Antoinette Jadaone is directing an upcoming movie for the Metro Manila Film Fest starring Kris Aquino and Herbert Bautista.
Direk Tonet, as she is fondly called, gained attention for popularizing #hugot lines through the romantic comedy That Thing Called Tadhana.
She will helm Mr. and Mrs. Split, which is one of the 8 official entries of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Direk Tonet points out that the title Mr. and Mrs. Split is “hindi pa final” and is not related to the movie of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s titled Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
“There’s a bit of romance but it’s also about family and friendship so well balanced siya. May pagka comedy. Kahit may drama, nalalagyan ko ng comedy," Direk Tonet says about the MMFF entry.
She reveals that Herbert’s character uses the online dating app Tinder, allowing him to meet Kris’s character.
How will Kris and Herbert’s characters be portrayed onscreen?
“Wala naman akong duda na hindi naman magwowork yung love nila. In real life, may banter sila, e. Hindi sila plastic. May sasabihin si Kris, may sasabihin si Mayor, may batuhan na sila.
“[They have a] love-hate relationship. Dati, mag best friends sila."
She continued, "[Mr. and Mrs. Split is about] lost dreams.
"Nung college, mag best friends sila, most likely to succeed, most likely to be CEO of his own company. Sila yung pang summa cum laude. Tapos, some 25 years later, they are not the persons that they thought they would be.”
Will there be a kissing scene or love scene between Kris and Herbert?
“Hindi ko pa tapos yung script. Malalaman natin. Tingan natin. So far, sa paglatag niya, wala naman.”
When asked what excites her about the new movie, Direk Tonet pointed out:
“Ang gusto ko sa project ay, una kasi, as a filmmaker, yung gusto ko talaga is makagawa ng pelikula na marami ang makakapanood. Okay ako kung nasa festival, pero okay din ako na nasa sinehan, maraming nanood, sabay sabay tayong tumatawa. Na excite ako kay Kris and Herbert na ie-explore ko yung isang market na hindi pa siya nae-explore. Itong market na ito ay yung market ni Kris, market ni Herbert. Itong market na gustong gusto kong kwentuhan kasi hindi ko pa sila nakukwentuhan.
“Kung baga, may isang lumitaw na opportunity sa akin na nakukwentuhan ko ay yung mga tao na ifloflock talaga nila yung sinehan dahil si Kris 'yon at si Herbert. Masa.
"Napakaganda para sa akin as a filmmaker na, wow, mayroon nang ready na manood ng pelikula na ito. At nakakaexcite na parang kung anong ikukwento ko, mapapakingan nila, mapapanood nila because it is Kris and Herbert. So kapag pinagbutihan namin itong pelikula, may bagong masasabi, hindi yung usual na inexpect na Kris and Herbert na pelikula.
"It’s an achievement in itself for me as a filmmaker.”