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Director Benedict Mique proud of his new OFW film: ‘We have to tell more stories about them!’

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Rhea Manila Santos

Fresh from on the heels of his other successful film project Lolo and the Kid, director Benedict Mique is happy for the release of his new film Maple Leaf Dreams this month. The movie stars Kira Balinger and LA Santos who play a couple who leave their families in the Philippines to seek a better life in Canada.According to Direk Bene, this is not your typical Pinoy OFW story. “One degree of every Filipino in the world has an OFW in the family. Lumalabas na number one exporter tayo ng manpower. So I think that’s the inspiration and especially during that time two years ago, ang daming pumupunta sa Canada. I think as a writer, that’s something that people can relate to and yan yung nag-udyok sa akin para gawin itong storya na ito,” he said. <iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_IMXwQSglJ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A4498610%2C%22ls%22%3A17688.200000047684%2C%22le%22%3A17724.200000047684%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>The talented director also shared why he felt it was important to put the spotlight on stories like these in the big screen.“I think there’s not enough stories about OFWs. We have to tell more stories about them. Hindi lang naman kada pasko or MMFF or once a year lang magkaroon ng OFW stories. I think every OFW story needs to be told. This is unique because it talks about the program ng Canada which is iba iba.&quot;Dito yung you go there as a student then your partner works. You work together then makikita niyo yung partnership. That’s why a lot of couples go to Canada kasi ganun yung diskarte. So it’s very unique to Canada. I don’t think may ganitong OFW story na ginawa sa Canada.&quot;Another similarity is that this is also a good story, it’s very emotional, it’s engaging and inspiring. So I think it’s worth watching,” he explained.<div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2024/9/23/kira-balinger-la-santos-shine-at-the-premiere-of-maple-leaf-dreams-1603">LOOK: Kira Balinger, LA Santos shine at the premiere of ‘Maple Leaf Dreams’</a> </div>The film, which was shot in various locations in Toronto, will give the audience a closer look at the struggles of Pinoy living there.“Eighty percent of the film shot in Canada. Actually yung mga producer when they saw it, tinatanong nila paano ko nagawa ito. So it was hard shooting because we only stayed there for 12 to 15 days but 80% of the movie location was in Canada. I think we prepared well that’s why it was made possible. Mahirap siya pero masaya. Hindi ito love story lang.&quot;Kasi yung iba, puwede niyo i-shoot sa Manila o sa Quiapo. Kasi naka-center lang naman dun sa love story eh. Yung difference ng Maple Leaf Dreams, it talks about the struggles and pati yung buhay sa Canada. It’s an OFW immigrant story first before it’s a love story. Which makes it more special. Kasi mas malaki yung rinirepresent ng mga actors natin. Hindi lang lovers, they’re representing a big sector which is the OFWs and immigrants,” he added.Having had an extensive background when it comes to Filipino movies shot abroad, direk Bene said that he is not worried that people will write off Maple Leaf Dreams as just another OFW film.“It was the first challenge, how to make it different. When I was starting I was in charge of continuity for the movie Anak. And then I was the head writer of On the Wings of Love. So I did a film, I did a series, so nakita ko na. Alam ko na. So when we were writing it and creating the story, may alam na ako na hindi ko gagawin yun, ito ang gagawin namin.&quot;Actually, it worked because of my involvement in those projects and those were very successful projects. Wala ng pressure sa akin yung ganun eh. Hindi dahil sa yabang ah kasi sa akin it’s just work. And it’s my passion. Ang susunod ko nga na gagawin napakaliit ng budget lang yun. Monday First Screening was a telesine pero sabi ko gagawin kong pelikula yan. So I’m not after the spotlight, yung maraming awards, ganyan. Sa akin, I just want to make the films that I want to make. So it’s less pressure.&quot;Basta nung sumabog yung Lolo and the Kid, it was humbling kasi nag-lo-laundry ako at saka ng damit ng anak ko kasi pasukan niya. Nabalik yung normal yung buhay eh. So yung passion ko dapat is nangingibabaw, hindi yung yabang. In another interview sabi ko tama na yung mga rockstar filmmakers. Mag-aral muna kayo gumawa ng totoong pelikula at magsulat kayo. So gawa lang tayo. Saka na yung yabang,” he admitted.After being part of the Sinag Maynila film festival held earlier this month, Direk Bene saId he is excited for the film’s theatrical run starting September 25.“We planned it right I think. Kasi it was a good opportunity para palakasin pa yung marketing. So sinali namin and fortunately nakapasok sa SInag Maynila. It’s part of the strategy and I hope it works for us. &quot;I’m hoping for the best. Kasi it’s not only for us, but it’s for the audience. Sabi ko kailangan mabalik sa audience yung trust eh. And I think dito sa movie na ito, I think we gave them justice. It’s worth your ₱300 or ₱500. Believe me, hindi kayo magsisisi pag nagbayad kayo sa sine na ito. Treatment-wise, you’ll be surprised. We took the best part of the OFW movies and took it to another level na it’s very now pero hindi dated. It’s entertaining and engaging,” he shared.

‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ director Benedict Mique talks about what sets his new film apart from other Pinoy OFW movies.

‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ director Benedict Mique talks about what sets his new film apart from other Pinoy OFW movies.