Direk Paul bilib kay Joey bilang dramatic actor

Ni ARCHIE LIAO

IDEYA ni Toni Gonzaga na makatrabaho ang dati niyang Eat Bulaga co-host na si Joey De Leon.
Bukod kasi sa bilib siya sa antics nito sa pagpapatawa, itinuturing niyang icon na rin ito sa kanyang larangan.
Hindi rin matatawaran ang achievements ng beteranong komedyante dahil maliban sa magaling na TV host at comedy actor, proven na ang track record nito sa box office.
Kaya naman noong i-pitch sa kanya ng misis na si Toni ang konsepto ng pelikulang “The Teacher”, na-excite raw siya na idirek ito.
Bagama’t masasabing out-of his comfort zone raw ito sa kanya dahil mas nakilala siya sa mga pelikulang serious dramas tulad ng “A Journey Home”, “Thelma”, “Siargao”, “Kid Kulafu”, “ First Love” at “Mananita,” tinanggap daw niya ang hamon.
Si Direk Paul din ang nagprodyus ng mga critically-acclaimed at award-winning films tulad ng “Transit”, “Dagitab”, “Mariquina” at “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” under his Ten17P Productions.
“As a filmmaker, I want to challenge myself to do other genres and it’s fun. I felt good about the film. Nandoon pa rin naman iyong discipline. It was actually challenging,” aniya. “Besides, I am fan of movies like The Intern, Blindside and those kind of stuff. I’m also a father so I can relate to the theme of the movie about education,” paliwanag niya.
Dagdag pa niya, rebelasyon din daw si Joey bilang isang dramatic actor.
“This is true. Some of the best dramatic actors are comedians like in Hollywood, we have Jim Carrey, Robin Williams and Adam Sandler. Ang Joey is also a painter,” ani Direk Paul.
Ikinuwento rin niya kung gaano ka-sensible at intelligent actor ang tinaguriang Mr. Funny Man.
“There was this instance na he cried though I told him not to cry. Noong nag-take two, umiyak uli siya. You could really feel the serious side of Joey de Leon. Ang galing-galing ni Joey,” pagbabahagi niya.
Ang “The Teacher” ay masasabi rin niyang tribute nila sa mga guro.
“You know, our teachers are our second parents who taught us the values of good education . They equip us where we are now, ”aniya. “The teachers are very underrated. Sila talaga iyong mga unsung heroes natin. They’re the ones who sacrifice so much for us and yet sometimes, they’re the most underappreciated,” dugtong pa niya.
Sa pelikulang “My Teacher”, ipinakikita ang kahalagahan ng pag-aaral kung saan hindi naging hadlang ang edad o anumang kalagayan sa buhay para makakuha ng disenteng edukasyon.
Bilang opisyal na kalahok sa 2022 MMFF, kasama rin sa cast sina Ronnie Alonte, Loisa Andalio, Carmi Martin, Rufa Mae Quinto, Kakai Bautista, Jackie Lou Blanco, Pauline Mendoza, at Kych Minemoto.
Si Direk Paul ay itinalagang Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications ng Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos.
Aniya, kahit peso lang ang budget ng kanyang ahensiya, nakahanda raw naman siyang makipagtulungan sa lahat ng ahensiya para maisakatuparan ang kanyang mga programa.
“I’ll be working with several government agencies. I think the office has a 1 peso budget but there’s a lot we can do. It’s not all about budget. There’s a lot you can do with your ideas and suggestions. I plan to work with a lot of departments and these departments naman have their budgets. If they like my idea, I’m here to guide them in the projects that they do. Sometimes, sa production naman iyong mga ginagawa nyo, walang budget pero naipu-pull off naman,” paliwanag niya.
Niliwanag pa niya na ang kanyang opisina ay hindi sakop o independent sa iba’t ibang ahensiya tulad ng FDCP at NCCA na kailangan ng kanyang suporta.
Nakipagtulungan na rin siya sa iba’t ibang government agencies tulad ng DOT, DMW, DTI, DILG, DICT at iba pa.
“I’m not here to mandate or force myself into these departments. Actually, it’s nice that these departments have contacted to ask for my services and hopefully, I’m here to help and support by bringing new ideas, bringing my expertise and just give them new perspective on how to be just as creative and be as unique as possible . I knew that not all my projects are gonna be successful but I hope that at least two out of ten would make a difference and the important thing is you come back up, keep going and be ready for the challenge,” pagtatapos niya.