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He is known for being really strict on the set. Only Joel Lamangan can direct with such commanding presence and flair.
He is known for being really strict on the set. Proof of this is the fact that even the biggest stars kowtow to his professional demands. Only Joel Lamangan can direct with such diva flair. Text by KC M. Abalos. Photos by Connie M. Tungul and Mitch S. Mauricio. Gilda Olvidado’s Babangon Ako at Dudurugin Kita was a blockbuster hit and also a critically acclaimed film. So who better to handle the television version than award winning director, Joel Lamangan? He talks about the major challenge of this project. “Nakaka-excite [at] nakakachallenge siya as a director kung paano mo siya gagawing mas exciting sa mass audience, kung paano siya magiging palatable sa audience,” he shares with iGMA. Interestingly, direk Joel was one of the hundreds of extras in the original film. He was able to work with the immortal Lino Brocka then. So he knows better than anyone how to pay respect to the original movie. Of course, he says, they will stay as true to the original film as possible but for a two hour film to be turned into a 13 week series, it is only to be expected that a few changes will have to be made. He explains, “madaming mababago, madadagdag ang characters, mga pangyayari na wala sa original kasi mahaba siya.” Even though other challenges arise from this format, he is more than capable of handling them. After all, he is a veteran in both media, having worked in film and television. He jokes that the most difficult part of being the director of Babangon is, “mas nakakakaba na ang papalitan ko ay Marimar!” Working with the Cast Direk Joel did not require his young cast to watch the film, but he knows that most of them watched it anyway. Yasmien Kurdi and JC de Vera, for example were excited to see how their characters were originally portrayed. “Kasi ang mga bagets hindi naman nila nakita ‘yan so on their own they watched it pero hindi ko ginawang requirement kasi baka gayahin nila 'yung nakita nila. So sabi ko we are doing it but we are not copying it. We are making our own." He says he is more than happy with the way his actors deliver what he asks of them. He then describes what it is like to work with this young and talented cast. “Nirerespeto naman nila ako. They come on time, they are all prepared,” he comments and emphasizes. “I set the attitude correctly sa first meeting pa lang namin, sinabi ko sa kanila na ano ba 'yung pinakakakagalit sa akin 'yung late, kailangan hindi ka ma-late, walang tantrums tantrums kasi I cannot afford it!” Talk about professional! No wonder the series is doing well! With such discipline and passion, the finished product is sure to be a work of art. Talk about the show in the iGMA Forum!