Mikhail Reid admitted he was still on a high after he won the best director award for "Deleter" at the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal held at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City last Dec. 27.
But Mikhail, 31, said the awards night became more special when his younger brother Nikolas won the best editing award for the same movie.
"My brother and I have been constant collaborators when we were kids. So when he won, finally na recognize na yung mga ginagawa niya sa technical (aspect). So tuwang-tuwa ako. Doon pa lang high na ako. Sulit na yung gabi na ito. And then bonus na lang yung ibang awards," said Mikhail during a pocket interview at Botejyu Japanese Restaurant at Vertis North in Quezon City recently.
(My brother and I have been constant collaborators when we were kids. So when he won, finally he was recognized for what he was doing in the technical (aspect). So I'm very happy. I'm still on a high. This night is worth it. And then the other awards are just bonuses.)
Mikhail added: "Manalo lang yung brother ko parang nanalo na rin ako. Yung movies na ginagawa namin ng brother ko we try to be ambitious in terms of scale and genre. We try to do projects na mukhang mahirap i-greenlight like zombie movies. Ang hirap nila i-edit."
(If my brother wins, it's like I've already won. The movies that my brother and I make, we try to be ambitious in terms of scale and genre. We try to do projects that seem difficult to greenlight, like zombie movies. They're hard to edit.)
Mikhail and NIkolas are sons of director Raymond Red, the first and so far only Filipino to have won a Palme D'Or award from the Cannes Film Festival.
The young director said he was honored to be nominated in the company of respected Filipino directors - Joel Lamangan and Paul Soriano - for the best director category. "Deleter" also won awards for best picture, best sound, best visual effect, best cinematography, and best actress for Nadine Lustre.
"Very honored to be in the company of award-winning directors. Kasama ko rin sila sa DGPI (Directors Guild of the Philippines, Inc.). Even Direk Laurice Guillen who heads the jury. Cinemalaya baby rin ako. I started there. Being with these accomplished filmmakers, it's really an honor. I wasn't expecting it," MIkhail also said.
Mikhail also said that he will celebrate his victory by watching the other official entries of the MMFF, although at the time of our interview, he had seen "Nanahimik Ang Gabi."
"I wanna watch the other films. I just got my MMFF passes. Nasa awards night high pa rin ako eh. Nasa work pa rin ako like I check our progress in the cinemas, reporting piracy links. I can't wait to see the other films.
"Isa sa unang napanood ko na is yung 'Nanahimik Ang Gabi' kasi similar ang genre namin. It's my type of film and besides kilala ko yung mga actors. I've worked with Ian (Veneracion) and Mon (Confiado). 'Deleter' is a very technical film and it's hard to process. Talagang umattend yung technical team. So we were happy sa start pa lang ng awards night we were being honored. Unexpected talaga yung mga major awards," Mikhail also said.
(One of the first ones I watched was 'Nanahimik Ang Gabi' because our genre is similar. It's my type of film and besides I know the actors. I've worked with Ian (Veneracion) and Mon (Confiado). 'Deleter ' is a very technical film and it's hard to process. The technical team was really attending. So we were happy at the very start of the awards night we were being honored. The major awards were really unexpected.)
Mikhail also thanked members of the jury and moviegoers who appreciated the suspense-thriller flick. "This is not the type of drama movie na ine-expect ng audience kasi usually pag-drama, it's hagulgol. Ito rin ang challenge sa character niya. I explained her na numb ang character niya. Ibang attack talaga ang ginamit namin and I'm very happy na-appreciate ng jury and ng audience yung style namin sa acting. Hindi mo talaga ma-compare kami sa iba because iba talaga ang style namin. So we're happy at na-appreciate nila yung restrained na tone ng movie," he said.
(This is not the type of drama movie that the audience expects because usually with drama, it's crying. This is also the challenge for her character. I explained to her that her character is numb. We used a really different attack and I' m very happy that the jury and the audience appreciated our style of acting. You can't really compare us to others because our style is really different. So we're happy and they appreciated the restrained tone of the movie.)
Mikhail hinted at the possibility of screening "Deleter" in the US and UAE.
"I also like to reach an international audience to show them what Filipino films are made of. But it will also depend on the distribution plans of Viva. That would be exciting but I can't make any promises until the distribution plans have been finalized. But there will be commercial screenings abroad in January in the US or UAE. I think I will make a final announcement for that," he also said.
Following his success at the movies, Mikhail said that he will focus on directing a series for a streaming channel.
"Ang uso ngayon is a series so I will direct episodes for a sports channel. Bawal pa i-announce any details but I'm sure they will have a separate press conference for that. It's for streaming. e-sports siya. Malaking market din siya," Mikhail also said.
(The trend now is series so I will direct episodes for a sports channel. I'm not allowed to announce any details but I'm sure they will have a separate press conference for that. It's for streaming. It's e-sports. It's a big market, too.)
Mikhail shared advice to the younger generation who wanted to venture into directing movies.
"These days ang bilis ng information, ang bilis ng feedback, but the trick is mag enjoy ka talaga dapat sa process. Important din ang results. But if your main purpose is dahil sobrang enjoy mo yung process, I always say in workshops for film students and younger generation, sinasabi ko lagi sa industry na ito hindi siya race, marathon ito. Like yung mga PA ninyo, or yung ma-me-meet ninyo pataas, one day producer ninyo yan di ba?
(These days the speed of information, the speed of feedback, but the trick is to really enjoy the process. The results are also important. But if your main purpose is because you enjoy the process so much, I always say in workshops for film students and younger generation, I always say in this industry that it's not a race, it's a marathon. Like your PAs, or the one you can meet up with, one day they will become your producer, right?)
"So parang treat everyone right. Be responsible, also with the budget. Also with the studios, don't burn bridges. Yung passion mo yun ang magsu-sustain sa'yo a industry. Kung hindi ka mae-enjoy, mapaso ka lang once, give up ka na agad. Dapat that's the reason why you need to get up. Kahit zero budget gagawin mo. So yun lagi ang sinasabi ko. Treat it like a marathon instead of a race. Feeling ko in the long run, passion will outweigh talent eh. Hindi lang siya is all about money or fame. Kung may passion ka, kahit may pandemic pa, enjoy ka. Gagawa ka talaga ng paraan," Mikhal also said.
(So treat everyone right. Be responsible, also with the budget. Also with the studios, don't burn bridges. It's your passion that will sustain you in an industry. If you can't enjoy it, you'll just burn out once, give up right away. That should be the reason why you need to get up. Even with zero budget you will do it. So that's what I always say. Treat it like a marathon instead of a race. I feel in the long run, passion will outweigh talent. He's not all about money or fame. If you have passion, even if there's a pandemic, you'll enjoy it. You'll really find a way.)