Direk Gil Tejada's formula for success

Sa prime time viewing, we all know na napakahigpit ng contest when it comes to ratings. At hindi ito lingid sa batikang director ng 'All About Eve' na si Gil Tejada; in fact, it's exactly the reason why he has been at the helm of successful shows for close to two decades now. Text by Erick Mataverde. Photo Mitch S. Mauricio. Recently, Direk Gil Tejada took time off from his busy schedule to speak to members of the press about the ratings of his current prime time show All About Eve, and iGMA.tv was there to get the lowdown on what his formula for the show would be this time around. "'Yung pilot episode, ninerbyos kami kasi mababa po 'yung [ratings nung] umpisa. So, although basically trend po kasi talaga yan nung slot na yun. Ever since Bakekang namin, it all started talaga sa mababa. Eventually, pumipick-up na siya, tumataas habang nagtatagal. Siguro, baka adamant or observant lang yung mga audience na ano kaya itong palabas na ito? "Kaya ganun 'yung mga tipo na nakikinita ko sa kanila. [They ask], 'Ano naman kaya itong ihahain sa amin?' 'Yung tipong ganun. So eventually, as the day goes on, parang nakikita nila ay may laman pala! 'Yun ang analysis ko doon kaya, eventually, pagdating noong fourth day namin, tumaas na kami," disclosed Direk Gil. At, para sa kanya ano ang reason why the audience becomes glued to All About Eve night after night? Direk Gil responded, "Ang strength namin is kapag inaapi si Sunshine (Dizon). Kapag inaapi si Sunshine, kapag nakita mo, kahit alam mo na kontrabida siya, 'yun ang gauge ko. Kapag nakita mo yung episode na inaapi siya pero alam mo kahit salbahe siya o maldita siya, kapag inapi na siya nila Eula (Valdez) or pinagalitan, ginulpi…ayan mataas po iyon." However, he doesn't mean na ito lang naman ang sole reason, but it may be what generates the most interest. "Although hindi ko naman sinasabi na yung ibang factor o ibang co-actors niya ay hindi ganoon. Basically, nakikita namin na parang ang pick-up is yung kapag nandun. Kasi ang tawag ko sa kanya kapag nasa set hanggang ngayon ay si Bakekang." The director also discloses na maski na gumaganda na ang ratings ng isang show ay magiging kampante na sila. He explains that the creativity and ability to adjust to specific requirements should always be present. "Actually, siyempre brainstorm kayo, eto yung mangyayari. Okay, sige nasolve na. Minsan yung pagkakasulat iba doon sa gusto mo mangyari. Nagpapasantabi naman ako sa writer, 'Hoy, ginalaw ko yung ano ninyo. Eto yung ginawa ko.' Para aware sila, para sa pagsulat nila sa susunod yung continuity alam nila di ba? Kasi siyempre nagpapalitan ang mga writers, so para at least aware sila kung ano nangyari kasi minsan yung writers [ang] susulatin, ang basis niya binasa niya lang yung script hindi niya napanood, so sasabihin ko rin 'Hoy, ginawa po namin [ito]. Ginanito po namin or g[in]anun.'" At para kay Direk Gil, this setup is just ideal for him. Though he admits that having a co-director would also be a boon. He revelead that Direk Mac Alejandre as well as one of All About Eve's co-stars, Eric Quizon, are there to give him a hand. "Well, so far nag-one time siya (si Eric) magdirect noong kinailangan namin. Noong nasa Singapore, kami pero hindi siya pupuwede, artista siya. May mga scenes na tatamaan. Paano siya aarte at magco-concentrate as a director? "So yun ang parang regular co-director ko is si Direk Mac [Alejandre] which is nakakatuwa rin kasi way back magkasama kami sa ABS, magkasama kami sa Viva, Anna Luna, noon pa, Maalala (Mo Kaya), Mister Kupido. Tapos lumipat na ako sa Viva. Bago pa mag Anna Karenina. That was 1988 po yun until 1994 [kami magkasama]." Ito ang patunay na Direk Gil ay mabusisi, pero open-minded in most every aspect sa kanyang trabaho – reason being he has been directing hit after hit for quite a time now. He states in closing, "It pays also na isa lang yung director, naco-control mo. Although sometimes it's too tasky, masarap din na may co-director ka di ba? Kasi siyempre hindi ka masyadong pressured. Tapos yung number of sequences na binubuo. Pero sa kabilang banda kapag solo mo, you have full control of the material eh. Di ba po? Although masarap na may co-director. Ang hirap na mag-isa." Pag-usapan ang mga pinaka-latest episodes ng All About Eve by logging on to to the iGMAForums! Not yet a member? Register here!