Bela Padilla makes directorial film debut in 366

Switching roles from acting to directing and vice-versa during filming can be quite confusing at times. It happened to Bela Padilla, who aside from portraying the lead role, was also the one who penned and helmed the upcoming Vivamax original movie 366.

The film is “about love, pain and starting life and love anew,” and also stars Zanjoe Marudo and JC Santos.

“Meron ka dapat on-and-off switch,” began Bela during a virtual call on her process as a director and actress at the same time. “Kasi siyempre lalo na pagkasama ako sa eksena or meron akong co-actors on set with me, I had to think up until the last minute of direction for everyone. Right before mag-action nung assistant director ko, I had to be in character already. So, meron ka dapat on-and-off switch in your head.”

It was challenging for her during the first few takes. In fact, she had a blooper on set. She shared, “Yung unang eksena ng buong pelikula si Zanjoe lang yung kinunan ko. Hindi ako kasama sa eksena and sa sobrang kaba ko siguro or dahil yun nga naninibago ako, nakalimutan kong sumigaw ng sound and camera, dumiretso ako sa action na hindi nag-roll yung sound and camera.”

“Because, I guess, as an artista, when you’re on set, ang hinihintay mo lang palagi yung action, dapat hindi mo na naririnig yung sound tsaka camera na salita,” she continued. “Parang you should be in the zone. But of course, as a director, kailangan mo siyang isigaw. So I would get those moments where I’m like, ‘O nga pala, teka lang, I’m not just an actress on set today, I am directing this so we had to repeat that take and I had to say sound and camera.’”

Bela went on, “Nagkatawanan lang sa set but I felt super rattled pero tumawa lang din ako pero hindi nila alam kabang-kaba ako sa loob.”

Except for that “bump” during taping, “everything went easy and really well,” thanks to Bela’s “very efficient and very smart” team including Irene Villamor, whom she considered as her mentor and who served as the creative producer of 366.

About five years ago, there were so many people who had been encouraging Bela to try directing, but she wasn’t ready at that time. “I didn’t want to do it when I was first told about it because so many blessings were still coming. Many movies were being assigned to me or TV shows. I always prioritized the acting projects or assignments given to me,” she said.

But it was the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted her to pursue directing as a profession.

“I guess, it was a necessity (to start directing),” she told The STAR. “I was thinking of my friends in the industry. I was thinking of the crew that I always work with, the production team. Magpa-pasko nun. Inisip ko, ‘Shucks pare-pareho kaming hindi su-sweldo ng pasko. Parang hindi masaya yun.’ Since ilang beses naman na nilang sinabi na panahon na para mag-direct ako, ginawa ko na.”

“I think not just for myself, obviously, creating something, I guess, some piece of art form is always self-serving. But honestly, I really try to do this not just for myself but for the crew, for the production, for the people who I wanted to have work during the pandemic,” she furthered.

They started the pre-production for 366 in 2020 and filmed a year after that. Liza Soberano was the original actress for the flick but due to pandemic restrictions, it didn’t push through and Bela took over the part.

As a first-time director, Bela looks up to Hollywood filmmakers Wes Anderson, Greta Gerwig and Sofia Coppola.

The 30-year-old actress, screenwriter and now a filmmaker had previously appeared in Camp Sawi, I America, Luck at First Sight, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, Meet Me in St. Gallen, The Day After Valentine’s and On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets.

She co-wrote the scripts for Camp Sawi, 10,000 Hours, Fangirl Fanboy, and Luck at First Sight.

Meanwhile, as per media release, 366 is about a woman named June (Bela) who has 365 days to get over her ex-boyfriend Pao (JC). Her neighbor, Marco (Zanjoe), suggests they do things that June and Pao have never got to do and agrees to be her proxy-boyfriend. Soon, they learn to move forward in life and in love... one day at a time.

Bela was inspired to write the story of 366 after traveling to Maldives and learning about the story of a Filipino couple challenged by fate.

Self-love is one of the big themes but isn’t talked much in the film, said Bela. “Fall in love with yourself first. Heal on your own first before you love other people. And that’s something I have been applying for the last few years. I learned that from my friends,” she told this paper.

“I’d say Angelica (Panganiban) is one of the people who I’m close to that’s very strong and I see that in her and she emulates that. And I feel like isa yun sa mga bagay na gusto ko sanang makuha ng mga tao kapag napanood nila yung 366. Self-love is very important for you to actually be able to love other people,” she added.

Bela is in a relationship with Swiss boyfriend Norman Bay, who has a cameo appearance in 366. She is currently based in London and will come back to the Philippines next month to promote the movie.

(366’s playdate is April 22 on Vivamax).