Dialogue with Direk Dom

Direk Dominic Zapata is practically a celebrity himself. With a string of top-rating shows under his belt and an infectious personality to boot, he’s one of iGMA’s favorites when it comes to fun-filled interviews. On one of our random chats, he revealed why his recent show Super Twins is a rater. “It might sound like a paradox, but maybe because Super Twins doesn’t try,” explains direk Dom, when asked why Super Twins has become a hit. “It doesn’t try too hard and it doesn’t try to be cool. It doesn’t try to be funny. Take it as it is. You watch it and it is there. Hindi siya pa-intelihente, hindi siya pa-artsy. It’s just there, it’s just a fun view. May pag ka baduy pa siya, admittedly,” he says with a smile. Calling the show “baduy” is a funny way of describing it, especially when it’s from the director himself! But with the Twins’ neon costumes, the choreographed pa-cute chants, and the villains’ bizarre personalities, we just might agree with him! “Pero I guess lahat tayo may pagka-baduy, like may pagka-baduy sa love life. However fashionable we are, there are certain things that may be considered baduy by others, but these are just things we cannot let go of. Ganun ‘yung Super Twins, it’s like a friend of yours. This friend of yours, he doesn’t try, he just sits there. Ganun siya. Nagpapakatotoo lang. It doesn’t pretend to be something that it’s not. Kaya masarap siyang panoorin.” Direk says that he plans to take a break after Super Twins ends in June. “My plans have nothing to do with the Network’s plans!” he jokes. But he clarifies, “No no, no, I appreciate it, in fact I don’t want to take vacation. I happen to like being busy; I’m very thankful to GMA for that and I think what they have lined up next for me is officially Shaider.” “Of course there are lot of other new shows that are coming up - I’d love to do those as well. Pero officially, sinabi sa akin na I’ll be doing Shaider.” We asked Direk if he has a particular liking for fantasy-themed shows, since his past shows have all been fantaseryes (Mars Ravelo’s Darna and Captain Barbell). “I would love to direct something a lot simpler, less physically taxing,” he admits. But I always see this thing as a restaurant. You serve what people want to eat. If they refuse to eat that, then it’s useless. You can’t force something down their throat, pero I think there’s a market for shows like Bakekang. Bakekang is very successful and they didn’t have any effects. They just had really good acting; it was very well directed and very well written as well.” He clarifies, “Not to say there are telefantasyas are not well written, but I think those are simpler to execute and I would think also cheaper to execute, because there are no fantastic sets or fantastic effects.” He says that whenever GMA comes up with a new series, there’s always a conscious effort to do one thing: “That it really is something new and we are always pushing beyond, and hindi natin binabalewala ‘yung intellect ng audience natin. ‘Yung kanilang continuing demands in terms of quality and their taste parang tumataas na rin e.” Given that Super Twins has all these supernatural effects every few minutes, Direk surprised us when he said that “it’s a cheap show,” which is why he’s happy that it’s doing well regardless of this fact. “It costs about half of what Asian Treasures or maybe Lupin cost. This has been a cheap show,” he reveals. “Even with the effects and all, because we don’t have, lets say for example, a Rudy Fernandez, or an Eddie Garcia in the cast. I wanted to get, instead of Botchok being a pig, initially, I wanted him to be a tiger, or a tiger cub. But it will be a difficult transporting. Then I’ve mention if we could get a orangutan, like a wise old man. Then nakita namin ‘yung cost, and then nakita ko, walang artista na kasing mahal ng orangutan!” “Then sabi ko, lets not get the orangutan. Its an insult to our actors and to our staff, because if I had to combine their talent fees baka dun lang ka-level ang orangutan! Lets get that stinking pig who always poops on the set!” he shares with a laugh. Don’t miss this bizarre, brilliant, and self-confessed “baduy” series that you know you love! Tune in every weeknight right after Asian Treasures!! Check out the Super Twins Gallery by clicking here!