HATAW! D'yaryo ng Bayan hatawtabloid.com
SHOWBIZ KONEK
ni Maricris Valdez Nicasio
AMINADO si Direk Sigrid Andrea Bernardo na tuwina’y gusto niyang makagawa ng pelikula o series ukol sa girl love. Kaya naman excited siya sa pinakabagong proyekto mula Viva, ang Lulu na tatalakay sa girl love na pagbibidahan nina Rhen Escano at ang baguhan at miyembro ng LGBTQIA+Community na si Rita Martinez.
Paliwanag ni Direk Sigrid sa isinagawang story conference ng Lulu, ”Maraming BL series na boy love at kaunti lang ang girl love series. Kaya I have decided to make a series about girl love naman. And also I’ve always wanted to make a lesbian film and ‘yung first feature film ko was ‘Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita’ and that was in 2012 and I’m very excited to do another project na LGBTQIA ang tema.”
Ang Lulu ay isang girl love series na ukol sa dalawang nilalang na ‘di sinasadyang nagkita habang parehong may pinagdaraanan sa kanilang buhay. Sila si Sophie, 25 (Rhen), outspoken bubbly girl at si Abi, 30, soft butch lesbian. Ang istorya ay ukol sa dalawang lost souls longing for a place to belong.
Ani Direk Sigrid, ”I’m very excited to work with Rita and as much as possible I’ve wanted more members from LGBTQIA+community dito sa project na ito. Hindi lang sa actors, even sa staff. And I was very careful in picking my staff and if hindi man sila member ng LGBTQ, they respect the community.”
Nakatrabaho na ni Direk Sigrid si Rhen sa Untrue, “And I’m very proud of her. Ang dami na niyang naging projects, a daring projects and I think this time it’s something different na mai-offer ko sa kanya. I’m very excited to work with her kasi noon sa ‘Untrue’ pa lang nakita ko na ang potential in her and I’ve always wanted to make films, but this time series.”
Si Rita ay isang musician, entrepreneur, chef, sports enthusiast at advocate ng LGBT Community. Naging semi finalist siya ng The Voice of the Philippines Season 2.
“Ive always wanted to make a LGBTQ series and I talked to Rhen and she respects naman the LGBTQ nang sinabi ko na ang makakasama niya eh member nga ng LGBTQ. And this is a passion project kaya ko ginagawa,” giit pa ni Direk Sigrid.
Nalaman pa namin sa pakikipagkuwentuhan kay Direk Sigrid na gusto niyang makabuo ng loveteam from LGBTQ. ”Actually, dream kong magkaroon ng loveteam. Kung may JaDine, KathNiel, LizQuen, baka magkaroon ng RiRhen. Gusto kong magkaroon ng loveteam ang LGBTQ+community na ang tina-tackle nila sa story eh love story, ordinary story na hindi lang, coming out. Pero gusto ko lang na talagang magkaroon ng parang loveteam kaya I was really very careful sa pagpili rin ng artista specially sa pagpili ng role ni Abi.”
Nagpa-audition sila para sa role ni Abi at maraming member ng LGBTQ ang nag-audition, ayon na rin kay Direk Sigrid. ”Na-touched ako sa mga nag-audition dahil ang dami-dami nila na talagang talented na members ng LGBTQ na pwedeng maging artista. Sana makuha ko silang lahat.
“And first time magkita nina Rhen at Rita sa zoom and I can see them as Sophie and Abi. Kinikilig ako sa kanila. I’m very excited to work with them because both of them are very eager to learn, and very passionate on their roles. Kahit si Rhen inaaral din niya dahil bago siya rito sa girl love series kahit experience na siya (as an artist) pero she’s new to this kind of role. Si Rita first time actor but she’s a natural.”
Kapwa excited naman sina Rhen at Rita sa series na next week na magsisimula ang taping.
Samantala, natanong naming si Direk Sigrid kung bakit mas gusto niyang kumuha ng actor na nagmula sa LGBTQ kaysa straight artist na gaganap na lesbian.
“There are a lot of talented actor sa LGBTQ bakit hindi sila bigyan ng chance magbida lalo na ang kuwento naman eh girl love series. Why not cast a real one na kaya namang umarte,” esplika niya sa amin.
“Bakit ako hahanap pa ng iba eh kung member mismo ng LGBTW member eh kayang umarte sa ganitong role, why not? And gusto ko ring i-encourage lahat ng discovered talents lahat—mula LGBTQ and I’m not saying na actors cannot play ng mga ganitong role, but they have more avenues, more opportunities and gusto ko kasing mag-create ng more opportunities for LGBTQ community na hindi lang naha-highlight ang talent nila sa acting. There are a lot of potential actors from them. Hindi lang lagi silang background or supporting roles, kaya naman nilang magbida sa role na nararapat sa kanila.”
Sinabi pa ng magaling na director ukol sa kanyang pelikula na”this is a romantic comedy, hindi nawawala ‘yung sad part, pero more on romantic comedy, and focus on their individual journey hanggang it comes naturally ‘yung love . It’s not a coming out film or series. This is very light, enjoyable series na I want people to enjoy also.”
Naku mukhang maraming mula sa LGBTQ ang mag-eenjoy sa pelikulang ito ni Direk Sigrid at tiyak na kung makabuo nga siya ng loveteam sa pamamagitan nina Rhen at Rita, maging kasikat kaya sila ng KathNiel, Jadine, o LizQuen?
