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How does one make a masterpiece? Director-Writer Rodolfo "Jun" Lana shares just what goes on behind the decisions of each featured artist that has graced Obra.
How does one make a masterpiece? Director-Writer Rodolfo "Jun" Lana shares just what goes on behind the decisions of each featured artist and the episodes they're given. Text and Photos by Jason John S. Lim. The first objective for OBRA, according to Head Writer Jun Lana is for it to be a platform for the actors, actresses, directors and writer to make their masterpieces. "Para sa mga artista ng GMA, it's a chance for them to push the envelope. For the writers and directors, to think out of the box— "So in a way, 'yung episodes na nilalabas namin, hindi siya conventional." But, he continues, the biggest challenge for the writers and directors, is to make these non-conventional stories relatable for the network’s audiences. The first step is to pick a featured artist that would draw in the viewers, "na palagay namin malakas ang hatak sa manonood natin." Second, he adds, "nilalagyan pa rin namin ng elements na gustong-gusto ng mga tao. "If you notice, karamihan sa mga episodes, very dramatic. Kasi gusto namin na manood pa rin 'yung mga nanay, 'yung audience na nanunuodrin ng soap opera." Jun Lana adds that when they brainstorm ideas for a featured artist, they take a look first at what the artist has already done. "And then doon namin sinisimulan 'yung mga kwento." He uses as an example Sunshine Dizon's OBRA run, which the writer admits is the hardest to brainstorm. "Kasi ngaawa na niya lahat, so halos isang buong araw kaming nag-brainstorm." "Ang dami-daming ideas yan; we compile all these ideas, all these concepts—and then my votation kung ano 'yung pinakamabuti." And for Sunshine, Jun says that they saw that Sunshine is the actress people love to see in dramatic roles. And to break the mold made by Katrina Halili and JC de Vera, Sunshine’'s OBRA run features a horror episode instead of a comic one. "Gusto nating makita kung gaano kalawak 'yung acting niya—na [at the same time] malalim 'yung kwento—so we decided na mag-drama at mag-horror." To conclude, the program's head writer says that OBRA is alternative programming for those who are tiring of the norm in Philippine TV. "Panay soap opera eh. Kung naghahanap ka ng ibang klaseng entertainment, maghahanap ka ng kwentong kakaiba— "Yun 'yung masasabi ko na ipinagmamalaki talaga ng OBRA." The head writer says that since the program began, "relentless—hindi namin binitawan. Because we could’ve gone more commercial, we could just do love stories, kilig-kilig and all. But we’re not doing that. Because we're standing by the concept of OBRA because we believe that it's unique. "Not even Magpakailanman was able to reach this kind of entertainment and quality that OBRA is offering." OBRA presents Sunshine Dizon begins its run with Butch this Thursday night after Survivor Philippines. Talk about your expectations for the new featured artist at the iGMA Forums! And get to know Sunshine more through Fanatxt! Just key in SUNSHINE on your mobile phones, and send 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 exclusively for the Philippines only.)