“Kung wala ang ‘Tanging Ina (Part 1)’ ito ang pinaka-favorite kong
movie sa lahat ng nagawa ko.” (Outside of ‘Tanging Ina’ this is my
favorite of all the movies I’ve done.)
That’s director Wenn Deramas’ bold statement about his new movie, “Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki”, which opens next Wednesday, October 23. Which is saying a lot considering that he has directed 27 films in a prolific career that has made him the most successful comedy director of this generation.
It’s not just hollow extra push for the movie whose biggest star is Tom Rodriguez of TV phenomenon “My Husband’s Lover”. And even Tom is an untested box-office draw.
Which is to say that Direk Wenn is speaking from the heart. “Bekikang” is very special to the blockbuster director for two reasons. It marks his return to the drama-comedy genre that he perfected in the original “Tanging Ina” film.
And, more important, much of the story is based on the prolific filmmaker’s own personal experiences as a gay child and single gay parent. (He wrote the movie’s story and screenplay by himself, one of the few times he did not collaborate with a writer.)
“Ikaw na ikaw ‘yun ah,” Wenn recalls his sister, who worked as location manager for the movie, as saying after shooting scenes that were clearly culled from the director’s personal life from childhood to adulthood, of which there are many.
Inspired by the Dolphy classic “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”, “Bekikang”
tells the story of a loving, all-sacrificing good-natured gay family
breadwinner nicknamed Bekikang who is forced to take care of the
lovechild of a straight male dear friend, played by Tom Rodriguez.
The dramatic conflict arises when the guy returns many years later and reclaims the child, whom Bekikang has raised as his own.
The movie was originally developed as a teleserye last year. Wenn already got the go-signal all the way to the pilot treatment. Things fell through when he cast the lead role.
The network balked at the name Joey Paras, a theater veteran who was largely unknown in TV and movies at that time. The executives preferred a straight actor, apparently following the “Tatay Kong Nanay” template.
Wenn stuck with his choice. He saw the perfect actor for Bekikang in Joey, whom he knew could deliver both the comic and the dramatic demands of the role, sometimes in the same breath. He decided to withdraw the project from the network and pitched the material as a movie to Viva Films.
Wenn instantly got the greenlight, which came with the complete creative control to make exactly the kind of light drama-comedy that he wanted with the lead actor that he had in mind from the get-go.
And “Bekikang” has turned put to be his second favorite film among all 27 that he has done throughout his career.
For more CHIKA Patrol updates FOLLOW or LIKE CHIKA PATROL on Facebook and Twitter and ADVERTISE with us email at ilovekakulay@gmail.com
That’s director Wenn Deramas’ bold statement about his new movie, “Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki”, which opens next Wednesday, October 23. Which is saying a lot considering that he has directed 27 films in a prolific career that has made him the most successful comedy director of this generation.
It’s not just hollow extra push for the movie whose biggest star is Tom Rodriguez of TV phenomenon “My Husband’s Lover”. And even Tom is an untested box-office draw.
Which is to say that Direk Wenn is speaking from the heart. “Bekikang” is very special to the blockbuster director for two reasons. It marks his return to the drama-comedy genre that he perfected in the original “Tanging Ina” film.
And, more important, much of the story is based on the prolific filmmaker’s own personal experiences as a gay child and single gay parent. (He wrote the movie’s story and screenplay by himself, one of the few times he did not collaborate with a writer.)
“Ikaw na ikaw ‘yun ah,” Wenn recalls his sister, who worked as location manager for the movie, as saying after shooting scenes that were clearly culled from the director’s personal life from childhood to adulthood, of which there are many.
The dramatic conflict arises when the guy returns many years later and reclaims the child, whom Bekikang has raised as his own.
The movie was originally developed as a teleserye last year. Wenn already got the go-signal all the way to the pilot treatment. Things fell through when he cast the lead role.
The network balked at the name Joey Paras, a theater veteran who was largely unknown in TV and movies at that time. The executives preferred a straight actor, apparently following the “Tatay Kong Nanay” template.
Wenn stuck with his choice. He saw the perfect actor for Bekikang in Joey, whom he knew could deliver both the comic and the dramatic demands of the role, sometimes in the same breath. He decided to withdraw the project from the network and pitched the material as a movie to Viva Films.
Wenn instantly got the greenlight, which came with the complete creative control to make exactly the kind of light drama-comedy that he wanted with the lead actor that he had in mind from the get-go.
And “Bekikang” has turned put to be his second favorite film among all 27 that he has done throughout his career.
For more CHIKA Patrol updates FOLLOW or LIKE CHIKA PATROL on Facebook and Twitter and ADVERTISE with us email at ilovekakulay@gmail.com
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