SUZETTE Ranillo calls the Reds “cool directors” on the set.
Actress Suzette Ranillo, who has worked with award-winning indie filmmaker Raymond Red and his son Mikhail, described the two artists as “cool directors.”
“They know exactly what they want in the scenes they shoot,” said the actress.
“Mikhail, since he’s younger, is more bubbly and energetic—not that Raymond is lame. He is just more relaxed with his craft,” she added.
Suzette was a cast member of the elder Red’s “Kamera Obskura,” which won him the best director honor at the 2012 Cinemalaya. This year, she is part of Mikhail’s “Rekorder,” an entry in the New Breed category.
“I see that they have passion in what they do, but Mikhail is more enthusiastic and eager to learn more. They have similarities in
MIKHAIL and Raymond Red
their methods, although I noticed that Mikhail is more adventurous with his shots and equipment. Raymond, since he is very experienced, already knows exactly what will work for his projects,” Ranillo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Suzette said she saw in Mikhail “the potential of becoming a very good director like his dad. Hopefully, he will be able to cross over from artistic films to the more commercial ones.”
Mikhail has made six short films, which have all competed or have screened in festivals locally and abroad. He cowrote “Rekorder,” his first full-length film, with Ian Victoriano. It tells the story of a former cameraman, who now works as a movie pirate. He routinely smuggles a digital camcorder into movie theaters in order to illegally record films. One night, he inadvertently records a violent crime and the footage goes viral.
“Rekorder” also features Ronnie Quizon, Mike Lloren, Buboy Villar, Earl Ignacio, Belinda Mariano, Lowell Conales, Joe Gruta, Archie Adamos and Abe Pagtama.
Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph.