How is Kapamilya actor Coco Martin as a TV and film director?
For Kapuso host and comedienne Ai-Ai Delas Alas, she described Coco as a meticulous and perfectionist director.
“Metikuloso and perfectionist ‘yon. Gusto niya perfect ang shot,” Ai-Ai told the media in a recent press conference in Quezon City.
“Ako binibigay ko ‘yong tiwala ko sa kanya as a director. At siyempre nakikisama ako na kung anong gusto nya, yon ang gagawin ko,” she added.
The Kapuso actress saw firsthand how Coco works on the set.
Ai-Ai and Coco will top-bill the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, 3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon, which will also star Jennylyn Mercado.
Aside from being one of the lead actors, Coco is also the producer and director of the said film.
“Pero bihira lang niya ako i-correct, siguro mga dalawang beses lang. Tini-take two niya lang na, ‘Mommy, mas maganda ‘to,’ sasabihin niya. Sabi ko, ‘Ah sige, sige. Ulitin natin,'” Ai-Ai said.
“Bukod sa masaya, hyper ‘yun, eh. Si Baby Boy (Coco). Gusto niya mabilis, gusto niya maaga natatapos para maaga nakakapag-pahinga ang mga artista,” she added.
However, Ai-Ai clarified that Coco is not a demanding director and he remains “cool” on the set.
“Hindi naman demanding. Cool lang. Nasa tama lang,” the Kapuso actress said.
Ai-Ai observed that Coco was a bit stressed lately as he was juggling between with the film shoots and the taping of ABS-CBN’s teleserye FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
“Stressed iyon pero kinakaya naman niya,” the comedienne said.
“Natatawa nga siya sa sarili niya minsan eh. Sabi niya hindi na raw niya naaalagaan ang itsura niya sa pelikula. Medyo oily daw sya doon sa isang part,” she added.
Ai-Ai also praised the actor for maintaining an orderly working environment on the set.
“Sa set, maganda rin ‘yung time frame niya. Kunyari five o’clock ang call time namin, five o’clock may tent na kami, may aircon na kami. Totoong five o’clock, hindi yung bola-bolahan lang,” the actress said.
“Eto kapag five o’clock sinabi niya, andun lahat, uupo ka na lang, kakain ka na lang,” she added.
Ai-Ai further noted that she’s honored that the actor chose her to be a part of the movie.
“Natuwa nga ako nung kinuha niya ako, eh. Sabi ko, ‘Baby Boy, thank you, kinuha mo ako sa MMFF.’ At saka ginawan nya talaga ako ng moment (sa pelikula),” she said.
“Sabi nya, ‘Mommy, mas thank you kasi nagtiwala ka sa ‘kin,'” she added.
Ai-Ai will play Coco’s mother in the movie.
It has been three years since her last MMFF project and she’s thankful to be part of this year’s filmfest.
“Na-miss ko (mapasali sa MMFF)… Excited ako,” Ai-Ai said with a smile.
Meanwhile, several actors in the film have been united in saying that Coco is a “strict” director.
“Strict si Coco. Strict si Direk. Kasi kailangan ‘yon para mabilis kami. Katulad ng sinabi ni Madam Ai-Ai kapag pumunta ka roon ng alas-singko. Magsisimula talaga kami ng alas-singko,” actor Pepe Herrera said during the grand press conference of 3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon on Thursday.
“Pero gusto rin naman iyon. Kasi kami rin iyong makakauwi ng maaga eh,” he added.
Actor Nonong Ballinan said, “Kahit strict si Kuya (Coco) binibigyan niya kami ng freedom doon sa pag-arte kaya nakakatuwa na nakakapag-enjoy din kami sa set.”
“Basta bahala kami kung paano aatakihin iyong script. Ang importante, iyong makita niya iyong gusto niyang makita,” he added.
Rapper and actor Bassilyo said, “Sobrang istrikto ‘yan. Iba iyong oras namin sa trabaho, iba rin iyong sa pakikipag-kaibigan.”
“Sobrang istrikto. Pero meron po siyang time kung kailan dapat makipag-kulitan at iba siya magturo… Kahit sa totoong buhay mai-a-apply mo,” added Happy, his co-star in the film.
For his part, actor Sancho Delas Alas, Ai-Ai’s son, said Coco as a director is seen as a “leader” of others, providing a kind of guiding force.
“Si Kuya (Coco) ay isang perfect example ng isang mahusay na leader. Hindi takot eh, na kapag nagsalita siya i-a-acknowledge mo iyong sasabihin niya sayo with utmost respect,” Sancho said.
“Na kapag sinabi ni Kuya na mag-focus sa trabaho, lahat po nagfo-focus. Basta makinig ka lang sa lagi niya sinasabi,” he added.
Actor and comedian Joey Marquez described Coco as a director who “makes the rules,” and “follows the rules as an actor.”
“Iyan and hinangaan ko sa kanya,” he noted.
There were previous blind items pointing to Coco as a director who is inconsiderate of his co-directors and actors.
The blind items circulated after the resignation of veteran director Toto Natividad from the FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Toto earlier said he left the show because Coco always contradicted his suggestions.
“Kung minsan, eh, puro close-up ang mga shots, di ba? Itinutuloy pa rin kasi ang mga eksena kahit wala si Coco,” the director said.
“Pagbalik niya, uulitin na naman ang eksenang ‘yun. Nandoon na siya, puro close-up din ang mga kuha sa kanya,” he added.
But many of the actors and actresses he has worked with have defended and even praised Coco as a director.
They said there’s nothing wrong with being a perfectionist who wants to produce a high-quality work.
“Sobrang strikto po talaga. Pero ini-idolo po namin siya dahil sa sobrang kasipagan at dedikasyon sa trabaho,” said rapper and actor Smugglaz, who is also in the movie 3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon.
“Sobrang pinag-aaralan niya ang mga eksena namin. Sobrang quality (of work) talaga siya. Kailangan maganda kalalabasan,” he added.
Coco’s side
Coco, on the other hand, said as long as he produces quality films such as 3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon, that’s enough for him.
“Kapag alam mong maganda iyong produkto mo, excited ka i-announce sa mga tao at confident ka. Okay lang kahit anong number pa kami. Basta ang importante, na alam ko, na pagkatapos nitong Metro Manila filmfest, proud ako sa ginawa ko lalong-lalo na ako nag-direk, nagsulat, tapos ako nag-produce at alam kung di ako napahiya sa co-actors ko,” the actor said.
“Kasi artista rin ako eh. Alam ko kapag pangit iyong pelikula. Ang lungkot after… hindi ka na nila (co-stars) gusto maka-trabaho. Eto proud ako kaya confident ako,” he added.
3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon centers on the story of a policeman, portrayed by Coco, who has to prove his innocence to the authorities after being accused of killing his boss.
The movie will open on December 25 in cinemas nationwide.
