Respeto’ director Treb Monteras II on working with Abra: ‘Tailor-fit talaga sa kanya yung role’

With the critical success of his Cinemalaya film festival film Respeto, director Treb Monteras said he was happy with the outcome of their film about the underground hip-hop scene in the country. “Feeling ko kasi time talaga for a movie about rap battles so ang expectation ko is hindi sila nag-e-expect ng malaki dun sa pelikula and ginamit namin yun as a strategy na since hindi sila nag-e-expect wala din kaming pressure on our shoulders. So we just did our best. We just worked hard on the film and parang nagpakatotoo lang kami sa kung anong alam namin and kung anong gusto namin sabihin and hindi pa rin kami sigurado nun kung magugustuhan nila. Siguro kapag nagpapakatotoo ka sa sarili mo, totoo din ang lalabas,” he told PUSH.

Working with rapper Abra was also a breeze according to direk Treb who only joined the Cinemalaya film festival this year. “Working with Abra magaan kasi tailor-fit talaga sa kanya yung role. As an actor he’s very collaborative especially sa writing ng mga verses. Malaking bigat ang nawawala sa shoulders ko pag yung actor mismo malaki ang inaambag. Siguro masu-surprise sila na makikita ibang side ito ni Abra. Although rappers are natural actors magugulat sila na hindi pala hanggang music videos yung acting skills niya. Medyo malalim yung hinukay namin sa kanya. Medyo malalim din yung pinaghugutan and na-surpirse sila na puwede pala siyang maging artista,” he shared.

With the commercial run of Respeto starting on September 20, direk Treb hoped local audiences can figure out the biggest lesson in the film. “Yung mismong title ng pelikula sinasabi nito. Yung pelikula kasi tungkol naman talaga sa respeto di ba? Respeto sa sarili, respeto sa kapwa tao, respeto sa karapatang pantao. But ako nung ginagawa ko ito marami akong natutunan. Katulad ng main character namin na si Hendrix, habang ginagawa ko ‘to bilang artist hinahanap ko rin boses ko and the time na nilabas na namin yung pelikula feeling ko nahanap ko na boses ko as a filmmaker,” he explained.

After Respeto, direk Treb said he also wants to work with other talented young actors in the indie and commercial scene. “Meron akong trinatrabaho ngayon na project. Meron akong isang dream project na hindi ko alam kung iyon yung kasunod but it’s a semi-musical and it’s a period film. Sa mga gusto ko makatrabaho siyempre isa na diyan si Chai Fonacier tapos nandiyan na rin si JC Santos, gusto ko sila Mylene Dizon. Gusto ko si Agot Isidro actually. Si Looney and Abra meron pa kaming ibang linuluto kasi kumbaga kung yung iba merong muse sila Abra and Looney yun. Dun sa isa kong project definitely the Respeto cast will be there,” he shared.