. Repeat.,” is set to end on March 27, 2024. He will then prepare for his next project under the Kapuso network.
Banner Art Paulo Correa
