Dennis Padilla and Empoy Marquez via Padilla’s Instagram
A comedy actor, Dennis Padilla sure knows how to make Filipinos laugh, and he has done so for the past decades. Now, he ventures into directing of what else but comedy films. He makes his directorial debut with “The Barker (Don’t Know What to Do)”.
The comedy movie is topbilled by no less than today’s newest leading man, Empoy Marquez, and Viva Artists Agency talent Shy Carlos.
Padilla shared his experience working as a director with the entertainment press on Friday at the movie’s grand media launch.
“Well, hands-on ka, iba. Every scene talagang nakabantay ka, hanggang mag-editing, every night ako nagbabantay hanggang madaling araw, katabi ko ‘yung editor, pati sa musical scoring nagbantay talaga ko. Every detail ng pelikula nagbantay talaga ko. Sabi sakin ni Arlyn (movie producer Arlyn Dela Cruz) ‘Dennis you have to be there.’ This is your first project as a director, bantayan mo. Personal ko talagang inaalagaan,” Padilla said.
He has had his heyday as an ace comedian in the ’90s. Now, he gives the floor to Empoy and he wants him to soar high in the industry.
“I want Empoy to be the next superstar na comedian,” he added.
Empoy was an instant leading man, thanks to his sleeper hit “Kita Kita,” which garnered more than P300 million in gross sales. But unknown to the public, “The Barker (Don’t Know What to Do) was already in the works way before “Kita Kita” was. Padilla actually feels thankful about its success and hopes that Empoy will successfully bring the enamored fans of “Kita Kita” to watch his second starring movie.
“Advantage kasi ‘yung mga humanga kay Empoy sa “Kita Kita” mas malakas ang tyansang panoorin din kami kasi ang dami nung nanood eh. Just imagine, 350 million ang kinita ‘nung pelikula, kalahati man lang ang maniwala sa “The Barker” that is 170 million, that’s not bad at all. 100 million nga happy kana eh, basta ako naniniwala ako na kung may maganda kang produkto, at may materyal ka na nakakatuwa, I’m sure that people will watch it, Empoy pa nakakatawa,” he said.
Padilla hesitant to be director at first
He had received directorial job offers before, but Padilla said he was not yet ready to accept them. Having gained experience from the directors that he’s worked with in the past, he simply applied his learning to the actors that he handles now.
“Actually ‘nung 2013, in-offeran na ko ni Herbert Bautista na mag-direct pero sabi ko kay Mayor, ‘Mayor, parang kinakabahan pako parang ‘di pa ko ready.’ Sabi niya, ‘Ano ka ba ang tagal-tagal mo na sa industriya at halos lahat ng comedy directors during our time nakatrabaho mo na.’ I’ve worked with lahat ng veteran directors, Ben Feleo, Jett Espiritu, Jun Aristorenas, Eddie Rodriguez, Maning Borlaza, ang dami ko na naging director, drama and comedy directors. ‘Yung mga na-observe ko sa kanila at ‘yung mga nakita ko, ‘yun na rin ang inapply ko sa sarili ko. At ‘yun naman ang ina-apply ko kay Empoy at kay Shy Carlos,” he said.
As most of his past films were a mix of action and comedy, he wants to continue the trail even behind the camera. “I want to be a comedy-action director,” he said.
He, however, still continues with his job as an actor.
“Nag-aartista pa rin ako, I’m making a new movie with Viva ‘yung “Mr. and Mrs. Cruz,” starring Ryza Cenon and JC Santos. Kararating ko lang galing Palawan, 9 days akong nag-shooting sa Palawan,” he said.
Produced by Blank Pages Productions and Viva Films, “The Barker (Don’t Know What to Do)” is hitting cinemas nationwide on Oct. 25. /ra
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