Direk Lino Cayetano dares to shatter conventions in film debut
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Finally, here is a young director who does not rely on gay humor for entertainment, confrontational drama for climax and trivial resolutions for ever–after endings.
TV director Lino Cayetano has finally crossed over the silver screen medium via the teen drama "I’ve Fallen For You" starring Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. His biggest break since conceptualizing and directing "Starstruck," "I’ve Fallen For You" solidifies another crossover move from Lino, that of GMA to ABS–CBN.
The 29–year-old director clarified however that he had parted well with his former network. "Nagpaalam naman ako at pinapayagan naman nila ako to do projects, one of those projects nga was the one where ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ featured the story of my father, Sen. Rene Cayetano."
This opportunity, Lino said, made him realize all the more that his heart belongs to directing which is a medium to communicate with people. "My dad was once criticized for saying na mas marami pa siyang natutulungan sa programa niya ("Compañero y Compañera") na isang oras lang sa isang linggo compared to hours and hours in the Senate. And he is right. Alam nating lahat kung gaano ka–powerful ang industriya natin kaya sa opportunities na nakukuha ko, I make sure na I get to insert values on spirituality and family."
Lino had been recently disappointed when his episode in the twin–plot "Huwag Kang Lilingon" was dropped from the Star Cinema horror. But it all turned out for the better because with "I"ve Fallen For You," Lino—along with good friend and known screenwriter Mel del Rosario—had more chances to inject the things they want in the story, setting the film beyond cinematic cliches. "I’ve Fallen For You," Lino said did not only confine its story with the usual boy-meets-girl, boy-falls-for-girl and vice versa, boy-and-girl-break up and the requisite happy ending.
ALL ABOUT INTENTIONS
The press people had a difficult time cornering Direk Lino into answering controversial questions because of his mild–mannered and downright sincere nuances. His admirable characteristics are also evident in his work output. Mel del Rosario said, "Masyadong polite yang si Lino na lahat na lang ng tao kinukunan niya ng opinion at pinakikinggan kaya minsan hinahatak ko na talaga siya kasi hindi naman siya kakandidato pero kung itrato niya ang lahat ‘pare, ate kuya’ na akala mo kapatid niya lahat ng makita niya."
But Lino would not be denied of the values he strongly believes in. "Hindi ko lang talaga style yung maging masungit. Tahimik lang talaga ako. I remember this one time na nagalit ako sa set, nagsisi lang ako pagkatapos so from then on, ayoko nang magalit."
In "I’ve Fallen For You," the only sequence that tested Lino’s temper limits were the music video–ish moments of Kim and Gerald. "Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ako naiinis sa mga ganung moments siguro dahil alam ko na hindi lang sa mga ganung ka–cinematic na ways puwedeng ipakita ang sweetness. I can be sweet and make the object of my sweetness feel it from across the room. Hindi kailangang mag–touch even ang mga fingers to show sweetness."
But the good thing is that Star Cinema has allowed much of Lino’s creative vision into the movie. "Masaya naman ako sa outcome. Sobrang happy ako na Star Cinema allowed us to pitch yung mga kuwentong gusto namin at mga laman ng pelikula na gusto naming ibahagi sa mga tao."
The director told the Manila Bulletin last Friday, "It’s because of the stereo–typing of such romance stories that we’ve robbed off this generation of their dreams. That’s the biggest crime committed to this generation. Before, pag tinanong mo ang kabataan kung ano ang ambisyon nila, they wanted to become lawyers, writers and doctors. Now when you ask them, ang gusto na lang nila magtapos ng two–year courses para makapag–trabaho sa call center para sa disenteng kita. If we think about it, hind lang naman love life and problema ng mga 17 at 18 year olds. Marami pa silang ibang conflicts na pinagdadaanan.
These conflicts, of course, make for what these young people will become in the future. Lino’s point is that if the fans of Kim and Gerald will be able to mirror reality through this romance–drama, he will be able to move them. "At hindi naman ito hard sell. We tackled these issues, even adult issues surrounding the parents of the pair, in a manner na may matututunan ang lahat. This is not just a love story but a movie about love that’s full of conflicts and choices."
Lino strongly believes that values about God and family can heal any heartache and repair broken spirits. During the time when his father and former Senator Rene Cayetano was fighting for his life against cancer, Lino had the opportunity to live in a motel room with his parents and siblings now–Senators Pia and Allan Peter and brother Ren–ren. "It was the only time all six of us were able to be together again and my mother was so happy that time and it’s ironic that it happened at a time we were all suffering because of my dad’s condition."
Lino donated his liver to his father when late legislator was battling cancer and the operation was completed. He recalled, "After the operation, my father said he would devote what’s left of his time as a public servant to reach out to as many Filipino families as possible." When he died, it was then that I realized the importance of his vision. I hope I can help him share it through film and TV."
Lino studied Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines where he took certain film subjects. He went on to take further studies on film at the New York Film Academy and NYU. Aside from "Starstruck," Lino directed other TV projects for GMA. When he moved to ABS–CBN, he did a couple of more episodes of "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and did second unit directing with Maryo J. de los Reyes in "Mga Anghel na Walang Langit" and "Calla Lilly." Aside from Maryo J. de Los Reyes, Lino considers Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal among his biggest film influences.
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