Wenn is as passionate as ever

MANILA, Philippines - “I need to do something new.  There has to be variety.”

That’s director Wenn Deramas speaking, and  how to remain passionate and become indefatigable in one’s work. Wenn is one director who can shuttle from TV to movies and back, with much grace — and shift from one genre to another, without losing his audience attention. He has perfected his craft with the knowledge of what will work.

“It feels (good) if you have people like Ma’am Charo (Santos-Concio) who trust you,” says Wenn. “You have Boss Vic (del Rosario) who (encourages) you to do what you wish to do. You have Tita Malou (Santos) who asks what you want and (supports you) to do it.”

The nurturing work environment and the innate talent to tell stories make Wenn on top of his game. Proof to this  is the afternoon drama series Galema: Anak ni Zuma, starring Matteo Guidicelli and Andi Eigenmann, which is on its last three weeks. It is a must-watch program with the highest rating of 22 percent. For the past six months, the fantasy-drama has never faltered. In fact, it is one of those Kapamilya shows that perk up the used-to-be slow and lazy slot.     

“Gigisingin mo sila (You have to wake them up),” says Wenn. “Huwag mo silang bibigyan ng nakakaantok na iyakan (Don’t give them a boring tearjerker). Kapag puro iyakan, matutuyo ang luha niyan at aantukin yan. Bibigyan mo sila ng nakakagising.”

Wenn is successful in meeting the viewing public’s expectations about Galema. He has also added new twists and turns (such as the battle between parent and child and the inclusion of a snake woman) in the story, making the plot unpredictable. “It has a spine (of its own),” he says. “But we always ask for (the creators’) permission. (Jim Fernandez and Ben Yalong) gave me the free hand (to tweak the story).”

Galema is Wenn’s first afternoon primetime show. The director has handled the challenge with aplomb, the same way he led his previous primetime soaps.  

Where does Wenn get his enthusiasm?

“At the age of three, I would watch movies and TV,” he shares. “At six, my mom would bring me to the movie theater to watch Nora Aunor films. At 11, I would watch  movies alone. The first (Hollywood) movie I watched was Grease of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. As a child then, I knew what I enjoyed like (watching) Dyesebel, Zuma and Darna. This is what I want to impart with everyone and it is also the reason why I did Kampanerang Kuba (starring Anne Curtis) and Marina (Claudine Barretto). My childhood is always my basis.”

Soon, Wenn will shift gears as he helms the drama-horror titled Maria Leonora Teresa. It is a much-awaited follow-up to the terrifying story of Maligno, also with Claudine as lead star. The Maricel Soriano signature movie, Inday Bote, is also in the pipeline.

“I want to do a family drama with comedy (like Tanging Ina 1),” he says. “I think it’s my strength because makapamilya din akong tao (I’m very family-oriented). Alam na alam ko yan (I know the subject matter very well). Hawak na hawak ko yan.” In Bekikang, Wenn tells the travails a breadwinner goes through.

“Naging mainipin ang mga tao (They have a short attention span),” compares Wenn the audiences back in the ’90s and now. “In 1997, my Mula Sa Puso days, I did 66 sequences a week, 12 sequences a day. Now, I would do a minimum of 30 sequences a day. Mainipin ang mga tao, maglilipat yan. At ang dami na kasing choices.” Wenn is also aware of other networks’ competitive stance. His soaps which are being aired on Jeepney TV also make a dent in the ratings game.

With his 18 years of work experience as director, Wenn is far from resting on his laurels. He keeps on wanting to do more. “Up to now, I’m still very passionate,” he says. “Nanggigigil pa rin ako.”