JOVEN TAN: 'Yes, we know how things would end but we still want to see how these unfold.'
He’s been director for two decades now but Joven Tan continues to mark milestones. His latest work “Otlum” sees him for the first time in the Magic 8 of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment, he said that though he qualified in the MMFF in 2005 for the episodes “Poso” and “Lihim Ng San Joaquin” from “Shake, Rattle & Roll 2k5,” these were as supervising producer and screenplay writer. It’s only the horror film “Otlum” that he’s in as director.
“Filipinos always watch horror films even if they know they are going to get scared out of their wits. “Yes, we know how things would end but we still want to see how these unfold. We still get affected, we still scream out guts out and cover our eyes while peeking through the spaces.”
“Otlum” will have bits of comedy and drama moments too, so it's not too scary.
What’s with the title? Well, it is the reversed order of the word “multo (ghost).” He thinks it’s millennial that way, citing the rise in popularity of use of words as “petmalu” for “malupit,” “lodi” for “idol” and “werpa” for “power.” Indeed, “Otlum” mainly caters to Generation Y and Z.
The main cast of the movie are Jerome Ponce, Michelle Vito, Buboy Villar, Vitto Marquez, Danzel Fernandez, and Ricci Rivero.
“Otlum” is about this college clique with an applicant about to join them but only after passing the initiation stage.
“What things must you do to be accepted? How do you adjust to enter a circle? Do you really need to to change yourself to become ‘in?’’’ Joven said of his movie's core message.
How was it working with such a young cast, we asked.
“It’s okay. They have their own world but at the end of the day, we’re there to work so everyone adjusted to each other.”
Also in the cast are Jairus Aquino, Vivoree Esclito, Kiray Celis, John Estrada, and Irma Adlawan.
“Otlum” opens in theaters on Dec. 25.