Nakakadalawang pelikula na tungkol sa pamilyang Marcos ang direktor na si Darryl Yap: ang Maid In Malacañang na ipinalabas sa mga sinehan noong August of 2022 at ang Martyr Or Murderer na sinimulang ipalabas sa mga sinehan noong March 1, 2023.
May pangatlong pelikula pang gagawin si Darryl tungkol sa pamilya Marcos: ang Mabuhay, Aloha, Mabuhay.
Pero, if given the chance to do a biopic, sinong personality ang gusto niyang gawan?
Natatawang tugon ng Viva director: “Politician, I would like to take a rest muna. Well, there’s an offer for the Dutertes but I said I’m gonna rest for a while.
“After the trilogy, perhaps I’m just gonna, you know, create more films that are not political ‘coz it’s consuming my energy, the stress that I’m getting.
“With Viva, I have one hundred percent freedom in creative independence—but with this, I have to consider all the emotions, all the restrictions, and all the convictions of the Marcos family, and I’m not used to working with that.
"So I guess I’m just gonna rest for a while."
Sa tatlong pelikula, ang itinuturing ni Darryl na "boss" ay ang producer na si Imee Marcos, panganay ng dating diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at kapatid ng kasalukuyang pangulo na si Bongbong Marcos.
Nagsimula ang collaboration ng dalawa noong February 2022, noong kasagsagan ng kampanya para sa national elections.
Naglabas sila sa Facebook at YouTube ng satire series na Len-Len, na isinulat at idinirek ni Darryl.
Ang disclaimer sa description ng mga inilabas na videos ay "not a political content," pero mahihinuhang patama ito sa presidentail candidate, at mahigpit na kalaban ni Bongbong, na si Leni Robredo.
DARRYL YAP'S DREAM BIOPIC
Kung hindi politiko, sinong personalidad ang nais niyang isapelikula ang buhay?
“Well, I want to tackle the life of Charo Santos.
“I would like to, you know, coz she’s a very good actress and became a very important part of Philippine entertainment, ‘no?
“Gusto kong ikuwento yung buhay ng tagapagkuwento. I think it’s really a very good content, ‘no?"
Tatlumpu't-isang taong naging host si Charo ng Maalaala Mo Kaya sa ABS-CBN.
Sabi ni Darryl, “With all the letters that she has been reading, ‘no? I guess if I get to tell her story, I’ll be telling the story of millions so… I find her very beautiful, what she did with ABS-CBN is far beyond compare.
“She’s a woman of grace, and I don’t think there’s a person in showbiz that can speak ill of her.
“She’s very gracious, and I want to create a movie about a woman who achieved greatness, not just because she’s beautiful but she’s a good person.”
Women empowerment kumbaga?
“Yes! Something like that.”
Sino ang aktres na papaganapin niyang Charo Santos?
“Charo Santos! Well, tutal ano naman ito, fantasy question.”
Singit namin kay Darryl: "Na puwedeng maging reality..."
Sabad ng direktor, “Yeah, why not? Dyusko, lahat ng sasabihin ko, hindi artista ng Viva, so kung gusto kong maging realistic ito, hindi in the next five years dahil five years ako [nakakontrata].
“Well, as the young Charo, Kathryn would be very good,” na ang tinutukoy ni Darryl ay ang Kapamilya actress na si Kathryn Bernardo.
"Kathryn would be very good. Then Judy Ann is very nice. Judy Ann, di ba,” pagtukoy naman ni Darryl sa premyadong aktres at isa sa mga reyna ng ABS-CBN na si Judy Ann Santos.
Sambit pa ng direktor, “And Santos din, and, you know, very Filipina.
"It’s really a dream, ‘no. When Tito Boy [Abunda] asked me kung sinong gusto kong makatrabaho, with watching Itim, I really fell in love with Ms. Charo, she’s really ano, she’s really something.”
Ang Itim ay itinuturing na classic film na pinagbidahan ni Charo noong 1976, sa direksiyon ni Mike de Leon.
Pagpapatuloy ni Darryl, “Well aside from, ewan ko kung bakit, gusto ko rin noon si Charito Solis.
"Gusto ko yung ano, mga malalalim na babae, yung pag tiningnan mo, parang, basta may pagka-ganun, may pagka-probinsiya look na can do something talaga.”
DARRYL YAP'S DREAM CAST
Sa tanong kung sino ang dream cast niya para sa isang proyekto, agad niyang sagot, “Well, I want Vilma Santos!"
Sabi pa ni Darryl, “You know I had a meeting with Nora Aunor before. I would have the chance sana to work with her, but for certain reasons the movie didn’t push through because of some technical issues.
“At you know, I really want to work with Vilma Santos, I want to work with Sarah Geronimo. Sarah’s Viva, I can make kulit anytime, but.”
Hindi ba siya nagkaroon ng ideyang isama si Sarah sa cast ng Martyr Or Murderer at kahit dati sa Maid In Malacañang?
“None. No attempt at all, no attempt.”
Isang pelikulang hindi pulitikal ang nais daw niyang gawin with Sarah.
“Yeah! If you put Sarah in, you know, a real person’s ano, parang masyadong malaki si Sarah para makalimutan na si Sarah iyon.
“I’m not saying na masyadong maliit itong mga ‘to, pero Sarah cannot, you know, Sarah can’t.
"But Sarah can play Charo as well! Di ba, with the demeanor and all.”
Banggit namin kay Darryl, kung magsasama sa isang Charo Santos biopic sina Kathryn, Sarah, at Judy Ann ay napakamahal na ng budget ng pelikula sa talent fee pa lamang.
Pakli niya, natatawa, “Casting pa lang, casting pa lang.”
DARRYL YAP ON OWN BIOPIC
Hindi naman daw mag-a-agree si Darryl kung ang buhay niya ang isasapelikula o gagawing isang drama anthlogy.
Aniya, "Well, my life is not yet done. I don’t think I’ve reached the climax already. Parang wala pang kakuwenta-kuwenta,” at natawa si Darryl.
“Siguro, saka na, kapag yung tipong may mga pa-charity event na ako, yung maganda namang outcome yung ano, di ba? I don’t think it’s exciting pa.
“I mean the excitement is just beginning, and it will bore them kung ganito pa lang ka-ano. I don’t think so.”
Ano ang importante kay Darryl, box-office results o awards?
“At this point in time I would say box-office. I’m not in any rush to make super-duper quality films that would make my critics clap their hands.
“You know what, I’m just starting my career, I want to have a big bank account rather than have a big cabinet with trophies.
“Not yet. Maybe five years to ten years from now, I would dream to have more awards and really work hard for it.
“But as of the moment, I want to do a living, I want to prepare for the future.
"Pag siguro hindi ko na kailangan ng pera, kaya ko nang mag-produce ng mga award-winning na pelikula na kahit walang manood, okay lang.”
Samantala, ito ang mga artistang tampok sa Martyr Or Murderer: Cesar Montano bilang Ferdinand Marcos; Ruffa Gutierrez bilang Imelda Marcos; Cristine Reyes bilang Imee Marcos; Diego Loyzaga bilang Bongbong Marcos; Ella Cruz as Irene Marcos; Marco Gumabao as young Bongbong Marcos; Isko Moreno as Noynoy Aquino; Elizabeth Oropesa as Manang Lucy; Kyle Velino as Greggy Araneta; Beverly Salviejo as Yaya Biday, and Franki Russell as Claudia Bermudez.
Kasama rin sa pelikula sina Billy Jake Cortez, Cindy Miranda, at marami pang iba.