Theater company offers ‘Filipinized’ BL series

Multi-awarded actor-director and lawyer Vince Tanada wrote and directed the initial BL offering of Philstagers Films’ titled “Why Love Why” which will premiere on the YouTube Channel of Philippine Stagers this Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.

In a Zoom conference held Saturday, Vince said he was initially clueless what BL (Boy Love) was all about. But since the theater company had been inactive during the pandemic, Vince said that aside from wanting to give jobs to his actors, he also missed writing and directing. When he conducted a survey on Twitter among the fans of his theater group what material they would like as the first film venture of Philstagers Films, a BL series emerged as the top choice.

What makes “Why Love Why” different from other BL stories that had been done is that it doesn’t follow the Thai formula that other local BLs adapted. “This is an original, this is not based on anything familiar. I have been writing a lot of plays before. Of course, love is the focus of the story. Love is universal, whatever kind of love that may be, whether it is love between two straight guys,” said Vince.

He wrote the script of “Why Love Why” with the objective not just to entertain but to also educate. “We want to be revolutionary in presenting our BL. If you will watch it, it is not your usual BL. Besides, we want to capture the girl audience so we made a unique story,” said Vince. “We have an interesting story. We are not just selling sex between two men. There is something to look forward to.”

So inspired they are with “Why Love Why” that they are already thinking of having a second season.

Playing the lead roles are Carl Aderon and John Rey Rivas, two homegrown talents of PhilStagers who have had their share of good roles and awards. The two were picked because Vince wants alpha-looking young men who do not look like dolls. Both Carl and John Rey are tan, muscular and straight-looking.

John Rey had been with PhilStagers for seven years. He already won an Aliw acting award. But doing a BL is something new for him. “I must say I learned a lot while doing this film. At first, I was nervous since I am doing something I have never done before but Direk Vince was a big help in making his actors feel at ease on set,” he said.

Carl is a fourth year college student and is varsity player. He joined Philstagers in 2015 and this is also his first foray into film acting. “I learned how important our gender is while doing this film. If you have questions about gender equality, a lot of them will be answered here. Whatever is the person’s gender, we ought to respect that.”

This is the first time the two are working together so John Rey and Carl made an effort to create chemistry between them. They do have a love scene which they said they both enjoyed doing although it felt awkward at first.

According to Vince, “Why Love Why” is loosely based on his play “Dilaw Pula,” about two men belonging to political families who fell in love. John Rey and Carl will also play their grandfathers in the flashback scenes.

“This is a Filipinized BL. Paano ba magpahayag ng pag-ibig ang isang Pinoy? Hindi napipigilan ang pag-ibig kapag ito ay dumating,” said Vince.