Viva Films-produced 'Martyr or Murderer' (MoM) is the much-awaited second movie in the trilogy about the Marcos family which is showing in theaters nationwide on March 1.
People are wondering whether it will be able to duplicate the success of its predecessor, "Maid in Malacanang" which grossed P750 million during its worldwide release last year, making it the third highest-grossing film in Philippine history.
The film's young director, 36-year-old Darryl Yap, said he is unbothered with expectations. He believes that "content is always king. The relatability and the support of the people will come if the movie or the content is really of quality. I was focusing much more on quality and trying to equal what has been done. I guess destiny and the support of the people will bring the movie to the box office if it is destined to (be a) hit. We are praying hard that our countrymen will like the movie."
He revealed that "when I was doing 'Martyr or Murderer,' I wasn't thinking of duplicating any success or testing another record. I was just thinking of offering to the public the continuation of the story. 'Martyr or Murderer' is not necessarily what happened after 'Maid in Malacanang.' It is literally what happened before and after, so if you ask me, the (box office) formula is not yet discovered. I think box office success depends on the quality of the content."
Darryl spoke during the press conference of 'Martyr or Murderer' at the Podium Mall in Mandaluyong where the official trailer was shown. Also present were the members of the cast namely Cesar Montano, Ruffa Gutierrez, Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga, Cindy Miranda, Franki Russell, Beverly Salviejo and Kyle Velino.
'Martyr or Murderer' is expected to stir controversy once again as it deals with the sensitive subject of the still-unsolved assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983. The film's just-released trailer also shows President Bongbong Marcos making a call to his older sister "Imee, dinaya yata ako ni Leni," in reference to the results of the 2016 vice-presidential elections.
Sen. Imee Marcos is, incidentally, the executive producer and creative producer of 'Martyr or Murderer.' The movie will provide a precious sneak peek into her life in exile in Morocco as a family woman.
Darryl maintained that the movie is a retelling of a story based on the viewpoint of the Marcoses. "You'll be surprised, all of my materials are not actually Marcos materials, what you'll see in the film are snippets of the Aquinos talking. Am just interpreting what they're saying, after all, I'm a writer and director of what's happening during those times to the Marcoses. While the thousands who attended the burial of Ninoy were shown, I most especially focused on the reaction of the Marcoses to the whole turn of events."
"Direk Darryl never fails to surprise!," Ruffa said, as she expressed hopes that 'Martyr or Murderer' will surpass 'Maid in Malacanang' at the tills. The actress noted that her six-minute scene with former 'That's Entertainment' co-star Isko Moreno (as Ninoy) is one of the highlights of the movie. The scene recalled the time when Imelda Marcos met with Ninoy in New York City, prior to his ill-fated homecoming. Ruffa said she memorized five pages of script and shot for six hours for that single scene.
Darryl pointed out that he is prepared for another round of controversy that the movie will bring, but as the writer and director, he said he just wants to make the producers of the movie - the Del Rosarios of Viva Films - happy with the results.
"I find it a very legitimate aspect of marketing to shock people. To entice them to watch and support the movie industry is something that I think is a noble job and giving other artists a job as well," he added.
The director revealed that they will start work on the final and third installment of the trilogy entitled "Mabuhay Aloha Mabuhay" which will portray the Marcoses' return from exile and their return to Malacañang. The only artist who has been confirmed for the cast is Eula Valdez who will play the role of Imee Marcos.