After laughter

Michael V returns to the big screen with his directorial debut  ‘Family History,’ a reckoning of faith, family, and fears.

MANILA, Philippines — Michael V sees his new movie, Family History, as something of a comeback.

It’s probably a strange idea, considering the actor and comedian has been a reliable and welcome presence on television, from the long-running sitcom Pepito Manaloto to the institution that is Bubble Gang. Nonetheless, Family History does, indeed, mark a return for Bitoy — to the big screen, that is. And it’s a beginning of sorts, too.

He plays an ordinary husband and father whose stable family life is left fractured and shaken when they’re made to face a number of worries they couldn’t possibly have prepared for. The film is a showcase of not only his comedic timing, but also how well he’s able to balance this with earnest drama. Bitoy shares that co-star Dawn Zulueta, who plays his wife, helped him a lot with scenes that took their toll emotionally.

It’s also a comeback project for GMA Pictures, as well as Bitoy’s directorial debut. He wrote the script, co-produced, sketched the storyboards, and wrote two songs for it, one of them performed by his daughter. The level of involvement says a lot about his personal approach to filmmaking, pointing towards a keen attention to detail and the flair for storytelling we’re all familiar with, and how much heart he has put into Family History.

“Looking back, siguro ito ‘yung mga fears ko,” he says of the conflict present in the film. “I used those fears para mabuo ‘yung story. And I think this is the right project for my reentry into the movie industry.” 

In this interview, Michael V discusses the challenges of making his audience laugh and cry (and laugh again), his need to constantly evolve, and what he finds funny lately.

Supreme: How did Family History come together?

Michael V: During my contract signing with GMA, I asked them if they were still interested in doing movies, because I thought it was about time that our team at Pepito Manaloto moved on to a bigger project. The creative team (on the show) was ready to do movies. We’ve been doing it for 10 years now, and I think we know our audience, and we know how to make them laugh and cry. We just had to find the perfect piece to translate (the heart of) Pepito Manaloto to the big screen.

How different is Family History from any other work you’ve done? Was it difficult to balance comedy and drama?

I’d say I haven’t really been delving into drama (before). A part of the story arc, ‘yung journey nung character I play, he has to go through hardship, and kailangan kong gawin ‘yun as an actor. ‘Yung training ko sa Pepito Manaloto, when I was head writing it, ‘yun ‘yung parang naging basehan ko. May gauge na ako ng right amount of tawa bago ka paiyakin, and the right amount of iyak bago mo uli patawanin. Ang naging inspiration ko long before, si Dolphy. In his movies, palaging merong kabig, merong iyak.

After 30 years in the industry, would you say you’re still constantly growing as a comedian and actor? What changes have you noticed in yourself?

Oo, yes, I think it’s a necessity. Theoretically, parang lahat ng tao, dapat literally and figuratively, nag-go-grow. If you’re doing comedy and entertainment, you have to grow constantly to keep up with your audience, and with yourself, as well. You have to be able to adapt and keep entertaining.

I thought hindi ko kayang mag-adapt before. There was a time na medyo matigas ‘yung ulo ko, and I was thinking that I’ll do things my way, and I think I’ll survive. Pero eventually I learned, hindi pala. You really have to evolve.

How do you keep your humor and your characters fresh?

You’re constantly evolving because you have to be relevant. I have kids, my eldest is 25 years old and my youngest is 11 years old, so iba-ibang generations. Nakita ko ‘yung reliance nila on social media. So nagiging tool ko siya to connect with people, keep up with them and what they like. You have to be knowledgeable of who your audience is and how to entertain them (that way). And it helps, because it helps you constantly update your material, and it’s there all the time, it’s available.

Do you have a favorite character or sketch you’ve created? What makes you laugh these days?

Yes, si Mr. Assimo ‘yung paborito ko. (Laughs) Kasi gusto ko ‘yung level of sarcasm niya and his brand of comedy. These days, I’m usually laughing because of my kids. Masarap silang kasama. And simple things, alam mo ‘yun? ‘yung mga out of the ordinary.

What do you want audiences to think, feel, and take away from Family History?

I want them to learn to appreciate what they have now. Hindi material things, but ‘yung relationships nila with other people, particularly with their family.

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Family History is in cinemas now.