Marian: Nung bata ako, mahilig akong manood ng shooting (“Growing up, I loved to rubberneck at the shoots near our house”)… As an intern here at Industria, I saw Direk Mandy and Rody Lacap, and got a little starstruck. Nakakita ako ng dalawang taong sobrang passionate at sobrang love ang ginagawa nila. (I saw two people who were totally passionate about and enamored of their work.)
Marla: Fan ako ng local movies – Tito Vic & Joey! In UP I was already working in indie film, doing sound, editing, PA work, anything I could do between classes. After school, I spent a long time in music videos and MTV before joining Industria.
Women behind the camera
Marian: I had one client who was more worried about my age─I seemed too young to shoot five ads in two days. So the agency told him I was older, which was a first. During pre-prod, the client sat down, looked at me and said, “Babae?!” (Hahahaha!). The project pushed through; and I believe he was happy with the outcome. He even asked for me in the succeeding TVCs.
Marla: I got my first break because the original director needed an operation! It was a cologne ad, super pastel and pink! I’ve made three beauty ads so far. Now, from thinking I only do dark music videos, some people are surprised to learn I worked on a project, because “it’s so guy.” I’ve been bumped off a project because the client insisted on someone who was a parent, but I’ve also gotten one simply because the client wanted a woman director. You really can’t tell.
In two successive years and by coincidence, both women have represented the country in the Asia-Pacific ADFEST’s Fabulous 4, a contest for neophyte Asian directors run by the association of Japanese cinematographers.
Adfest adventures
Marian: For me it was VALIDATION. Some agencies still see me only as a line producer. Of course that’s still my job now, but it’s not always easy for them to think of me as a director.
I actually threw away the application form. But Direk Mandy bugged me about it and made me find it in the trash. The “Turning 10” theme made me think of my own experiences, riding a crowded FX at 2am. My ADFEST experience was great; as the first young director to represent the country I felt so proud. The other Pinoy delegates were so welcoming and helpful, and I got to shake hands with David Droga and Thirasak – I was speechless! A Malaysian CD approached me in the street and gave me a beach bracelet, a token of how much he enjoyed the film. I still have it. An older delegate from Mumbai also congratulated us – it turns out that he’s the head of a big agency there. So many people expressed their admiration for a really Asian story.
Marla: I was in Cebu when Direk Mandy texted me just days before the deadline. It was during a hardcore brownout, so we went to the new Jollibee — the only place with power — and waited two hours to email from the local internet café.
I wasn’t even originally chosen; a week after the announcement, I got this hoax-like text that “There is a very exciting e-mail waiting for you.” The Fabulous 4 became 4+ ─because they were all Japanese, and No. 5 was me! The whole film, from preprod to post, was done in two weeks. The 2008 theme was “Reinvent”, but I guess with the cologne ads I was all emo, and ended up with a love story. Some of the judges’ comments were harsh — like thesis defense all over again! – but I didn’t care, I was just so happy to be there. Then while I was waiting to ride a jeep, three Bangladeshi delegates approached me and told me how much they liked the film, no matter what the judges said – they even paid my jeep fare back to the hotel. Must’ve been my backless top.
Dream projects
Marian: I would like to do an alcoholic beverage ad, from a woman’s standpoint, where sexuality is not just an exhibition of the female anatomy while the lead guys drink their beer; but rather a display of sexuality through strength in character.
Marla: I want to keep exploring beauty ads, pushing them a bit. I also like ads with punchlines, like the ones we used to make in MTV.
On being a female director
Marla: My ads are clean, people look good in them – even the grungy rockers.
Marian: I once got teary-eyed while presenting my treatment during a pre-prod. The ad was for a major brand; a testimonial of a consumer who won the brand’s biggest prize in a nationwide competition. But before that, I went to meet the winner first. I found out she was going though a tough time, which led me to tweak the copy to reflect her heartbreaking story.
Being emotional is probably a stereotypical female reaction, which can be a setback in achieving a career in a male-driven profession… but I don’t mind, this is how I am built. I give my 100% in every project I get my hands into. The important thing is I got the message across and made my clients happy.
Marla: Pero wala naman kasing “female” project or “male.” Rakenrol kami, no? Kahit ano, sabak! [But a project isn’t ‘female’ or ‘male. We’re rock ‘n roll─anything goes!]
Well put. So for those agencies ready for something with that little twist that makes a viewer look twice, check out Marla’s and Marian’s reels at Industria, 8990011.
