A Touch of Direk Mike

If there’s one thing the actors of Kaputol ng Isang Awit can agree on, it’s this: Mike Tuviera is an actor’s director. But what exactly does that mean? Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim. With interviews by Alula Love M. Dela Cruz. “He’s an actor’s director,” Lovi Poe says about Kaputol ng Isang Awit director, Mike Tuviera. The young actress plays Joanna in the series, the singer who was raised in wealth and her father’s machinations. The young actress says that as an actor’s director, Direk Mike takes care of his actors. And when they need help with something, their director wouldn’t think twice about helping them with their character problems. Lovi admits that she had initial apprehensions about the role, which she talked to Direk Mike about, even during the story conference for the show. She laughs, “he told me, ‘just bring out the bitch in you’.” “Each actor has his or her own process,” Direk Mike explains, saying that for Kaputol ng Isang Awit, the difficulty lay in Lovi being nervous about portraying her first kontrabida role. “We were talking every time, talagang every day we focus on breaking down her character: ‘Hanapin mo ‘yung connection between you, Lovi, and Joanna’.” He continues, that if Lovi had qualms about playing her first antagonist, Glaiza de Castro was facing a different set of nerves, one that focuses on her having been given her biggest responsibility yet. “Kasi, it’s the first time she’s been given this kind of responsibility. Ang laki!” Direk Mike points out that the story mostly revolves on Glaiza’s character, Sarah, and her relationship with Joanna. What people don’t know is that during the story conference, the director had given his cast and crew the ground rules on his set. Strict rules that shouldn’t be broken under any circumstances. So when shooting the show actually came about, Glaiza admits to being pleasantly surprised at how jolly Direk Mike was. “‘Di ko na-imagine na ganoon [siya] ka jolly. Ang gaang katrabaho,” the young actress reveals. Having worked with numerous directors for shows that are teen-oriented and of that for drama, Glaiza says that Direk Mike is very refreshing. And Lovi agrees with this assessment. She adds, “He’ll let you do [what you want with the character,] he gives you the opportunity to show [the character] in what way [you want to show her.] “It’s fun. Napaglalaruan [mo] ‘yung role.” Lovi finishes. Marky Cielo, who plays another central character in the show, says that he’s working with Direk Mike for the first time with Kaputol ng Isang Awit, and he reveals that the director is very cool. “Hindi ka pinababayaan.” And what’s more, Marky also says that he can connect a lot with Direk Mike because of a shared interest: video games! But what’s most important is that, even when they have their moments of bonding, their director knows how to get the job done. And Direk Mike definitely knows how to get it done well. Do you want to know more about what goes on behind the scenes of the show? Why not ask Glaiza and Lovi when they drop by the iGMA Live Chat? This coming April 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the stars will align to bring you the two lead stars of Sine Novela’s Kaputol ng Isang Awit! So if you’re not yet registered, register now! While waiting for the chat, talk about the show at the iGMA Forums! And if you can’t join the chat, there’s another way to bond with Glaiza and Lovi! Subscribe to their Fanatxt service by texting GLAIZA or LOVI and sending to 4627 (for all telcos). (Each Fanatxt message costs PhP2.50 for GLOBE, SMART, and TALK 'N TEXT, and PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers. This service is available only in the Philippines) Of course, don’t miss the fast-paced Sine Novela, Kaputol ng Isang Awit every weekday afternoons after Sine Novela presents Maging Akin Ka Lamang .