
“Isa akong aktor, minsan direktor, pero hanggang ngayon ay isang frustrated writer.”
Dingdong Dantes revealingly wrote in a letter posted on the Facebook page of respected screenwriter Ricky Lee.
Dingdong's musings came after reading Ricky's new book Kulang na Silya at Iba Pang Kuwentong Buhay.
The book is a collection of Ricky's essays on life and writing.
The award-winning screenwriter is credited for writing many of the country's best films including Jaguar, Brutal, Karnal, Himala, José Rizal, Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita, among many others.
Ricky's latest project, Tagpuan, directed by Mac Alejandre and starring Iza Calzado, Shaina Magdayao, and Alfred Vargas is one of the entries in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival.
“Palaisipan sa akin kung maaari bang makamit ko ang tatlong disciplines na ito nang sabay sabay. Kumbaga sa pagsasayaw, kaya ko dapat gumawa ng musika, mag- choreo, at sayaw,” said Dingdong.
“Pero kahit mahigit na sa dalawang dekada akong nasa industriya, tila naging mailap ang kombinasyong ito.
“Kaya mula noon, tinuring kong isang pangarap ang makapanayam nang masinsinan ang isang manunulat upang malaman kung ano ang tumatakbo sa kanyang isipan sa tuwing siya ay magsusulat at lilikha ng obra.
“Palaging sinasabi sa akin ng aking direktor sa TV na si Dominic Zapata na tratuhing 'sacred' ang bawat script na aking binabasa,” recalled Dingdong.
Dominic is the director of the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean series Descendants of the Sun, which currently airs on GMA-7.
“Minsan kasi, 'di maiwasang palitan ang mga dialogo para mas umakma sa iyong interpretasyon,” continued Dingdong.
“Pero ngayon, mas naunawaan kong ito ay hindi lang isang agham na may nakatakdang istraktura, kundi isang sayaw na parang pasok na pasok sa ritmo ng aming pagtatanghal.”
In the end, Dingdong relayed his wish to someday work alongside Ricky to learn more about the craft of storytelling.
“Di ako magsasawang mangarap na balang araw ay makakatrabaho at makakausap din kita.”
Read Dingdong's full letter: