Eric after the 'bold'

Curtain-raisers:

* While we were looking elsewhere, guess who got married abroad to a girl almost half his age -- yes, the non-showbiz ex-husband (but a celebrity in his own right) of a popular TV-movie actress who herself has remained loveless to this day.

* Male-bonding: O.R. is a nice guy (with one leg in showbiz) who used to be the "soul-mate" of E.J. (a TV-movie comedian) and R.R., and is now said to be the "guardian angel" of M.P. (Note: The initials of the guys' involved have been jumbled a bit, so you must be extra-perceptive to know their identities).

* Female-bonding: N.L. has a nice special female friend and so do R.L. and "Miss A" (reportedly the "shoulder to cry on" of former actress G.M.). As they say, if you're happy with what you're doing (emphasis on "do"), go ahead and do it as long as you're not hurting anybody.

From one extreme to the other.

That's how the career of direk Erik Matti has been going -- so far. From the very bold (Scorpio Nights 2 and Ekis) to the very wholesome (his latest work, Viva Films' Pedro Penduko, Episode 2: The Return of the Comeback).

Penduko has been done three times (first with the late Efren Reyes in the title role, followed by Ramon Zamora with Celso Ad. Castillo as director and the third starring Janno Gibbs who now also stars in Episode 2), so why that for a follow-up to Scorpio and Ekis? Didn't direk Erik have any choice?

"(Viva) Boss Vic (del Rosario, Jr.) told me that he has seen my 'sexy' flair (in Scorpio and Ekis)," said direk Erik, "so gusto naman daw niya makita ang visual flair ko."

This updated version of Penduko is a feast for the moviegoers' eyes, with characters garbed in colorful costumes inspired, according to direk Erik, by Akira Kurosawa's Ran and Kagemusha. Although the story (by Dwight Gaston) has been retained, with Penduko still armed with an agimat (amulet), several characters are being introduced, such as Maguayen (Ramon Zamora), Bulan (LJ Moreno), Putakti (Goyong), Tokmol (Jeffrey Tam), Alia (Janno's daughter Alyssa Gibbs), Agta (Cholo Escano), Sigben (Lee Robin Salazar), Busaw (Dino Guevarra) and Minokawa (Ace Espinosa).

"I like the Penduko character because it's Pinoy na Pinoy," added direk Erik, "from his ways to his antics (wise and always trying to put one over somebody)."

Besides Penduko, another folk character direk Erik would love to do is Dyesebel (oh, no, not again!?!) with Ekis star Sunshine Cruz as the title role. "Could you imagine Dyesebel talking underwater with her sea-bound barkada?" asked direk Erik. "I will make her talk if and when I get the chance to do the movie."

Aside from Peque Gallaga whom direk Matti considers his mentor (also his fellow Bacolodnon with whom direk Erick worked in various capacity as script-continuity man before graduating to being Peque's assistant director), he counts as favorite directors the likes of Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, etc.), Brian de Palma (Untouchables and the upcoming Mission to Mars, etc.) and Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern, etc.)

"I like Scorsese for his cinematic treatment and for always coming up with something new," said direk Erik," De Palma for his very Hitchcock approach with a 'now' thinking and Yimou for his Kurosawa-like style."

Asked what his dream project is, direk Erik revealed that it's the story of my mother's family, covering the Japanese Occupation until the '80s.

"When they had no money," admitted direk Erik, "they were happy and contented with one another. Nang nagka-pera na sila, their relationships toward one another changed. Money does have a way of affecting not only people's lifestyles but also their outlook in life."