The reality in drama

MANILA, Philippines - From doing reality shows, Albert Langitan has crossed over to directing “reel” shows or soap operas, which are products of the scriptwriters’ imaginative mind. The child-friendly afternoon drama Binoy Henyo was his last assignment. Rhodora X, on the other hand, is what keeps him busy these days. It’s a daunting task for Albert to show reality in drama.      

“I started out as a scriptwriter,” shares direk Albert. “Then, I became a creative  manager for drama and here I became a creative consultant for reality. I do reality shows and drama at the same time.” He is one creative person who can shift from one genre to another, and from one discipline to another.

“When you’re directing, although you have your own inputs, you have to respect the vision of the writer,” he says. According to Albert, the only difference between writing and directing is, the writer’s work ends when the script gets approved, while the director is in charge of the production’s final outcome. As a director, he needs to consider all aspects of production to respect everyone’s ideas. His eye for detail has to work to his advantage all the time.

That’s why Albert can’t help but be hands-on, especially if a soap tackles sensitive issues like DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) that Jennylyn Mercado’s character Rhodora/Roxanne goes through on GMA 7’s Rhodora X, which airs weeknights after Carmela.

“It is called DID, but it is known as split personality,” says Albert. “A person suffering from DID may have as many personalities as he could. The extreme thing that might happen to him is, the subject can be a child, (a) violent (person) or an animal (at some point of his struggle). This is a consequence of the traumas a person has gone through (in life).” There’s a defense mechanism in the human brain that helps one cope with stressful conditions, he adds. A stressor can trigger it.

Albert also works closely with the show’s consultant-psychiatrist to make the character real and her actions factual.

“The psychiatrist needs to give (his) approval of the script (before the scenes should be taped),” he says. In the US, DID has been reportedly used as an alibi to acquit criminals.

Taking DID away from the drama equation, Rhodora X is “a family drama” which explores possibilities and problems when family members get separated from each other for a long time and they eventually meet again. Amidst all this is the power of family values to prevail in overcoming past and present issues.

“Magaling si Jennylyn,” says direk Albert of the GMA Artist Talent Center star. “My work as director is easy (a walk in the park) in making Jennylyn and other stars act.”

This is what every collaborator like Albert aspires to in every TV project. After all, there’s no such thing as a monopoly of bright ideas, he says. “As the saying goes, two heads are better than one. I always (consider and believe in) the inputs of everyone. I’m always open for suggestions.”

“Both are challenging,” says Albert of doing reality and drama. “The challenge of a reality director is for you to create a story without script and at the same time, tell it to everyone in a manner they (understand a soap). The challenge of a drama director is to execute well what is stated in the script, without disappointing your viewers and your writer.”

(Rhodora X also stars Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Herras, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Irma Adlawan, Boots Anson-Roa, Gardo Versoza, Glydel Mercado, Lollie Mara, Frank Magalona and Vaness del Moral.)