Cathy Garcia-Molina made an appeal regarding product endorsements that restrict movie stars.
The romantic-comedy movie director cited these restrictions as the reason why female characters in her movies always wear wigs.
Liza Soberano is one of the actresses who donned wigs for previous Star Cinema movies along with Sarah Geronimo, Bea Alonzo, Toni Gonzaga, and Kathryn Bernardo.
Direk Cathy requested, "Gusto ko lang mag-appeal sa lahat ng products, sa lahat ng produkto na kumukuha ng mga artista bilang endorser.
"Sana, mapaabot natin sa kanila yung mga pakiusap naming mga taga-pelikula at taga-TV, na sana, ihiwalay ang persona ng artista at ng mga characters sa pelikula.
"Hirap na hirap po kami ng mga manunulat at kaming creators. Ang daming bawal."
Liza wore a wig with short, wavy hair for her character named Cali Ferrer in her upcoming movie with Enrique Gil titled My Ex and Whys.
The director pointed out that product endorsements prevent stars from cutting, curling or coloring their hair.
"Kaya po naka-wig mga artista ko lagi, e. Kapag may shampoo commercial, bawal pagupitan, bawal pakulayan, bawal kulutin, bawal lahat.
"So ano? Sa lahat ng pelikula nila, iisa lang ang look nila? But they play different characters? Nakikiusap ako sa kanila na sana ihiwalay."
Direk Cathy continued, "Ngayon, kung halimbawa, ito, presscon, gumamit siya ng in-e-endorso niya, pwede mong sawayin kasi si Liza Soberano siya ngayon pero sa pelikula ko, si Cali Ferrer siya."
"So sana, pwede siyang gumamit. Kasi halimbawa, paano kung may kape siya, may gatas siya, may juice siya, lahat bawal, anong iinumin niya sa pelikula ko? Tubig na lang?
"Kasi, di ba, ako, malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa mga produktong ito na kinukuha ang mga artista. Thank you very much po at may tiwala kayo sa kalidad nila.
"But precisely because you got them because they’re good actors, sana ma-iconsider that they’re good actors so therefore, they have to play their roles. So therefore, sana maihiwalay yun.
"Hindi naman po ako gumagamit ng ibang brand. Yung brand naman po namin, gawa-gawa lang rin namin so sana naman mapayagan kami.
"Yung mga ganoon kaliliit na bagay kasi, pigil na pigil po ang creativity namin lahat dahil bawal lahat."
PRODUCT PLACEMENTS IN MOVIES. It has become an industry practice for companies to gain exposure for their brand by including products in movie scenes.
In a separate interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other entertainment reporters after the presscon, Direk Cathy revealed that she also has her own restrictions when it comes to this matter.
She said, "Kapag humihingi ng tagline, hindi talaga. Alam na nila ‘yon. In fact, nasusungitan na siguro sila sa akin."
However, she is still willing to compromise.
The 45-year-old director explained, "Ang compromise is ipapakita ko ang produkto mo but in a manner na very subtle. Kasi ang tao rin naman ay natuturn-off, e."
She cited her movie My Ex and Whys, which will be screened in cinemas on February 15, as an example.
"In fairness, thankful ako sa lahat ng intrusions na mayroon kami rito. Alam mo, yung kliyente kong isa, sabi talaga, 'Direk, pwede takpan po yung pangalan namin?'
“'Wow,' sabi ko, 'Ang bait mo namang kliyente.' 'E, kasi po masyadong hard sell, e.'
"So naiintindihan na nila yon na kapag sa pelikula mo nilagay at naghard sell, rather than it helps, minsan nakakadistract pa.
"So I’d like to keep the intrusions na mayroon itong pelikulang ito kasi sobra silang tanggap na ang pelikula, dapat hindi na hard sell. Dapat parte lang siya ng normal na buhay."