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'Walang censor': Joel Lamangan more productive during pandemic as movies stream online

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Leah C. Salterio

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/02/24/20200224-senate-abs-cbn-hearing-lamangan-jc-2777.jpg"/></figure></div> MANILA -- Director Joel Lamangan’s latest film, the sexy drama “Silab,” has a lot of breast exposures and even frontal nudity, courtesy of its lead stars, newcomers Marco Gomez and Cloe Barretto. The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) does not have any jurisdiction on online films shown this pandemic. As such, no one will disapprove all the steamy and sensitive scenes.Lamangan is undoubtedly relieved that no one is governing the films now being shown online. Hence it is not surprising that he is even more productive this pandemic.“Pangarap ko talaga, walang censor,” Lamangan told ABS-CBN News. “Kaya ngayon ang panahon na hindi nakikialam ang censor sa paggawa ng pelikula, lalo na kung streaming ang gagawin mo.“Kaya libre ang mga director at ang mga gagawa ng pelikula na hindi pakikialaman ng agency ng gobyerno kagaya ng MTRCB. Ako’y natutuwa at mayroon akong kalayaan ngayon na gawin ang nais kong gawin at ipakita sa tao ang istorya na nais kong ipakita na walang pakialam ang gobyerno.”After wrapping up 2020 with his Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” Lamangan started 2021 with “Anak ng Macho Dancer.” After “Silab,” he will promote another film project, “Lockdown (Kapit sa Patalim)” to launch new actor Paolo Gumabao. It was filmed late last year and will be shown end of July.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/07/09/silab.jpg"/><figcaption>Jason Abalos, Marco Gomez and Cloe Barretto star in Joel Lamangan&#x27;s latest movie &#x27;Silab.&#x27; Handout</figcaption></figure></div>In “Silab,” Lamangan collaborated with screenwriter Raquel Villavicencio. The two first worked together in “Abandonada” (2000), and teamed up anew in “Huling Birhen sa Lupa” (2003), “Sagrada Familia” (2009) and “Menor de Edad” (2013) before working again in “Silab.” “Matagal na itong ‘Silab’ pero hindi lang nagagawa ng nakaraang panahon,” Lamangan shared. “Ngayon, nagkaroon na ng pagkakataong magawa. I talked to Raquel and I told her gagawin ko na ang pelikula niya. Natuwa naman siya at nagawa na ang ‘Silab.’”The project was given to Lamangan by producer Len Carillo of 3:16 Media Network, with the cast in it. Aside from newcomers Gomez and Barretto, completing the lead cast is Jason Abalos, 2007 Urian best actor for Jade Castro’s “Endo.”“Wala akong magawa kung hindi tingnan kung ano ang capacity nila bilang mga actor,” Lamangan said. “In the first day of shooting, nakitaan ko na agad ng kahusayan si Cloe Barreto.“Mayroon siyang ibubuga at tinatago sa larangan ng pag-arte. Mahusay siyang artista at hindi siya natatakot na gawin ang mga bagay na kailangan sa eksena. Si Jason, kahit na-direct ko na siya noon, nananatiling mahusay pa rin.”Before the shooting started, Lamangan laid down everything before his actors and explained all the necessary things they needed to know about. “Kung ayaw nila, pwede naman silang umalis,” he pointed out.“Kung gusto nila, pwede naming gawin at pag-aralan kung paano mapapahusay ang pagganap nila sa hinihingi ng pelikula. Kapag may nag-back out, hindi ako ang naapektuhan noon.“Ang ibig sabihin noon, hindi pa nila kayang gawin ang hinihingi ng pelikula sa kanila. Maaaring sa ibang pelikula, magsa-shine sila, pero kapag hindi pa tapos ang punto na gagawin sa hinihingi sa kanila, walang mangyayari.“Maaga pa lang, sinasabi ko na agad kung ano ang ini-expect sa kanila. Kapag sila’y nag-agree na magagawa nila, gaggawin nila, nagkakasundo naman kami. Tinutulungan ko naman ma-discover ang potential nila bilang actor at actress.”In case Lamangan encounters actors who have inhibitions doing certain scenes, he never twists an arm to get something to his favor. “Hindi ako namimilit,” he insisted. “Kung ayaw, ‘di huwag. Pwede namang kumuha ng iba.“Ibig sabihin, kung ayaw, hindi pa handa. Hindi mo kailangan pilitin. Kasi baka magkaroon lang ng away o hindi pagkaka-intindihan. Mabuti pang huwag na lang gawin kung ayaw. Kapag pinilit ko, harassment na ‘yun.”At this point in his well-decorated directorial career, Lamangan feels empowered to work with new, promising and young actors. In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Directing at the International Film Festival Manhattan in New York.“Sa panahong ito ng aking karera, gusto kong mag-direct ng mga bagong sibol na artista.,” he said. “Para naman maka-contribute ako sa mga bagong artista na magiging artista ng ating industriya sa mga susunod na panahon. Ayoko naman na puro matanda na lang ang mga artista ko.“Maganda na mag-discover ng mga bagong talents na pwedeng panatilihin ng matagal sa industriya dahil sa kanilang kahusayan sa pag-arte. Kaya mas masaya ako kung bago ang mga artista ko at willing na matuto sa kanilang karera bilang artista.“Nag-eenjoy akong ma-discover ang mga bagong talento. Tatlong mahuhusay na artista. Dalawang baguhan. Nag-enjoy akong makita ang development nila. Nakikita ko na malaki ang kanilang tatahakin na papel sa ating industriya.”To start streaming on July 9, “Silab” is admittedly a daring film from Lamangan. Joining the cast are Chanda Romero, Lotlot de Leon and Jim Pebanco.“Matapang naman akong gumawa,” Lamangan said. “‘Yun ang hinihingi sa pelikula. ‘Yun ang hinihingi ng ‘Silab.’ Kapag hindi naman ‘yun ang hinihingi, hindi ko naman ibibigay. Hindi ko ipapakita.”After “Silab,” Lamangan will work on yet another film, “Ang Huling Baklang Birhen sa Balat-Lupa,&quot; with Christian Bables in the title role. The director is now also casting for the lead in “Burles (Ang Huling Sayaw).”

Director Joel Lamangan is undoubtedly relieved that no one is governing the films now being shown online. Hence it is not surprising that he is even more productive this pandemic.

Director Joel Lamangan is undoubtedly relieved that no one is governing the films now being shown online. Hence it is not surprising that he is even more productive this pandemic.