Ian Veneracion and Dimples Romana
While Ian Veneracion is a “natural” at doing comedy, first-timer Sue Ramirez is a “revelation,” according to Jeffrey Jeturian, who is their director in the TV5 sitcom “Oh My Dad.”
“Ian is already at home with comedy because his first-ever TV show was a sitcom (“Joey and Son” in 1981). For this project, I noticed that he has already learned to love his character, even during the short time we got together for taping. He would give suggestions, as well as improvise. Just like the other cast members, he is very open and collaborative.”
Ian is Matthew Valderrama, an aging celebrity who figured in a scandal some 15 years ago. Still a bachelor, he returns home with the hope that he would regain his fame. But by some unexpected twist, he discovers that he is a father not only to one child, but to three. Playing Matthew’s supposed children are Sue, Louise Abuel, and Adrian Lindayag.
Meanwhile, Sue, who is doing comedy for the first time via “Oh My Dad” (OMD), was “always a scene-stealer,” Jeffrey added.
“Her role here is a provincial lass who goes to Manila upon learning that Ian has returned from the United States. She is one of 12 children of her mother, although not all are fathered by Ian,” Jeffrey explained. “In the script, she was supposed to use a Batangueno accent. I was surprised when, while taping the first scene, I heard her using an Ilonggo accent. She was really good at it, but I had to remind her through my AD (assistant director) that she has to be consistent with it. What I didn’t know was that she is actually an Ilonggo.”
Jeffrey added: “She would improvise, too. Considering that this is her first time, she’s really funny. Someone suggested her for the role. I agreed because I’ve already worked with her a few years back on a soap series. But that was because I knew she’s a good actress in dramatic roles. I got surprised when she did comedy.”
Sue Ramirez
Ian described his character as “someone who is insecure about his situation coming back to Manila; he doesn’t know how to deal with it,” he explained. “There’s so much room for funny situations and dialogue in comedy. It’s so much fun working on this project with my coactors, in developing the characters, breathing life into these caricatures. I really appreciate the humor of the show and of the writers, as well as Direk Jeffrey’s approach.”
After having tried teenybopper roles and then action movies, as well as romantic soap series, and eventually, music, Ian said he’s really looking forward to going back to comedy. “I have to get used to it again. With the guidance of my director, coactors and an excellent pool of writers, I’m confident I can eventually calibrate again to the requirements of an actor doing comedy. It’s nice if you’re with a very supportive group. I get my energy from them.”
Ian said it also helped that Dimples Romana, whom he has already worked with in the zombie flick “Block Z,” is his leading lady in OMD.
“We’re very close. We’ve become good friends. I’m already comfortable working with her. We no longer feel ill-at-ease with each other. In fact, everyone on the set is very tight. Some of the actors I’ve worked with only for the first time, but because we’ve bonded together quickly in our lock-in set, there’s already chemistry early on. It’s really like a dream team,” Ian declared.
Meanwhile, Sue said it wasn’t very hard for her to accept the project. “The script is really beautiful,” she added. “Also, knowing that I’ll be working with some people I’ve worked with before, I easily said ‘yes.’”
Sue then quickly added that she has already passed the responsibility of asking permission from her home network, ABS-CBN, to the sitcom’s producer, Brightlight Productions, which is also a major TV5 block-timer.
“I’m thankful that I was allowed to do this project, especially at a time when there’s massive job loss in the industry as an effect of the pandemic,” said Sue. “More than anything, I think what’s important is that we all have work amidst everything that’s happening.”
“Oh My Dad” was conceptualized by Quantum Films’ Joji Alonzo for Brightlight Production. It premiered on Oct. 24 on TV5 and airs every Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m.