Lights, camera, action: Cannes winner directs Du30’s 1st Sona

Award-winning independent film director Brillante Mendoza (left), who is tasked to direct President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s First State of the Nation Address (SONA), and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar (right) examines the map of the Batasang Pambansa shown by the Presidential Broadcast Staff Radio-Television Malacanang (PBS-RTVM) during the First SONA Briefing and Planning at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office of the Batasang Pambansa on July 18, 2016. ACE MORANDANTE/PPD

LIGHTS, camera … man of action!

Although it will be treated like “a major television production,” President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona) will avoid the pomp and pageantry of past events, filmmaker Brillante Ma. Mendoza told the Inquirer.

Mendoza, who was tapped by the present administration to direct the Sona on July 25, explained that his “vision” for the event will hew closely to the President’s public image—meaning, it will be “straightforward, simple, no fuss, no drama.”

Still, it’s a pretty huge production, entailing at least 17 cameras. In the past, the telecast was carried out solely by the Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang, which is credited for first shooting former President Benigno Aquino III’s fifth Sona in high definition.

“I wanted to use a drone, but was told that it wasn’t allowed for security reasons,” Mendoza related. “I have a crane, though. Also, a roving Steadicam for the arrival, but it cannot be used in the plenary hall.”

He has his own director’s booth in the Batasan compound, but his personal staff is quite modest.

“I have only two assistants with me. The other production people in the team are from the government station. The other media outfits, both foreign and local, have their own tents in the venue,” he said.

Lending the ceremony with both local flair and international flavor, singer-songwriter Bayang Barrios will interpret the national anthem, while classical singer Gerphil Flores will perform during the cocktails.

Barrios told the Inquirer that it was “a privilege to sing for a fellow Mindanaoan like the President.”

Barrios said she was glad that even though she didn’t campaign for the President, she was given the rare chance to participate in this important occasion. Her song “Bagong Umaga” was used as the campaign jingle of Sen. Grace Poe.

Flores, who placed third in the regional tilt “Asia’s Got Talent” last year, shared the same sentiment. “It’s my first time to perform at the Sona. I am deeply honored and happy that I’ve been chosen to sing for President Duterte and the legislators,” she said.

Flores said that at press time, her playlist has yet to be finalized by organizers.

For the past week, Mendoza has been attending a string of meetings with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and has conducted an ocular inspection of the site as well.

Andanar, he said, has given him carte blanche.

Correct conduct

“But of course, we have to follow protocol. People don’t realize that the Sona, like anything that comes out on television, requires a director, too,” he said. “It will not be treated like a soap opera or a fashion show, but it still needs to be prepped and made presentable for broadcast.”

Mendoza said Maria Montelibano directed Aquino in the past while Aquino’s predecessor, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, turned to acclaimed director (and Aquino’s aunt) Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara for her media image during her term.

Mendoza has reportedly declined payment for the assignment.

“I just want to do my share and help,” he said. “The President and I have the same advocacies. My latest film ‘Ma’ Rosa’ tackled crime, corruption and the drug problem.”

The President’s son, Sebastian Duterte, watched “Ma’ Rosa” at Power Plant Mall recently with actors Ellen Adarna and John Paul Duray, who played a crooked cop in the movie.

Mendoza isn’t certain if the President has already seen “Ma’ Rosa,” though.

“I want to personally give him a DVD copy, but we haven’t had the chance to meet yet,” the director said. He hopes to make a courtesy call at Malacañang once the frenzy of the Sona has died down.

No melodramatics

He first met the President in Davao City in 2014. “I was doing research on a film on Davao then. He was mayor at that time. He struck me as someone sincere and down-to-earth.”

He hopes to capture the same attributes for the Sona.

Known for gritty indie films like “Ma’ Rosa,” his latest Cannes entry, and “Kinatay,” for which he won best director in the A-list French film festival in 2009, Mendoza does not plan to use “melodramatic video dramatizations … no PowerPoint presentations, no metaphorical segments on a bangkang papel (paper boat) or daang matuwid (straight path).”

“I think the President will deliver a short speech, as brief as his inaugural address,” Mendoza said. “He’s a man of action. He’d rather work than talk.”

He said the President’s speech would touch mostly on his plans for the country.

“He has been in office for barely a month. I am sure he wouldn’t want to brag about what he has done so far. He would rather discuss the future. My job is to make his programs as clear and as understandable as possible,” Mendoza said.

He said he preferred not to rehearse the President. “We want his speech to sound spontaneous and natural. I suggested that he speak in Visayan and Tagalog, not just in English,” he said.

But he insisted on a camera rehearsal—a time devoted to fine-tune camera placement and framing.

Clearly, he is treating the Sona like any directorial gig—leaving no stone unturned when it comes to preparation, but still providing a little elbow room for improvisation.

As “Ma’ Rosa” lead star Jaclyn Jose, who won best actress in this year’s Cannes, would say: “Brillante always has a backup plan. A Plan B, C and D—just in case Plan A doesn’t work out. He doesn’t leave anything to chance.”

“But I welcome surprises. Even in my films, I want my cast and crew to be always on their toes,” Mendoza said. “I hope the President will also surprise us during the Sona. That’s why I have a Steadicam on standby.” TVJ