Direk Jason: The thin line between indie and mainstream movies

MANILA, Philippines – ‘Doing indie films gives you more freedom to choose your materials, regardless of how they will be accepted in the box office. But you have to find a bigger audience and a more stable film company to help you survive in between personal projects,’ says Jason Paul Laxamana, director of The Third Party.

If you check direk Jason Paul Laxamana’s early film credentials, you’d know that his concerns go beyond the profile of today’s typical millennials.

His Facebook page promotes his latest project (The Third Party) but he is also monitoring the president and his appointees and how they are doing.

In this early evening presscon, he looks more like a fan of his cast (Angel Locsin, Zanjoe Marudo and Sam Milby) than a director. Until he speaks, that’s the time you find the essence of his persona.

His latest and second mainstream film is not about the typical third parties in a marital set-up.

Says direk Jason: “The film is light and easy and full of humor just don’t expect violent confrontations between kabits in Philippine society. The film is about love and acceptance, not necessarily about gay love, but true love between friends who have moved on from previous relationships.”

The members of the cast admit working with the young director was an eye-opener.

Opines Angel: “The story is not new but direk Jason has a way of retelling the narrative in a new light, funny and absurd in one setting and full of truth in another. We are all very relaxed on the set but he knew what he wanted from us. With everything very clear from the very start, you just have to give your best. It’s nice to find rare insights from young directors.”

The setting of The Third Party is a far cinema destination from his early powerful and award-winning works like Babagwa (The Spider’s Lair) and Magkakabaung (The Coffin Maker) but he has since then learned to enjoy the best of both worlds.

He learned the rudiments of the craft working with fellow Kapampangan, Brillante Mendoza, in the film, Serbis and was earlier involved as script supervisor for Star Cinema in Maryo J. Delos Reyes’ A Love Story in 2007. He finished scriptwriting workshop under Ricky Lee and Amor Olaguer in 2012.

Growing up in Angeles City, he knew that he had to write about his hometown and later his films will be influenced by the culture of the place of his birth.

Back in the University of the Philippines, where he finished Masscom, he was into video directing and he loved music he also wanted to be involved with musicals.

But the indie films beckoned and indeed he came face to face with the realities of the profession.

With indie films, he relished the artistic freedom and the awards but realized later it was hard to get back what every entrepreneur wants and that is the return of investment.

“Doing indie films gives you more freedom to choose your materials, regardless of how they will be accepted in the box office,” he says explaining what he enjoys as an indie director. “But you have to find a bigger audience and a more stable film company to help you survive in between personal projects.”

On his first mainstream outing (Love is Blind), he found a bigger audience and wider reactions for his work. The big challenge was there and along with it, the big pressure. With a good result, he didn’t regret getting wider audiences for his transition project.

But he knew what was expected of him in mainstream projects.

He points out: “With a big cast and a big budget, you know you can’t be too personal in story treatment. But it doesn’t mean you have to lose your own voice in this film. You always collaborate with writers and actors and between them, you have to find a way to tell your story in a grand but meaningful way without losing your own insight. You also have to bear in mind that a big company invested in this project and that the target is a wider audience. Between expectations and commercial demands, you just have to find your own voice as a director.”

He admits it is too early to tell which directorial directions he is pursuing but undoubtedly, he treats every project as a fascinating journey into the big wide world of filmmaking.

About his latest mainstream film, direk Jason knows he just has to be honest to find what is redeeming and exemplary about certain relationships. He knows some sectors of society are not ready for it. But he has clearly observed that this relationship thrives with the parties proud of their choices. “The movie is about love of all kinds and how far they can go. I packaged it in such a way the parties involved get a fair exposure as to who they are in real life. I believe some relationships — no matter how unusual — deserve our respect. Because whether we like it or not, love in all forms actually transcends gender. I am happy that my actors actually gave more than what appeared on the script to do justice to a good story.”

The Third Party, starring Angel Locsin, Zanjoe Marudo and Sam Milby, opens today in cinemas.