Brillante Mendoza ‘stressed’ over directing Duterte’s SONA

MANILA, Philippines – It was a stressful moment for director Brillante Mendoza to direct the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Masaya ko. Medyo nakaka-stress lang kapag maraming [adlib], kasi hindi mo na alam, 'di ba? Lahat gumagalaw na, marami kasi siyang mga adlib,” he said in an interview with Saleema Refran aired in “Unang Balita” on Tuesday.

They were not able to rehearse with the president, and he had to look over a total of 18 cameras that day.

Not everyone favored how he handled the shots during Duterte’s SONA. However, the award-winning director explained that those shots were made to show power.

“It shows power, and we want to show power,” he explained. “Ang mensahe na he's in control [and] he knows what he's doing.”

He explained that he captured the movements and nuances of the president because “'yon ang kanyang expression, e. Doon mo nakikita ang sincerity ng tao, e.”

He then told the bashers of his works to appreciate more the message of the president, which he believes was supported by the shots used. – Joyce Jimenez