Direk Joel swings both ways… (between drama and comedy)

MANILA, Philippines – Director Joel Lamangan is known for his serious award-winning dramas like Bulaklak ng Maynila, Flor Contemplacion Story, Sidhi and Blue Moon. But every now and then, he shows his versatility as a filmmaker by also doing comedies.

He has just finished a new comedy about four gay friends, That Thing Called Tanga Na, and he has nothing but praises for his actors led by Eric Quizon, Billy Crawford, Martin Escudero, Kean Cipriano, plus Angeline Quinto as the only female member of the cast. This is his fifth movie about friendship and relationship between gays and the people around them after Pusong Mamon, So Happy Together and Manay Po 1 and 2.

“I haven’t done a comedy for quite some time, I think my last was Desperadas, seven years ago, so when Mother Lily of Regal Entertainment offered this to me, I said yes right away,” he says. “I felt it’s high time for me to do another comedy para may tawanan uli sa set.”

So which does he find more challenging to do, drama or comedy? “Both types of films have respective challenges,” direk Joel answers. “In drama, you want to move, touch people. In comedy, when people don’t laugh at all at the supposedly hilarious scenes you come up with, well, that can only mean it’s a failure. But I like the script of Senedy Que for That Thing Called Tanga Na about four gays and a girl who are all having problems about their respective relationships. All of them become fools for love and I’m sure a lot of viewers can relate with their situations as we all tend to become foolish when it comes to love.”

He’s also proud of his cast. “Eric Quizon, who also starred in my Pusong Mamon and So Happy Together before, is a rich lawyer and businessman, Rafael Chu, and he’s called by everyone as Papa Chu for short. He’s not out because he has a wife, but they are separated with a kid. His boytoy is Albie Casiño and he gets mad when he finds out Albie is having an affair with a gay talent manager na hindi naman kagandahan, who is played by Jerald Napoles. Billy Crawford is a macho looking security guard sa  building ni Eric. He is also a closet gay but he has a live-in lover, who is Paolo Gumabao. Na-out siya when Paolo suddenly dies and his mom, Vangie Labalan, wants to get from Billy everything na naipundar nila ni Paolo while they’re still living together.”

What about Kean Cipriano and Martin Escudero? “Kean is a fashion designer with a long-time boyfriend, a male model, played by Ken Alfonso. He has made a wedding gown for himself which he plans to wear when they have a same-sex marriage, but it turns out Ken plans to marry his girlfriend, Korean actress Shine Kuk, so he gets brokenhearted. Martin is the only cross-dresser among the four. He is Georgette, the only one with a happy love life. He works in a parlor, whose lover is Luke Conde, married to Nikki Valdez.

Luke left Nikki but they all have become good friends and Nikki helps Martin and Luke to get something that will complete their life and relationship — they will adopt a child. The only girl in their group is Angeline Quinto as Shirley, the secretary of Eric who’s also an events specialist and trying hard singer. She’s married to Timothy Yap and she suspects he has another woman, without knowing that her husband’s lover is her own best friend, the gay Kean Cipriano.”

Direk Joel has worked with Eric and Martin before, but it’s his first time to work with Angeline, Billy and Kean. So, how is it? “They’re all very competent. But it’s Angeline who really surprised me. I thought she’s just a singer, but she turned out to be a good actress who has good comic timing and is willing to learn. Kean is a dedicated actor, very effective in his interpretation of his gay role. As for Billy, kahit lalaking-lalaki siya, wala siyang hang-ups in the scenes na nag-out siya at nagpakabakla na. The movie is a sure winner because it is full of hugot lines that the audience can relate to and the hilarious scenes come one after another. The movie has actual interviews with real-life couples who had same-sex marriage, like directors Jun Lana and Perci Intalan and Aiza Seguerra and Liza Diño. This will open in theaters on Aug. 10 and you can watch the full trailer on YouTube and on our Facebook page.”

Direk Joel remains to be one of our busiest filmmakers today. His new dramas Tomodachi and Sekyu just won awards in film festivals abroad. He has also completed a sex drama, Siphayo, launching Natalie Hart with Joem Bascon and Luis Alandy. He’s now also shooting a different kind of rom-com, Never Been Kissed, Never Been Touched, starring Angeline and Jake Cuenca, with Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida of Pinoy Big Brother.

He’ll be in his mid-60s this month. How come he still works non-stop and is also active on TV where he just finished directing the soap Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?

“Because I don’t want to be idle. Ano naman ang gagawin ko sa bahay? So basta hangga’t kaya ko pa, I will continue to work and direct films and TV shows.”