Director Easy Ferrer is helming the upcoming TV series "Kurdapya," inspired by Pablo S. Gomez’s popular komiks classic.
During a press conference for the TV5 show, Easy was asked as to why production companies seem only too eager to revive classic material.
His answer was short and simple.
According to Easy, this is because there is an audience for it.
He added that there is honor in reintroducing a masterpiece to a new generation of viewers.
Note that from being a komiks series, "Kurdapya" made it to film years ago, starring Gloria Romero.
Easy's iteration is headlined by Yassi Pressman.
To the unfamiliar, "Kurdapya" follows the journey of two long-lost twins, in this case, Kuring and Daphne, who reunite in a strange accident after living vastly different lives.
Kuring grew up in the province with her cruel extended family, while Daphne was raised in the city under the guidance of her strict father who is the CEO of a publishing conglomerate.
Both of them feel unhappy with their current realities so their unexpected reunion ultimately change their lives.
Easy reiterated: "Meron tayong concept of twins na nag-switch, although, sabihin na natin na hindi masyadong bago yung premise pero nabibihisan ng bago so parang for the Gen Zs, for the millennial, for the younger generation, nakakapanuod sila ng something na revision, na revisionist version ng kung anong meron tayo sa classic version."
"Kasi nakakatawa naman talaga yung materyal, yung kwento," he added.
"I think wala naman pong masama na ma re-introduce yung mga yun. Feeling ko nga nagbubukas yun ng opportunity for the other materials... Kasi sayang, kumbaga, nag-a-archives tayo ng movies, nag-re-restore tayo, why not revive tayo ng something na classic para mas ma-appreciate ng audience kung anong meron tayo noon."
As to accusations that they are simply being lazy or unimaginative, Easy cited what he learned during one of award-winning writer Ricky Lee's workshops.
"Lahat naman ng kwento inuulit-ulit natin. Kumbaga, nasa sayo yan kung paano mo didiskartihan. Kung papaano mo siya ibibigay at ilalahad sa bagong audience. I think wala pong masama dun. Enjoy-in niyo na lang. Wag natin masyadong i-overthink," he said.
As to how close his story is to Gomez’s original version, Easy said it is similar in so many ways but the humor is more suited to today.
"Yung humor of that time, appropriate pa for that time. Dito kasi, since may woke generation na nagaganap, ang dami kong kailangan i-revise. Like, walang mga cat-calling, walang mga body-shaming, walang mga tawagan ng 'pangit.' Kaya naging challenge sa amin na paano tayo gagawa ng comedy na basic premise ng humor nu'ng original is about an ugly and a beautiful girl of that time," he related.
"So ngayon, siyempre dahil 2023 na wala na tayong ganung klase ng comedy... kung hindi maba-bash tayo, di ba?"
So how did they go about it?
"Ang ginawa naming comedy is about the difference in their personalities, social status. So may jologs at may sosy."
"Du'n namin hinugot yung comedy na feeling ko kagat na kagat yung generation ngayon at kahit yung older generation makaka-relate pa rin sila," he said.
Also in the cast are Marco Gumabao as Carlos, Kuring's childhood friend; Nikko Natividad as the nouveau rich and “jojologin” Tadeo, who was handpicked by Daphne's father to be her suitor; Ryza Cenon as the gold-digging girlfriend of Daphne’s father; Katya Santos as Kuring’s strict and ambitious aunt; Candy Pangilinan as the funny ex-con mom of Kuring and Daphne; and Lander Vera-Perez as the twins’ father.
Easy has nothing but good words for his actors.
"Magaling sila. Actually alam nila kung ano yung materyal. Alam nila kung ano yung gagawin lalo na si Yassi, sobrang bigay na bigay. Nagugulat ako sa kanya. Pati si Marco, basag na basag siya dito. Well, si Nikko naman alam naman natin na magaling siya and gwapo siya. And siyempre si Ms. Ryza nagbigay din dito ng comedy na kakaiba."
"Sobrang naniniwala ako na ang perfect ng pagkaka-casting kay Yassi kasi nung sinabi ko sa kanya na ang goal ng comedy is paglaruan mo lang yung sarili mo, ginawa niya - todo-todo. Hanggang sa by day five ng shoot nag ko-collaborate na kami, ngbabatuhan na kami. Minsan siya na bahala sa comedy niya. Natatawa na lang ako sa set. So feeling ko, nakakatuwa kasi mahal niya yung role kaya perfect siya dun dahil sinapuso niya. At nilalaro niya... Wala siyang pakialam sa kagandahan niya ang mahalaga nakakatawa siya. So natuwa ako dun. Dumali yung trabaho ko as a director."
According to him, actors are really effective if they're doing something new, something they're not used to.
"Ako kasi, pag nagagawa ng comedy mas excited ako dun sa mga artista na hindi pa nag-ko-comedy kasi feeling ko ang dami-dami pa nilang dala na hindi pa nila nalalabas," he explained.
"Na kapag nagkaroon sila ng comedy project dito nila mabubuhos lahat. And true enough, lahat sila may mga inner comedy na ang trabaho ko na lang, dahil nga magagaling silang magpatawa, ay tatahiin ko na lang para ma-itono ko dun sa vision ng show," he continued.
"Parang ang dami nilang dalang baon kaya siguro si Marco may sarili siyang patawa. Si Nikko nag-uumapaw sa comedy. Si Yassi nakakagulat kasi talagang ready siyang paglaruan ang sarili niya. Si Ms. Ryza din pinaglalaruan niya yung sarili niya. So kapag galing sila sa mga roles, mga projects na hindi naman comedy, parang feeling ko nagiging outlet nila to para ibuhos nilang lahat ang kalokohan nila sa buhay."
Easy also revealed he and the creative teams had a conscious effort to give Marco and Nikko roles that are far removed from the usual.
"Kasi paano nila paglalaruan ang sarili nila kung nandu'n sila sa niche na yun? Kung nandun sila sa comfort zone? Dapat kumabyo sila."
"Kurdapya" will start airing March 18, every Saturday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on TV5, with catch-up airings on Sari Sari Channel (Available on Cignal Ch. 3) every Sunday, 8:00 pm starting March 19.