Bela Padilla proves she’s a creative force with directorial debut

CEBU, Philippines — Plenty have told Bela Padilla five years ago that she was ripe to direct a film.

But as she was already a successful actress and screenplay writer, the projects that kept on coming didn’t leave her time. Nor did she have the desire to turn down the “blessings.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic screeched almost everything to a halt, calendars freed up. While she might have the financial cushion to fall back on, Bela worried for her production colleagues who were out of a job.

It was out of necessity then to “shoot something” and see her industry friends enjoy a paycheck by Christmas that Bela finally found herself on the director’s chair for Vivamax’s “366” – another tearjerker from the 30-year-old that she also wrote and stars in.

Inspired from a story of a Filipina that she overheard while on a 2018 holiday on Maldives, “366” tackles love, grief, and starting anew after a heartbreak. Her character, June, gives herself 365 days to get over her ex-boyfriend Pao, played by JC Santos.

Her neighbor, Zanjoe Marudo’s Marco, suggests they do things that June and Pao didn’t get the chance to – agreeing in essence to be her proxy-boyfriend. Soon, they learn to move forward in life and in love one day at a time.

“Self-love is one of the big themes in ‘366.’ That’s one thing I’d like viewers to take away,” said Bela during a virtual interview. “That self-love is important for you to actually love someone else. Fall in love with yourself first. Heal on your own first.”

“And that’s something I’ve been applying in the last few years.”

Bela had pursued Liza Soberano to be her female lead, while Piolo Pascual was attached to the project for a while. But Liza chose to ride out the pandemic. And so once again, necessity forced Bela to pull off the hard task of starring in her directorial debut.

“I wouldn’t say better. Definitely, different,” she replied on whether her casting proved a wiser choice.

“Since I am older than Liza, I guess my interpretation of grief and love is different. We’re at different stages in our lives. I would still love to work with her though and see the performance she’d give to a project like this.”

On-off switch

As director, Bela said she over-prepared in the pre-production process to avoid any hitches on set. It helped that she was surrounded by a reliable team, foremost of which is director Irene Villamor, her best friend and mentor, whom she recruited to be creative director for “366.”

Everything went smoothly, shared Bela – except for one first day “bump.”

“The first take had Zanjoe alone in the scene. Sa sobrang kaba ko or baka naninibago, I forgot to yell ‘sound, camera.’ I went straight to ‘action’ and the sound wasn’t rolling yet,” she laughingly recalled.

“Bilang artista kasi ang hinihintay mo lang palagi yung ‘action’ eh. I felt super rattled. I just laughed but they didn’t know I was so nervous inside.”

The biggest challenge for Bela was being conscious of her mental on-off switch as she alternates between calling the shots behind the camera, and then in a span of a few seconds, snap herself into character.

“While Zanjoe is acting, I’m editing in my mind and forget, that wait, I’m his co-actor in this scene. I can’t just watch him, I have to react so he can pull emotions from me. I caught myself doing that twice.”

To be fair, JC and Zanjoe didn’t need much direction, according to Bela. “They’re very good actors. In fact, since I’m also the writer I asked them a few tips because I come from a female perspective. I would always ask them, do you think this is normal for a guy to say? Ang laking tulong na hindi ko kailangan mangapa or dapat ko sila tantiyahin because we’re already friends.”

When it comes to rules, Bela made it clear to cast and crew on Day 1 that she will not entertain frayed tempers or any sort of ill will on her set. While she has yet to be the recipient of a director’s tongue-lashing, she’s seen its effects on her co-workers’ morale and creative output.

“When a project starts there’s usually a speech and prayer on set. I remember saying that my first rule is that there should be good vibes all around. I don’t like shouting, I don’t like na may naba-bad trip,” she said.

“We’re in a bubble for a few weeks so mahirap if isa sa atin malungkot or masama ang loob. Kung meron mang bad trip, labas sila ng set for five minutes, then come back.”

Seeing her whole creation after was such a natural high for Bela that she said this will most surely not be her last foray into directing (she’ll direct and act in another Viva movie, to be filmed in London). This, after actress Alessandra de Rossi, expressed how directing and starring in the Netflix film “My Amanda” exhausted her to the bone.

Directing heroes

Bela names American filmmaker Wes Anderson her favorite director, saying she can relate to his eccentricity.

“I enjoy his movies from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ to his latest ‘The French Dispatch’. I like his shots, yung laging naka gitna lang and the outfits of his actors are quirky, very stylized. His color palette – if it’s not very yellow, it’s very blue,” she said.

“Parang lahat pinag-iisipan niya. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence, maybe he doesn’t over-think that way. Nevertheless, ang ganda lagi ng kinalalabasan. His movies usually don’t happen in real life, yet they evoke relatable emotions.”

She also name-checks the former actress, screenwriter-turned-director Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”), noting their similar career trajectory, as well as Sofia Coppola (“The Beguiled”,” “The Bling Ring”) for her stylized way of shooting.

Moving on quickly

Bela’s has had unforgettable performances in films such as “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” just to name a few. For this, Viva has recently given her the title of Philippine Cinema’s Queen of Hearts.

Funnily for her, she’s not a sappy, sad sack in real life. She’s a cheerful girl in fact.

“My roles are always nananakit, nagpapaiyak, pero hindi naman ako iyakin talaga. Mababa ang luha ko with animal videos or family reunions, but with personal problems hindi ako masyado umiiyak,” said Bela.

“I’m very solution-oriented. If I’m going through something, I don’t wallow. I find a way to move on quickly.”

Random inspirations

Bela’s passion for storytelling and drama also led her to writing critically-acclaimed scripts for films like “Camp Sawi,” “10000 Hours” (which bagged Best Original Story at the MMFF), “Fangirl Fanboy,” “Last Night”, and “Luck at First Sight.”

“The ideas come to me in a very random manner. When I was writing ‘Last Night’ I guess I was in a dark place personally because I was overworked, I was shooting so much and felt my personal life was suffering. Instead of feeling sad, sinulat ko na lang siya.”

“‘Camp Sawi’ was just a discussion between me and my co-creator na bakit walang rehab for the broken-hearted when in fact love is always considered an addiction. ‘Luck at First Sight’ – I was just listening to the radio and the DJs were talking about love at first sight. I tweaked the title until I thought up some scenes.”

She also has a penchant to people-watch. “I like to hang out in cafes, sit in parks or in museums. Sometimes I get inspiration from how people look like, kung paano sila maglakad, kung anong dala nila, gaano kalaki yung bag nila, their conversations…”

Bela, who’s made London her home base since last year, recently returned to Manila to promote “366” and resume filming for “Spellbound”, a movie that stars her opposite Marco Gumabao.

“I think in the last year the universe conspired for me to be happy and complete as a person. Aside from ‘366’, I was able to move to London and start a life here. I was able to figure out things I want for myself in the next few years. I think it’s a huge blessing that I was able to do so during a pandemic,” said Bela.

“I would say life is good at the moment. I’m enjoying London, having fun here. Medyo back to basics ako ngayon since nawala lahat ng mga bagay that made my life comfortable in the Philippines. I don’t have a car here. I don’t know how to drive on the right side and I don’t want to attempt. No driver, no assistant – and I am enjoying it.”

“I’ve always been quite independent, but I think this complete alone-ness is new to me. But I’m liking it.”