Award-winning director Zig Dulay was on cloud nine, Wednesday, December 15, after finally working with real-life couple Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi in the drama-anthology series Stories from the Heart: The End of Us.
In the virtual media conference of the upcoming episode of the show, the director admitted it was one wish off his bucket list now that he had finally directed the couple.
“Ano ko ‘yan, bucketlist ko iyan na kahit papaano, hindi man ako makapag-direct sa mga susunod na araw, sa mga susunod na taon, na-direct ko na sina Ms. Carmina at si Zoren,” he said.
Not only was it his first time directing the couple, but it was also his first working with a real-life married couple.
Direk Zig then expressed how grateful he was for working with Carmina and Zoren, noting that they exceeded his expectations.
“S’yempre sa akin bilang director, ang lagi kong arbiter d’yan ay yung realism. Kung paano ako naniniwala doon sa mga scene. So may mga eksena lalo na nga yung mga sagutan, bangayan, mga away, nadadala ako sa scene kasi parang totoo talaga siya.
“Malaki siguro yung tulong na real-life partner sina Ms. Carmina at Sir Zoren, kilala nila yung isa’t-isa, alam nila kung paano ilabas yung emosyon nang bawat isa.
“Hindi ko alam pero sobrang laking tulong para sa akin na mag-asawa silang dalawa na kasama doon sa eksena. Alam na nila kung paano na gamayin ang isa’t-isa, alam na nila 150% kung paano sila magpakilig, at 200% kung paano sila mag-away.”
Carmina and Zoren’s reaction
Carmina and Zoren took turns expressing their reaction after discovering that they had been working with a director who really wanted to work with them.
“Grabe sobrang nakakataba nang puso na isa daw sa bucketlist niya. So thank you direk. Parang feeling ko…basta nakaka-happy, nakaka-proud. Thank you thank you. Kasi masarap talagang pakinggan galing sa director or sa creative team na bucketlist nila ang makatrabaho ako at si Zoren. So nagpapasalamat ako,” thanked Carmina.
Zoren then recalled how Direk Zig caught his attention during the 2019 series Sahaya where he worked with him for the second time.
After watching the director, Zoren concluded that Direk Zig would go places because of his passion for filmmaking.
“Yung sa Sahaya, nakita ko siya. This guy has a very very good future kasi hindi lang nage-enjoy siya sa trabaho niya but he makes sure na at the end of the day, yung trabaho niya ay makita nang tao na ginawa niya lahat.
“And ang actor should always see that. At kapag nakita ng isang artista yung ganoong klaseng attitude ng director, that actor should give a thousand percent of proper acknowledgement sa kanya,” he pointed.
The actor also lauded the director, admitting he is now one of his favorite filmmakers to this date.
“I salute Direk Zig. Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘I’ve been in the business for what 20, 30 years and bihira akong humanga sa isang director.’ And I salute him at isa ‘yan sa mga favorite direktor ko ngayon.”
Zoren and Carmina were extremely emotional in Stories from the Heart: The End of Us.
The couple could not hide their tears during the media conference as both of them were in tears after watching the trailer for their upcoming show.
According to Carmina, it was her first time seeing her husband become emotional for a show.
“First time ko nakita si Zoren na very emotional pagdating sa show. Actually pati din ako. Bakit ganoon?! Hahaha!”
They were currently separated, with Carmina being in locked-in taping while Zoren was in the comfort of their home.
“Dahil ba magkalayo tayo? Kasi naka-locked in ako ngayon eh kaya baka dahil we’re so far away from each other? We’re very emotional,” she thought.
Zoren then pointed that the reason behind their tears was that the show they created was more than a “masterpiece.”
“Because makikita mo doon, mapapansin mo, it has something new. A new ingredient [na] there’s something new in the project na hindi mo mapi-pinpoint na ano yung ginawa nila bakit parang iba ‘to.”
Apart from Stories from the Heart: The End of Us being amazing, Zoren revealed that their family is going through a challenging time, thus shedding some tears while being interviewed.
“Well, you know kaya emotional, well kasi may pinagdadaanan kami sa family. Well isa ‘yon sa mga you know, yung dad ni Mina kasi in and out sa hospital.
“Kaya isa iyon sa mga I guess kung bakit kami nagiging emotional plus yung mga locked-in siguro, laging wala ang mga bata sa bahay, mga ganoong bagay,” explained the actor.
Stories from the Heart: The End of Us, the next episode of the drama-anthology series Stories from the Heart, will begin December 20, at 3:25 p.m., on GMA Afternoon Prime.
