Jeffrey Jeturian finds inspiration in the most personal Pinoy stories

Film, like any other form of art, underwent a gradual evolution. The development of the Philippine film industry can be traced back as early as 1897, evolving from silent movies to talkies, to black and white, then finally to color. There is no denying that it has been gaining an admirable rate of public acceptance, making it the most popular and influential of all art forms. Of course, aside from the movie stars, filmmakers also deserve, even more, of our admiration and applause. Jeffrey Jeturian, I believe, is one of the few Filipino filmmakers who gives so much weight on the culture and beliefs of the Filipino people.

Filmmaker Jeffrey Jeturian certainly knows the significance of the aforementioned. "I put emphasis on the theme of the film. It must say a lot about us, Filipinos, about our lives, about our society. It must reflect our being a Filipino - our spirit," Jeturian told The FREEMAN Entertainment in a recent interview at Krua Thai Restaurant in SM City Cebu.

Indeed, it is the theme that humanizes the audience. It reminds them how human they are and how it is to be human. Crossing his fingers with faith, Jeturian is always hopeful that for every film he enters in an international film festival, the audience will be able to have an idea of the conditions back home. "Every film I make is a representation of an actual human condition," he added. Film making, for him, cannot shun the reality of life, which, after all, serves as a source of all artistic expressions.

What really interest Jeturian are personal stories, intimate stories. Yet in the process, he said, "I would also like to capture the political and social background of my characters. It makes me happy when people approach me and inform me how it touches them. It is an affirmation that I have to keep doing the same kind of film."

Forty-six year-old Jeturian is now being tagged as either the reincarnate or the next Lino Brocka and Ysmael Bernal. When asked about his reaction to such honor that is bestowed on him, he humbly replied, "It is very flattering to know about that because they are film masters. And to be compared to them... (And yes, he cannot say further. In other words, it makes him speechless)." He continued, "But at the same time, it is a pressure on my part because it means that I need to produce films as good or as better than the ones before it." Jeturian admires the works of Zhang Yimou, a well-known Chinese filmmaker, and the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar.

Born in 1959, Jeffrey Jeturian's films won numerous critical recognitions. I Wish It Were Love (Sana Pag-ibig Na, 1998) was his first film. His second film, Fetch a Pail of Water (Pila-balde, 2000), enjoyed critical success. His other films include Larger Than Life (Tuhog, 2001), Burlesk Queen Today (Burlesk Queen Ngayon, 2001), One Moment More (Minsan Pa, 2004), Bridal Shower (2004), and The Bet Collector (Kubrador, 2006), being the latest. All of these films have been screened at numerous festivals.

In fact, his latest film, The Bet Collector (Kubrador) has won, and is still winning, numerous awards such as FIBRESCI (Intertanational Critic's Award) in Moscow International Film Festival; FIBRESCI in Osian's Cinefan Festival Asian Cinema, Best Actress for a wonderful performance of Gina Pareño and Best Film.

Jeturian shifted to Broadcast Communication at the University of Philippines-Diliman, after he initially enrolled in the architecture program of the same university. After four long years of studying architecture, he realized that he was not cut out for it. He underscored that he always wanted to become a film director since he was in high school. Since there was no film course at UP-Diliman at that time, Broadcast Communication seemed the right and best choice then. Right after school, he was supposed to be headed for television work, but Jeturian went into film production instead. He revealed that he started out as a production assistant. He worked his way up and became a director. He had also worked as a script supervisor and as a production designer.

When he was in high school at the San Beda College, he was able to see Lino Brocka's film, Manila in the Claws of Neon (Maynila Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag) and he admitted that he was so touched by the film that "I thought suddenly, that I also wanted to be a director. If films have the power to move people, then I want to be a filmmaker someday. Yet, I asked myself, "Paano kaya ako magiging director?"

Jeturian added that young directors today are lucky because they are already given their break early on in their careers. "Unlike in my time, we have to wait for a lifetime. Today, because of the so many accessibilities of film making, we can give a good break to a lot of people. It is much cheaper to do a movie now. I am pretty sure na marami diyan na susulpot na mahuhusay na directors talaga," he emphasized.

As for the much-debated crisis that the Philippine cinema is facing, Jeturian views it with a very optimistic outlook: "I do not think that the Philippine movie industry is dying. The advent of the new technology opens doors to a lot of young directors. Rather than looking at it as a dying industry, I think it is undergoing a rebirth pa nga. May resurgence of young blood - that is."

Unfortunately, there are still films just released lately that are "poorly made." However, there are few exceptions to the rule, and that include Jeturian's The Bet Collector, which is now making the rounds in theaters nationwide. "A lot of people are saying that this is my best film to date. Sa akin, every film project I make, I pour my heart and soul into it. Yong passion iba-iba." he elucidated.

Jeturian personally chooses the stars who will portray the leading roles because he believes that "50% of your job as a director is already done if you cast the roles correctly." This also makes his job easier and more inspiring while keeping the integrity of the material. There is no such thing as a "dream movie" for him because "every creative work inspires me equally."

Regarding the numerous critical acclaims his latest film is enjoying, he admitted that all of them are "very inspiring because it is a confirmation that I did something right and correct. The recognition is a reassurance that what I did is maganda. And it inspires me to do the same indie-type of film." While he never expects all of these, still "I knew that the film that I am doing is, perhaps, a good one. At sana ma-aappreciate ng mga manonood."

"By attending different international film festivals, I get exposed to different techniques in film making and film story-telling. I have been directing for 33 years now. Mukha lang akong bago kasi ngayon lang ako lumitaw. I cannot see myself doing anything else other than directing because the whole creative process in doing it gives me a natural high," Jeturian disclosed.

And if you still wonder why we have to watch his latest film, here is what he said: "Sabi nga ng head sa Moscow Film Festival na it is a different story. It is the first time they see such story. And what is ironic, it might be a different story for them, but for us, Filipinos, it is a familiar one. At the same time, it's enlightening in the sense na we keep on hearing about jueteng - it keeps figuring in the news - but we actually do not know that much about it. When people watch this, it will be an eye-opener for them in more ways than one. It is a wake up call because when we watch this movie we will realize that our society has gone down to such a level."

Indeed, Jeturian is one of the few filmmakers whose works leave no doubt about their talent in weaving inspiring tales behind the camera.