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Director Mac Alejandre switches gears and takes on light fantasy after several successful heavy dramas.
Director Mac Alejandre has directed many serials filled with dramatic scenes that can be considered quite heavy. So how does he switch from heavy drama to light fantasy? iGMA finds out! Text by Jason John S. Lim. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. The project Tasya Fantasya, says Director Mac Alejandre, was actually assigned to the director even before he was picked to helm another Carlo J. Caparas masterpiece: Joaquin Bordado. And has taken six months, after taping the pilot episode, for the project to push through. "Ano ‘to, return of the comeback,” the director jokes. Though the director and the cast are the same, the whole team behind the show was replaced. But Direk Mac is not worried that the show would take a different life from the one he signed up for: “kasi it’s still the same material. We retained the same concept, ‘di ba? Hindi naman nagbago ang itsura ng mga artista in six months. “Nabuntis lang si Gladys [Reyes] atsaka si Alicia [Mayer].” Juggling between two shows Direk Mac says that people have a misconception about having to helm two shows, explaining that it’s not as hard as people think it is. “Ang directing ay laging what do you want to say and how you want to say it, ‘di ba?” He points out that a show is a writer’s vision, as interpreted by the director. “[And] as long as one is loyal to the vision and the intent, hindi problema ‘yun.” The director reveals that whenever he is offered a show, a movie or an advertisement commercial, he always asks what the material wants to say. “Ergo, ano ba talaga ang gusto kong sabihin? Pag na-define ko na ang gusto kong sabihin, paano ko ba talaga sasabihin ito? Then it goes down the line. “‘Saan ba galing ito? Nasaan siya ngayon? Saan ito pupunta?’ Those are the three basic questions I always answer.” Which is why, he concludes, he does not have a problem with shuttling back and forth between Joaquin Bordado and Tasya Fantasya. “Kasi malinaw sa utak ko kung anong gustong, anong content ng material, ang gusto kong sabihin.” Just black and white Tasya Fantasya is an afternoon weekly anthology, a fact that Direk Mac says “already defines the market.” He calls the show “light, comic [and] colorful,” adding that the magic of the show isn’t seen on the special effects—it’s the way it makes the viewers smile and be happy. “It’s supposed to touch your heart.” Direk Mac does admit that the show is a bit “tongue-in-cheek”. He says that since the show originated from a comic series, he wanted it to have the comic feel. “‘Yung makulay na makulay. [But] very clear cut: black is black, white is white. There are no gray areas. “Walang ‘mabait siya, kaya lang ganito’. Walang ganoon! “Kapag mabait ka, mabait ka. ‘Pag hindi ka mabait, hindi ka mabait. Para malinaw ang atake. Comics ang atake.” The director says that he doesn’t want the audience to get tired while watching the program. “I don’t want it to [be] heavy and taxing. I want it to look light.” He adds that he wants the audience to be along for the ride the whole run, “sometimes the ride will be rough, sometimes it will be emotional. But oftentimes, it [will be] funny and it will make them smile. I want it to be colorful; I want it to be dazzling, but I don’t want it to look [too much of] a spectacular. “Hindi ‘yun ang niche niya.” And Direk Mac hopes that he manages to skewer all target markets: from the kids, to the yuppies, to the more mature audiences. Tasya Fantasya whisks viewers into fantastical new worlds every Sunday afternoon after SOP. Catch the show and talk about it at the iGMA Forums! If you're not yet registered, take the time to register now! Who knows? You might even get to chat with your favorite Kapuso Star in the heat of the Summer season!