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In a 10-minute conversation at the set of Fantastic Man, actor-turned -director Zoren Legaspi shares with us his passion for his craft.
Zoren Legaspi is quite busy these days. He’s seen in front of the camera as part of Princess Charming and even behind it, as director of the upcoming show (Fantastic Man). In a ten-minute conversation at the set of the Mark Herras-starrer, he shares with us his passion for his craft. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. With interviews by Loretta G. Ramirez. Photos by Loretta G. Ramirez and Jillian Q. Gatcheco. His first shot at directing was during the month-long special of the horror weekend show Wag Kukurap in 2004 where he was among the four chosen to direct an episode. “‘Yung buhay ko kasi laging nasa right timing…Kahit ‘yung pag-aartista ko, right timing. Eksakto, pag-uwi ko from Amerika, naghahanap talaga sila ng ipe-pair up kay Aiko (Melendez) to be launched as a love team. Ito namang directing, katatapos ko lang mag-summer workshop with Peque Gallaga, tapos nag-tape ako ng Wag Kukurap. Tapos eksakto sabi nila, ‘Ay, tamang tama, naghahanap kami ng director para sa special!’” Zoren’s interest for directing is no passing fancy. “Noong nag-a-act pa ako sa action movies, bwisit na bwisit ako...Dahil makikita mo kasing mali!...Pero hindi ko pinakikialamanan, kasi bata pa ako noon, baka sabihin nila sa ‘yo ‘Pakialamero ka!’” This prompted Zoren to learn more about the craft and see if it suits him. “Kasi hindi ko naman papasukin ito if it’s just for work. Masyadong heavy ang trabaho ng director, especially pag gusto mong pagandahin (yung output). Iba ‘yung nag-direct ka lang, iba ‘yung pinag-iisipan mo.” His own style This self-confessed movie fanatic shares the most important thing about action movies, his genre of choice. “There has to be a story,” he emphasizes. “Isang good action film is Top Gun (1986). Ang action ko kasi, hindi naman ‘yung bakbakan nang bakbakan, eh. Braveheart (1995), (isa pa ‘yan na gusto ko)…” How about local action movies? “Pretty Boy Hoodlum(1990s). Kasi ako ako ‘yun, eh," he says with a laugh. "Launching movie ko ‘yun as an action star sa Regal Films. It (stayed) in the box office, kaya memorable sa akin ‘yun at saka maganda ‘yung storya.” When iGMA interviewed him during his Atlantika days, Zoren described himself as a strict director, the type who would shout at actors if they don’t get it right. “Naniniwala kasi ako na ‘yung mga artista ngayon -- hindi ko nilalahat pero hindi na nila alam kung ano trabaho ng artista -- para sa kanila, ‘raket.’ Disapprove nga ako sa term na ‘yun kasi parang dine-degrade mo ‘yung trabaho. Parang dadaan ka lang, aakting ka lang ng sequences, babayaran ka na. Ganoon ‘yung raket, e. Whether it’s a sequence or five sequences, you still have to act. At kailangan, ‘yung arte mo diyan, arte,” he stresses. More patience But when we hung out in between takes of his latest project Fantastic Man, direk Zoren was an entirely different man. “Siguro nag-mature ako on how to be patient with the people I’m working with. Dati kasi, ine-expect ko, kung ano ako, ganoon sila -- in terms of discipline, in terms of creativity, lahat. So hindi pala ganoon. Dati hindi ko masyadong ine-explain kasi akala ko, gets na nila kaagad. Ngayon, ‘yung patience ko towards that, ‘yun ang naging growth. (At least), konti!” he shares with a laugh. In fact, he reveals that he likes working with new actors. “Dahil (ito sa) challenge na kaya ko silang ma-improve, kaya ko silang bigyan ng disiplina, at kaya ko silang bigyan ng something new to learn.” The advantage of working with veteran actors, on the other hand, is they know what to do already. “Pero ang negative side noon, mayroon na silang sariling style na mahirap nang baguhin. Meron na silang sariling mannerisms,” he frankly imparts. Family ties Would he like to direct his beautiful wife Carmina someday? “Oo, marami pa kasing hindi na-to-touch sa kanya, ‘yung ibang side niya,” Zoren says. As for his kids, this strict father says that he will only allow them to enter showbiz if they have the talent. “Otherwise, ‘wag na, kasi nakakahiya. Ayoko kasing sabihin, kaya lang naman nakapasok ‘yan dahil swerte (sa) magulang. Kailangan talented sila.” Zoren passionately shares how he sees himself as a director: “Siguro maco-compare ko lang sarili ko kung paano nakikita ni (Efren) Bata Reyes ang bola sa billiards…Kung nakakakita ng anggulo si Bata Reyes sa billiards, kung ano unang titirahin niya doon, doon ko nakikita ‘yung script, ‘yung eksena kaya siguro mabilis ako. And I don’t rest kasi tine-take advantage ko ‘yung pagkabata ko.” See more of Zoren’s work! Watch Princess Charming on weekdays after Muli, and watch out for Fantastic Man, soon to air on the afternoon weekend block!