Paul Soriano & the 'Spielberg factor'

With his drop-dead looks, Paul Soriano should be working before instead of behind the cameras.

Told that he’s the spitting image of Hollywood actor Ben Affleck, Paul blushed. “That’s what my mom said.”

He’s the sum total of his grandfather, the late ‘50s LVN matinee idol Nestor de Villa (Gines Soriano in real life), and the son of director Jeric Soriano (who concentrated on directing commercials after doing the Bagets-inspired film Hotshots back in the ‘80s).

Turning 29 on Oct. 17, Paul is more at home working, that is, behind the camera.

“I’m not comfortable before the camera,” he insisted.

After his 2009 indie debut A Journey Home (with his girlfriend Toni Gonzaga as lead star), Paul is back with a real bang. His second work, Thelma, casts Maja Salvador as a mischievous and tomboyish teenage barrio lass with a passion for running, which she turns into a means of living to finance the surgery of her younger sister hurt in a near-fatal accident.

“I admire Maja for her dedication to the movie,” said Paul. “She shed blood, sweat and tears to make her performance as convincing as she could.”

With girlfriend Toni Gonzaga…

Brushing off mindless rumors linking her to Paul (“I’m not a boyfriend-grabber,” said Maja), Maja really took the Thelma character to heart, not minding if she got bruises, black and blue, during the shoot, once even landing in the hospital. “It’s all worth it,” said Maja with relief.

In the following Conversation arranged by his manager Dondon Monteverde (who also manages another director, Erik Matti, and several actors and athletes, among them James Yap), Paul talked for the first time about his life and family and how, one day, he’s following in the footsteps of his idol, Steven Spielberg.

Let’s talk first about Thelma. Why this kind of movie for your second project?

“I love the story which is about the triumph of the spirit. To be able to tell the story, I had to find for an ideal location. We shot in Ilocos Norte for two weeks with a cast of more than 50. We were like one big happy family — eating, breathing, sleeping all in one place. We achieved what we wanted.”

Is it based on a true story, may be that of Elma Muros (the track-and-field champion as Maja’s trainer in the story)?

“It’s not. The story is a composite one. We interviewed many runners and we wrote the story based on their own experiences.”

When did you realize that you wanted to be a director?

“When I was a kid. I grew up around production. The movie set was my playground. I’m the eldest among his one dozen apo and the closest to him, so my Lolo would bring me to his shoots. And, of course, my dad would also bring me to his shoot for commercials. And so…”

Didn’t your lolo or your dad ever think of casting you in a cameo role as the little this or the little that?

“They always kept me behind and beside the camera, but never in front of it.”

Paul’s Lolo Nestor (with his LVN perennial leading lady Nida Blanca) who loved to bring Paul to the set of his movies. Inset: Paul with dad, director Jeric Soriano.

Sayang that your lolo didn’t live long enough to watch your movies.

“Yeah, sayang. That’s my only regret, na hindi niya napanood ang movies ko.”

What particular movie inspired you to be a director?

“My all-time favorite director is Steven Spielberg. I think he’s the master storyteller. When I was a kid, I saw E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. It was an ‘awe’ moment for me. I’ve seen all his films, including Back to the Future trilogy which I love to watch over and over again. You can learn a lot about camera angling, lighting, scriptwriting, editing and directing just from watching the trilogy which is a film school in itself.”

What else do you like about Spielberg?

“His being a story-driven director; he puts a lot of heart into his work, something that I want to emulate. I also love it that he loves children and it’s very obvious in his choice of stories.”

What would you like to tell Spielberg if ever you met him?

“I would ask him, ‘How do you like your coffee?’ I know I could learn so much by simply talking to him over a cup of coffee and observing him at work.”

…and Maja Salvador, star of Thelma, Paul’s second work

Why directing like your dad and not acting like your lolo?

“Because I do my best where I’m comfortable in and that’s behind the camera. I believe I can do better behind the camera. Acting is another profession that I’d rather leave to the professionals. The most ‘acting’ that I’ve done is for commercials (as endorser of Highlands Corned Beef, with some athletes).”

And when did you realize that you could direct?

“It was when I was a kid and doing my home videos. I was around 12 or 13. My dad had several shooting equipment and my brother and I had access to them; my three brothers and I would play with them a lot. I would make very simple videos about my friends and classmates, mostly horror stories and comedies that I myself wrote. That was our pastime, instead of going to the malls. I would show them to my mom and my dad.”

Did you take any formal course in filmmaking?

“I took up Communication Arts in Sta. Clara College in the Bay Area, San Francisco, where I spent most of my early years, but I was born in L.A. It was kind of an umbrella course that included lessons in advertising, scriptwriting, TV/radio subjects, etc. But I knew back then that my focus was directing. I was the only one born in the States; my brothers were born here. I moved back here when I was 7 and I enrolled at the International School for grade school and high school. I went back to California for college.”

How long have you been in the business?

“Five years, professionally. I started with concerts. I directed Gary V. My first break was Gary V at 22 concert. After that, I started doing everything — events, music videos. Three years ago, I got my break in advertising, my first TVC. From then on, it has been pretty much routine.”

Direk Paul simply ignores rumors linking him to Maja who was initially affected but has eventually learned to just shrug them off. The two are shown on the set of Thelma with Jason Abalos.

Your first movie was an indie, A Journey Home (2009), starring your girlfriend Toni Gonzaga. It was good but it didn’t make as much waves as does your second, Thelma, which is predicted to figure prominently in next year’s awards race.

“It was a good try.”

Did your romance with Toni start on the set of A Journey Home?

“Actually, we got together in 2007, two years before we did that movie.”

Your romance with Toni is all over the tabs. Don’t you find it distracting? You seem to be enjoying the big media fuss over your, ehem, romantic side.

“Well, I don’t really enjoy it. I take it as part of the hazards of the trade. My girlfriend is a celebrity so it comes with the territory. I just have to roll with the punches, di ba?”

Are you faithful?

“Oo naman!”

To one at a time or to only one?

“To Toni.” (Laughs)

If you were to do a movie with Toni, what kind would it be?

“An action movie, something like the Lara Croft movies of Angelina Jolie. Toni has been doing romantic-comedies and it’s about time she reinvented herself. Bagay sa kanya mga Angelina Jolie roles.” (Trivia: Paul and Toni attend services at the Alabang New Life Christian Center and at Taytay Methodist Church.)

Any tips from your dad who seems to be shy and quiet?

“He taught me a lot of patience. He also reminds me that collaboration is important and so is listening to your actors, and staying faithful to your story. He said that you may have a good story but you still have to shoot and tell it correctly. And, of course, you have to stay true to your audience, which is what Steven always does…telling beautiful stories visually. I guess that’s what I brought into Thelma — the visual aspect of it.”

You live movies and work movies. Do you still watch movies in your free time?

“I do. I watch movies every day but I seldom watch television. Some recent films that I really like was The Book of Eli (starring Denzel Washington in a savior-of-mankind role). I watched it three times. When I watch a film, I first watch it to enjoy it — you know, the movie as a popcorn. To be entertained. Then, I watch it again with me as a director. The third time, I watch it from a scriptwriting/editing point of view. So I wear different hats when I watch a movie, especially if I like the film.”

Tetchie Agbayani and track-and-field champion Elma Muros (right) who plays Maja’s character’s trainer.

Any dream project?

“Yes, I’d like to do a movie about UFOs. Sci-fi. I’d love to explore the mysteries of UFO-sightings in the Philippines. I’ve been to Mt. Banahaw two or three times and the locals there believe that UFOs are buried under Mt. Banahaw. Intriguing, isn’t it? That’s what I want to explore.”

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