“I talked to him at a level almost of a director,” says Direk Mark Reyes about working with Xian Lim
Kapuso director Mark Reyes was firm in saying that he did not have a hard time working with actor Xian Lim, who is one of his leads in the upcoming VIVA Films-GMA Pictures project, “Playtime.”
During the Svenson Philippines anniversary event on May 21 at Mpire Building, West Ave., FreebieMNL asked Direk Mark about his experience working with Xian, whom he directs for the first time.
This comes from the heels of an issue where a GMA writer claimed on social media that Xian was “super difficult” to work with and made the lives of TV writers “miserable.”
But as for Direk Mark, he had a different experience with Xian on the set of “Playtime.”
Direk Mark answers, “That’s just it, I didn’t have any hard time, I had no issues working with him and I talked to him at a level almost of a director. He’s a director himself so he understood.
“The only complications siguro we had is the scheduling problems with mga, like, crossovers na we can’t shoot this day kasi merong ganito, okay let me just arrange it, but there was nothing.
“I’m sorry, you know me, I’d rather not say anything bad if there was an issue than deny it, but there was nothing to deny because there is no issue with me, with the team of ‘Playtime.’
“We shot it, we finished, so everything’s fine for us in terms of doing the film with Xian. No problem at all.”
Xian first defended himself over the claim that he was hard to work with in a tell-all interview with Inquirer and Philippine Star, saying that he has not met nor spoken with the scriptwriter who claimed he was hard to work with.
But one instance he remembered was when “Hearts On Ice” was pitched to him “very vaguely” and just asked about what his role would be.
He then said about the scriptwriter, “I’ve never even met the guy. I just wish he can elaborate. I’ve done nothing but put in the time.”
READ ALSO: Xian Lim Dispels Steak Rumor; Reveals How He Handled Breakup With Kim Chiu
The actresses of “Playtime”
Going back to “Playtime,” Direk Mark has also good words for the female cast: Sanya Lopez, Faye Lorenzo, and Coleen Garcia.
In particular, Direk Mark saw how Sanya matured from the time they worked on the 2016 adaptation of “Encantadia.”
The esteemed director says, “There were some very sexy scenes, like she stripped so siguro, if it was a younger Sanya, it would have been an issue.
“But because she has matured so much, and she’s done so many things already, it was easy for us to come to a level na at this point, you have to strip, you have to ganyan, and then the drama part was so easy for her.
“She’s such an actress, she already has all the instruments and tools to really make a very sincere and intense performance.”
As for Coleen, Direk Mark appreciates how collaborative she was in building her character.
“Coleen was a joy to work with, it was my first time to work with her so I didn’t know what to expect but she’s an actor’s actress kasi she’s not there to be an artista, she’s there as an actor to work on a role, on a project.
“She would really give a lot of input and she would give a lot of commitment.”
Overall, Direk Mark honors the three ladies for enduring all the intense physical scenes in the movie.
“Grabe pinagdaanan ng girls dito, all three Sanya, Faye, and Coleen. Coleen had to endure a lot of running and falling, we dangled sa cliff si Faye, Sanya had to really run. Kawawa yang mga yan.
“Buti nga, they’re all fit kasi talagang ang daming takbuhang nangyari sa ‘Playtime,’ sa gubat both night and day. And then, paulit-ulit ako, again again. Wala namang complain yung tatlo, tawa lang sila ng tawa. Kapag pagod na talaga, ‘Direk, wait lang.’”
In the end, Direk Mark promises a complex and intriguing dark story for “Playtime,” which opens on June 12 in cinemas.
“It’s something na mati-thrill ang audience watching, it’s a sexy suspense-thriller, it’s not the usual na you think you know what’s going on then you realize, ‘Ah, ganun pala nangyari. Maraming twists and turns.
“They already have inquiries to be viewed or screened outside of the country because the interest is there, so I’m very thankful for that.”
The movie, a co-production between GMA Pictures and VIVA Films, serves as a sort of a homecoming for Direk Mark, who started his directorial career in VIVA through anthologies and the hit ‘90s youth-oriented series, “T.G.I.S.”
READ ALSO: Sanya Lopez Excited To Return As Sang’gre Danaya In “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre”
Banner Art Paulo Correa
