A new drama series has premiered on GMA Afternoon Prime. It doesn’t traditionally follow the stories of its predecessors, which is the usual infidelity with campy catfights from the two lead actresses.
But ‘Born to Shine’ is different; it looks and feels different. While other shows may have focused on how to hate more on the antagonists, the Zephanie and Michael Sager starrer highlights the inspiring journey of chasing your dreams.
During the media conference of Born to Shine, we had the chance to talk to the show’s directors, Rod Marmol and Carlo Catu.
When asked about the chemistry between the lead stars, Zephanie and Michael Sager:
“May mga alam akong history nila, pero ang trabaho ko talaga is ibalik ulit sila sa space na they create love between their characters. May mga eksena minsan, kiligan scene, nararamdaman ko medyo minamadali kasi siyempre awkward kapag binababad. Kapag nakikita kong nao-awkward sila, lalo kong binababad, binubulungan ko ‘yung AD (Assistant Director), ‘o, titigan mo muna, ‘wag mo muna ibato ‘yung next line.’ Ako kasi, kapag nagshu-shoot ng mga kiligan, lahat naman ng romcoms kasi, 90% tinginan. Love really happens sa tinginan. At sa mga totoong nagmahalan na, medyo ‘yun ang iiwasan mo kung ayaw mo bumalik doon, so, lalo kong pinagtinginan. Pero on top of that, Zephanie stan talaga ako. Nung sumali siya sa Idol Philippines, natatandaan ko sinabi ko na balang araw, makaka-work ko ‘yung batang ‘yan. Back then, I didn’t know na magiging Cornerstone artist din siya. So, nangyari ito, parang ano ko na siya, junakis (anak),” director Rod Marmol shares.
“Ako, wala akong alam masyado sa past nila pero parang meron akong naririnig rinig na na may something, pero feeling ko, silang dalawa naman ay capable actors. They’re very capable actors na kapag nasa set sila, very professional sila, they’re in characters. Nung sumampa ako, nabuo na nila ‘yung characters nila. So, ‘yung trabaho ko na lang is to guide them, pero somehow ‘yung 90% ng characterization nila buo na. So, parang pagdating nila sa set, hindi na sila sila, sila na ‘yung characters. ‘Yun ang naa-appreciate ko tapos ako na lang ‘yung tumu-tono, ako na lang ‘yung nagfa-fine tuning ng kabuuang atake. Never ko nakita na may awkward or whatever, nakita ko na pagdating nila sa set, artista sila, professional actors sila,” director Carlo Catu adds.
“Naalala ko na ang goal ko sa kanila ay mag-create ng kilig na appropriate sa edad nila. Kasi most of these stars, when they’ve been doing projects together, nakakalimutan nila how young they are. So, kailangan ko silang i-remind na dapat ‘yung kilig ninyo para sa edad ninyo. Pure pa siya, wala ka pang pake sa nakikita ng tao. Ito ‘yung klase ng kilig na hindi dapat plakado, mauutal-utal ka muna, kasi ‘yung character dito ni Michael, celebrity din siya. Kapag celebrity ka, alam mo i-project‘yung sarili mo. So, ‘yun ‘yung pinapatanggal ko sa kanya when interacting with the character of Zeph para maging totoo ‘yung kilig,” director Rod continues.
Historically, the timeslot of ‘Born to Shine’ always gets the highest rating among the GMA Afternoon Prime slot. Going to a more grounded storytelling, is there pressure to get the audiences hooked with the usual campy elements of the soap opera formula?
“I think, hindi magugustuhan ng mga boss ang sagot, pero ako naman bilang direktor, kailangan ko lagi ding alagaan ‘yung health ko as an artist, so hindi ako masyadong nago-obsses sa ratings kasi hindi ko ‘yun mako-control. Walang amount of hardwork that I can do to control it directly. Kahit hindi ako matulog ng isang linggo, walang direct effect ‘yan sa ratings. All I can do is create a story that I’m proud of. So, talagang whatever the ratings will be, ipagpapasalamat, kapag mababa hahanapin kung saan need i-strengthen based sa research. Pero ayoko siyang gawing sentro, kumbaga driving force kasi medyo toxic siya. And naniniwala din ako na magkakaiba ang lahat ng shows. May mga shows na una pa lang, pasabog na, may mga shows na slow burn. More than anything, the only thing that I can control is how we are behind the camera. If we’re happy, if we’re creating performances that we’re proud of, if we feel like we are representing the stories of the audience that are watching us, dun pa lang panalo na kami. ‘Yun na lang ang motivation namin,” director Rod answers.
“Ako, I share the same (sentiments). At the end of the day, story is the master. Ako, aside sa support ko kay Rod, ang pinakaunang boss ko ay ang kwento. Masaya ako na nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makapag-GMA, siyempre gusto ko na maulit pa ito. Pero naalala ko nung kinausap ako ng management, when they offered me this project, I think nasa posisyon ako na namimili na ako ng project, medyo matagal na din naman ako nang konti sa industry, so nung in-offer ito, kinilig ako, pero at the same time, I remember them telling na kapag kinuha ako, kinukuha ninyo ako. Hindi ‘yung kinukuha ninyo ako to fit someone else’s tingin ninyo sa pagdi-direk. And I remember I told them na ang mao-offer ko is I always commit to excellence and I laging master ko ang kwento. Sabi ko, magkakaroon tayo here and there, hindi ninyo afford ‘yunng ganito pero lagi akong magiging boses ng kwento, kasi at the end of the day, kayong lahat may iba kayong mga ise-serve na master. May ise-serve ka na master na audience, may ise-serve ka na master like the bosses, may ise-serve ka na master like ‘yung artista mo hindi kaya gawin ito, gusto ganito, pwede bang ganito na lang. Pero I will always be, boses ako ng kwento. Hindi ko pa din ‘yun (ratings) naiisip, siguro dahil first ko, pero baka kapag tumagal hindi ko pa din siya masyadong iisipin, kasi ang iisipin ko at the end of the day, naniniwala ako na universe will always find its way, pwedeng hindi ka rating ngayon pero later on, magiging klasiko ka kagaya ng mga kanta,” director Carlo adds.
Funnily, when later asked how many episodes or how long the show will run, the two directors jokingly retract their answers:
“Typical teleserye na may minimum length, parang mga 3 months. Siyempre, depende sa reception,” director Rod shares.
“Kapag pumalo ang ratings. So, dapat pala isipin natin ‘yung ratings para may trabaho tayo,” director Carlo jokes.
“Actually, napaka-importante ng ratings,” director Carlo adds as the conversation turned from serious to funny.
“Kapag nagustuhan ninyo, i-share ninyo. Kapag hindi ninyo nagustuhan, i-PM ninyo kami para maayos namin,” Director Carlo continues.
‘Born to Shine’ airs Mondays to Saturdays, 2:30PM on GMA Network.
Watch our full interview with directors Rod Marmol and Carlo Catu: