After wrapping up work on the Pinoy superhero film Mang Jose, director Rayn Brazuela said he was lucky not just with the timing of the production but with his collaborative lead stars as well.

“Actually shinoot ko yung Mang Jose sumakto naman na pre-pandemic so I guess first of all overwhelming sa akin na veteran actors yung mga nakatrabaho ko sa Mang Jose. Siyempre may kaba at first na baka may iba silang na-e-envision na characters and all. Pero nakakatuwa kasi very collaborative sila. Especially Janno (Gibbs) and Mikoy (Morales), we send notes, talagang nakikinig sila sa ano yung direction for the characters kaya super fun siya, super enjoy ako. Sina Janno and Mikoy kasi nakakatawa talaga sila in person so ini-enjoy lang naman. Super saya lang sa experience ko with the actors ng Mang Jose,” he said.

READ: Janno Gibbs on wearing a superhero costume again in ‘Mang Jose’: ‘Okay lang naman kung bumakat’

Unlike the majority of slapstick films that usually define Pinoy comedy, direk Rayn said his long-term goal is to help elevate the quality of comedy in the country.

“Gusto ko i-challenge yung sarili ko na magkaroon ng class yung comedy. Kasi usually pag may film festivals seryoso and I feel baka naman kaya ng comedy, baka kaya natin i-evoke yung emotions na nabibigay ng mga seryosong pelikula. I think for Mang Jose, I took the challenge kasi hindi naman din siya entirely comedy lang.

Ang mentality ko kasi as a director, pag meron akong gustong iparating na mensahe, lalo na pagka seryoso yung sasabihin ko, gusto ko hindi siya spoonfed, gusto ko hindi siya yung direkta mong sasabihin na seryoso. Gusto ko papatawanin ko muna ikaw tapos hindi mo alam habang tumatawa may na-pi-pick up ka na pala na something. Kumbaga entertainment and then yung message na kung ano man na importante na kailangan makarating dun sa audience.

“And I guess yun yung route na pinupuntahan ko talaga for now. Especially for Mang Jose. Family drama ito talaga. Cover lang yung superhero aspect of it pero technically drama talaga siya,” he explained.

READ: Manilyn Reynes on being reunited with former love team partner Janno Gibbs: ‘Ang taba ng utak niya’

When asked to cite his idols when it comes to comedy, direk Rayn said that his lead star is one of the people he grew up looking to for inspiration.

“Siguro sa pagiging creative or sa art, I think ang hero ko ngayon, kung familiar kayo kay Taika Waititi and Quentin Tarantino, yan yung mga heroes ko talaga when it comes to filmmaking. In real life naman, medyo showbiz na sagot pero totoo lang kung local lang and comedy taalga, ang hero ko talaga si Janno Gibbs. Siyempre lumaki akong pinapanuod yung mga sitcom niya, Beh Bote Nga at Pedro Penduko. Super fan ako ng sequel niya. I think kung tama ang memory ko, yun yung una kong napanuod sa sinehan, yung Pedro Penduko 2. Sobrang bata pa kasi ako nun. Kaya parang full circle din itong Mang Jose sa akin kasi bukod sa fan ako nung song, nagkaroon ako ng honor na maka-work yung isa sa heroes ko ngayon in terms of comedy,” he said.

Janno’s younger co-star Mikoy Morales also has his own unique brand of comedy according to direk Rayn.

“Si Mikoy isa siya sa nakikita kong future of local comedy. Iba yung humor ni Mikoy din talaga, iba yung kaya niyang ibigay and I think yun yung pinaka na-enjoy ko sa paggawa ng Mang Jose, yung pag-mix ng classic comedy ni Janno Gibbs and yung modern style ni Mikoy. And siyempre nandiyan din si Ms. Manilyn (Reynes) and si Ms. Bing (Loyzaga) to support that.

“Kinabahan ako kay Janno and Ms. Bing pero mas kinakabahan ako kay Ms. Manilyn kasi bilang fan yung mom ko ni Manilyn, kumbaga sa mentality ko parang ang taas na tao. Kaya nagulat ako na sobrang flexible niya and parang wala na akong masyadong notes nung ginawa niya yung character. Nung niri-read niya yung notes, sabi ko, ‘Wow, buti na lang si Manilyn yung naging King Ina.’

“Happy ako na nakasama ko yung mga heroes ko dito sa pelikulang ito dahil this is a superhero film pero very grounded yung story nito sa totoo lang. Kung idi-deep dive niyo siya it’s more of a classic Filipino story pa rin. Superhero siya na puwede arkilahin. So yung theme niya talaga is about money, how we control, money or how money controls us. Entertainment pero may laman, may puso,” he shared.

After doing Mang Jose, direk Rayn said he is looking forward to being able to do more superhero projects in the future. He also revealed why audiences should not leave the theater immediately when the end credits start to roll.

“Siyempre wala muna akong puwedeng i-disclose kasi wala pa naman tayong assurance talaga or final na announcement. But definitely I’m looking forward to producing or directing more superhero films dahil obviously isa akong malaking geek talaga and I want to replicate kung ano man yung nagagawang success internationally dito sa Pilipinas and I believe na talagang yung comedy ng Pilipinas is very unique and once mixed with some superero language mas magiging fruitful siya, mas magiging entertaining siya and hopefully mas magugstuhan ng audience. Panuorin niyo yung end credits ng Mang Jose. Meron din tayong post credits scene ala-Marvel diyan (laughs),” he added.

Mang Jose is now available for streaming exclusively on Vivamax. Starring Janno Gibbs, Jerald Napoles, Manilyn Reynes, Mikoy Morales, and Bing Loyzaga. Directed by Rayn F. Brizuela.