FUN TRIO: Rafael Rosell, Pauleen Luna and Tom Rodriguez in “Gaydar.”
Bicolano filmmaker Alvin Yapan has always considered Quezon City as his home in Metro Manila.
In joining the recently concluded Quezon City Film Festival or QCinema, Yapan wanted to pay homage to his adopted home.
“My life in Metro Manila has been hugely shaped by Quezon City,” he said. “I have lived and worked in this city since the time I moved here in 1993 from Camarines Sur to study. I wanted to capture the city’s romantic side, as a way of honoring the place which has nurtured me as an artist and as an individual.”
Previously known for drama films like “Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe,” “Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” and “Debosyon,” Yapan joined the QCinema with the romantic-comedy “Gaydar” for a change.
Biggest challenge in making the film, however, proved to be finding the right actors to depict a unique love triangle involving a girl, her sexually ambiguous best friend and a handsome FX driver.
“The film was difficult to cast,” he admitted.
Yapan found his dream trio in GMA 7 stars Pauleen Luna, Rafael Rosell and Tom Rodriguez.
“The three didn’t give me problems,” Yapan recalled. “They were a perfect fit for their roles. They were all professional. Rafael matched Pauleen’s kooky, kikay (flirty) character. While Tom was lovable. Their scenes were fun to shoot.”
Yapan thinks Pauleen’s years in the noontime show “Eat Bulaga” is put to good use in this movie. “Her training in the show was her advantage. She has flawless comic timing. Rafael really wanted to work on his character. We experimented with different mannerisms and styles until we got what we wanted for the story. Tom, for his part, was gentlemanly.”
Getting entangled in the web of a ménage à trois was something today’s generation could easily relate to, he said.
“Lots of people have fallen in love with their best friends only to find out that their buddies are in love with somebody else. How can we draw the line between love and friendship? Often, crossing that line leads to feelings of betrayal. I wanted to capture those emotions in this film,” he remarked.
He, however, was not in the mood to get serious unlike in his previous films.
“I didn’t want to be heavy-handed about it so I turned to comedy instead,” he said. “Gender issues are a major concern among the current generation of young people. I wanted to contribute my own ideas to this debate.”
Although he remains staunchly indie, Yapan also hopes to attract a wider audience—that’s why he cast mainstream stars in this film.
“Indie films have the boldness to address major issues that affect our country and our culture,” he asserted. “But doing well in the box office will allow us to continue producing films of the same caliber and quality. It’s a chance for us to change the way films are made in this country.”
(E-mail bayanisandiegojr@gmail.)