Tried & tested comic trio does it again in ‘Sa Haba ng Gabi’

CEBU, Philippines —  There’s a zombie apocalypse in the horror-comedy “Sa Haba Ng Gabi” but its creator isn’t quick to add his work to the wide film canon of the undead.

Citing 2004’s “Shaun of the Dead” (starring Simon Pegg of “Mission Impossible”) as his favorite zombie film for twisting the genre on its head, writer-director Miko Livelo said his Viva Films and Reality Entertainment-produced flick is operating on a similar concept.

“A lot has been done in the zombie genre but this one isn’t really about zombies. It’s about how two people survive in one night, and how their lives change – their relationships, romance, and family members – despite the zombie thing happening,” said Direk Miko, a former motion graphics artist whose 2013 directorial debut “Blue Bustamante” premiered at the 2014 Osaka Asian Film Festival.

“The whole film happens in one night. Parang palamuti lang yung zombies sa kwento, but the story is just about two people trying to figure out how things would work out for them.”

Upon getting clear information of the IATF-imposed rules regarding film productions, Direk Miko thought of writing scripts that would suit the bubble set-up and other shooting limitations. With films now employing a more intimate setup and a limited cast in keeping with pandemic-related protocols, the director of comedies  “‘Tol” and “Unlilife” came up with a story  that happens in just one house.

“But I’m not a rom-com person. So that’s where the concept came in: one night, one house and what if there were zombies outside? How will you survive?”

Produced by Master of Horror Erik Matti, “Sa Haba ng Gabi” reunites the laugh-out-loud trio from Vivamax’s “Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam” and long-time industry friends Candy Pangilinan, Jerald Napoles and Kim Molina.

Neneng (Candy), a housemaid in an old and lavish mansion owned by a senator, invites her cousin Jhemerlyn (Kim) to work with her. Needing a job, Jhemerlyn instantly accepts her cousin’s offer and soon discovers that the mansion is where the senator brings his mistresses. All is well for Neneng and Jhemerlyn in the mansion, except for the senator who came home one day looking very ill.

They soon find out on the news that a virus is spreading throughout the province which turns humans into zombies. During the apocalypse, the senator’s driver Noel (Jerald), who happens to be Neneng’s lover, also seeks refuge in the mansion. The three of them start to spend the longest night of their lives inside the mansion watching television, flirting and trying to survive the zombie outbreak. But can they all survive the night?

“It’s one of those films na masarap lang panoorin kapag pagod ka sa bahay or malungkot ka. It looks like horror but it is one rollercoaster ride,” said Direk Miko, described by his stars as “crazy” but cool and fun to work with.

As the script required night-time shots, the cast and crew had to be real life “zombies”: up from 5 pm to 5 am to shoot, and recharging during the day.

And despite contending with a typhoon and an earthquake on location, everyone recalled having mad fun on set with the three leads’ comic rapport flowing very naturally (all three have the same favorite zombie flick: the K-series “Kingdom”).

“Kim and Miss Candy are very funny. They are the leads so the full movie is anchored on the bonding of their characters. Parang tumatambay lang sila sa buong pelikula, nagkukwentuhan. Jerald is the icing on the cake in the film,” Direk Miko added.

Sharing an anecdote that vividly illustrated the crew’s dedication, Kim said that instead of cowering away in fear and for safety during a thunder, the film’s art department were gathered under the mansion’s chandelier – ready to catch the important prop in case it fell to the floor.

Kim quipped, “Hindi nila iniisip kung babagsakan ba sila. They were thinking of the film continuity. Grabe ang dedication.”

Just like the viral scene in “Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam” that was in fact just an improvisation, Jerald said there are even more adlibs in “Sa Haba ng Gabi.”

“We’ve known each other and been friends for a long time. Alam na namin kung ano ang kaya ibigay ng bawat isa. So there are many scenes here that are improv,” said the actor, who is gearing to work soon with the Megastar Sharon Cuneta and whose dream role for now is something akin to a Pinoy Ultraman.

With sweethearts Kim and Jerald, or KimJe to their followers, among Viva’s busiest individually and as a tandem – not to mention blockbusters under their belt – a few showbiz writers have went as far as to call them Vivamax’s reigning King and Queen. For Candy, an industry veteran, the couple’s success has yet to rear its ugly head.

“Hindi naman nagbago yung dalawa. Kung paano sila dati, ganoon din sila ngayon. Mas alam lang nila ang industriya, they know the ropes better kung paano sila gagalaw. Unlike before na baguhan nakikiramdam pa kung saan tatambay, anong gagawin, saan uupo, paano makipag-usap. Now they know. Nasanay na sila. Work-wise, they’re still the same,” said Candy.

One disadvantage with acting alongside a real life partner is when there are occasional rifts. But Kim said it’s  a source of pride for them that it has not once gotten in the way of their work.

“Nagagawan ng paraan because we’re both pros. We started as co-actors so we already know how to adjust to each other. Kasi mas mahirap yung pinagdaanan namin sa ‘Rak of Aegis.’ We had to do a live musical na nagliligawan kayo [onstage], tapos sa backstage nag-aaway pala kayo,” she pointed out. “Our work doesn’t get affected, which we are very proud of. We are professionals in that sense.”

A plus, Jerald added, is the ease in familiarizing scripts with a co-actor that you also live with, and doing away with having to feel each other out on set.

“When we arrive on set, we’re ready. We no longer need to bond or try to be at ease with each other para lang maitawid yung mga eksena as a couple. Mas madali, mas mabilis ang trabaho.”