Award-winning Filipino director Perci Intalan can only pray for a happy ending that people will return to movie theaters following the pandemic.
"Sana bumalik na ang mga tao sa sinehan," said Perci during a pocket interview with the entertainment press in Quezon City recently. (I hope people go back to the cinema.)
Two new films directed by Intalan were released this November – the sado-horror movie “LiveScream” and the flamboyant romcom “Mahal Kita, Beksman” – which he describes as polar opposites and are highly anticipated by his followers. “LiveScream” stars Elijah Canlas, Phoebe Walker, and Kat Dovey and started showing on Vivamax Plus last Nov. 9. “Mahal Kita, Beksman” was for theatrical release on Nov. 16 and stars award-winning actor Christian Bables, Keempee De Leon, Iana Bernardez, and Katya Santos.
Asked about his box-office expectations, Perci said: "Sa cinema kasi you just pray talaga that magic happens. Sometime i-predict mo na malakas and then matatapat ka sa malakas na pelikula. Kunyari yung 'Kita Kita,'I remember binati ko nun si Direk Sigrid (Bernardo) sabi ko congratulations. Sabi niya mahina pa nga kasi barely naka P2 million. Sabi ko okay na yun. Hanggang sa naging P300 million. Yung 'Heneral Luna,' ginagapang din sa box-office sa simula." (In the cinema, because you just pray that magic happens. Sometimes you predict that it will be strong and then it will clash with a strong movie at the box-office. It was 'Kita Kita,' I remember when I congratulated Director Sigrid (Bernardo) I said congratulations. She said it was still weak because it barely made P2 million. I said that's okay. Until it became P300 million. 'Heneral Luna' also crawled at the box-office in the beginning.)
"Ang hope na lang namin is it finds an audience kasi ang philosophy ko is you can only do you best in making the film good. Ang maganda naman ngayon may streaming na at nadi-discover rin ang ibang movies later pa," he added. (We just hope it finds an audience because my philosophy is you can only do your best in making the film good. The good thing is that now there is streaming and other movies can be discovered later.)
In 'Mahal Kita, Beksman," his eight directorial feature, Perci recalled how he convinced Keempee to return to the movies after 13 years.
"Si Keempe na-miss ko yung brand ng comedy niya. When I messaged him as early as February pa yata, and we contacted Malou Fagar, the manager, that time hesitant pa siyang bumalik sa movies. Sabi ko Keempee masaya ito. After that happy naman ako at nakuha siya sa '2 Good 2 Be True.' So nagsunod-sunod na rin yung project in Keempee. Sayang talaga yung talent. Palagay ko na pressure din siya sa film kasi matagal na yung sa film. So sana magsunod-sunod," said Perci. (I missed his brand of comedy. When I messaged him as early as February, and we contacted Malou Fagar, the manager, at that time he was still hesitant to return to movies. I said Keempee this movie is fun. After that I was happy he was cast in '2 Good 2 Be True.' Then he received more projects. I hate to see his talent wasted.)
“Mahal Kita, Beksman” tells the story of Dali, the only son of Jaime and Gemma (Keempee and Katya) whom he fondly calls “Papshiekels and Momshiekels”.
Dali is a very talented make-up artist and designer, which is not surprising as his father runs a beauty salon and his mother runs a dress shop.
Portrayed by Christian (Big Night, Single Rock, Die Beautiful, The Panti Sisters), Dali looks as flamboyant as the gay people surrounding him that everyone assumes he is also gay. When it is revealed that he is not, everyone is in shock.
Papshiekels is in denial, insisting that Dali is just going through a phase. Everyone agrees with him.But, for Dali, this is not a passing thing. He is sure from the moment he bumps into Angel that she is the girl of his dreams. Angel, played by Iana Bernardez (Mahal Kita with All My Hypothalamus, Metamorphosis) , is the unica hija in their family.
Her father is a sports coach, while her brothers run a gym and a car shop. With all their machismo, Dali definitely doesn’t fit the mold of the “ideal boyfriend” for Angel. He's faced with so many obstacles.
On the other hand, “LiveScream” tells the story of an online influencer named Exo who has gone a bit too far with his prank videos, prompting netizens to cancel him.
One day, he wakes up in a cell, with no idea how he got there. At first, he thinks it’s just a prank set up by his girlfriend. But things take a serious turn when a mysterious figure gives him instructions to use a “torture wall” or else his girlfriend and his grandmother will suffer.
Exo now loses all control of the situation and he’s in for all kinds of physical, sexual, and mental abuse – all streamed live!
Perci shares that the “torture wall” where Exo is forced to insert his body parts was inspired by an old Audrey Hepburn movie, “Roman Holiday.” He says, “There is a scene there where she dares Gregory Peck to put his hand in the ‘Boca de la Verita,’ the Mouth of Truth, which is essentially a hole carved into a wall.”
“The movie is a romantic comedy but they played up a lot of suspense in that scene. From there, we then explored the idea of putting any part of your body thru a hole in the wall — and of course, another good source of inspiration is BDSM and sex fantasy. I noticed people recognize the idea of a “Glory Hole” even without us referring to it as such.”
The role of Exo was given to Elijah (Best Actor at the Gawad Urian, FAMAS, Asian Film Festival, Asian Film Festival Rome, and Harlem International Film Festival) because “he can deliver the range of emotions needed to carry the story forward”, the director said.
Perci has made his indelible mark as a director with his full-length Filipino films “Unforgettable,” “Distance,” “Born Beautiful,” “My Fairy Tail Love Story,” and “Dementia.” He produced the popular YouTube and Netflix series “Gameboys;” the international award-winning films “Bwakaw,” “Barber’s Tales,” “Shadow Behind the Moon,” “Kalel,” and “Big Night!” and the box-office hits “The Panti Sisters,” “Ang Dalawang Mrs Reyes” (The Two Mrs Reyeses), and “Die Beautiful.”
Before co-founding The IdeaFirst Company and producing over 27 films and 10 series in partnership with major studios in the country, Intalan learned the ropes of the industry through his full-circle journey in corporate broadcast settings here and abroad. He started with GMA Network Inc., working as a Promo Producer before moving to the Walt Disney Company in 1998 where he became an Executive Producer and Production Manager. He returned to the Philippines and joined TV5 (Associated Broadcasting Company) as VP for Creative Services and eventually as the network’s Head of Entertainment.
The IdeaFirst Company is a creative content company which Perci established with his former partner filmmaker Jun Robles Lana.
Established in 2014, it has produced 21 feature-length films, many of which have screened and won acclaim in various film festivals around the world. It has also produced marketing projects and events for local and international clients.
"We illuminate stories that would otherwise be kept in the dark by creating distinct, well-crafted content that entertains, inspires, and empowers audiences around the world," he also said.
Perci said that he and Jun are still the best of friends despite the separation in December 2021.
Asked to comment on love life, Perci smiled and said: "I can only say love is everywhere."
Having won awards as producer, director, writer, editor, and sound designer, Intalan’s journey is testament to his dauntless passion to give life to his visions and familiarize local and international audiences with his brand of filmmaking that moves with the times.