Councilor Alfred Vargas of Quezon City

Councilor Alfred Vargas of Quezon City revealed that National Artist for Film Nora Aunor has finished the scenes for the long-awaited movie "Pieta" to be presented later this year.

"I really fell in love with Ate Guy's talent," said Vargas, when asked about the development of his latest movie, during an exclusive interview at Ponce Restaurant in Morato, Quezon City on Wednesday, March 22.

Vargas, 43, who is also the producer of "Pieta", remembers shooting her scenes with Aunor.

"At first I was nervous, but after the first scene, I was okay. Usually, we only do one take. On the first shooting day, there were heavy scenes. I am happy because Ate Guy seems to be happy with the project.

"When I'm in a scene with her, I'm really starstruck. But before our take, she will really make you feel comfortable until you are ready for the scene. She is very humble and funny," he also said.

Vargas also said that Ate Guy is always early on the set. "She is often 30 minutes ahead. Even on her last shooting day, she arrived one hour early. On her last day, the Noranians were there. Awesome! They are truly solid."

Asked about the lessons learned from the superstar, Vargas said:  "Yung character mo, dapat mararamdaman mo yun. Kasi kapag ganun, kahit hindi ka magsalita, mararamdaman pa rin ng audience. Yun ang natutunan ko sa kanya kung paano mangusap yung mga mata. May eksena kami feel na feel ko siya. Sabihin natin na 100 percent nadama ko s'ya. Pero nung nakita ko na yung preview, yung 100 percent niya naging 150 percent pa. Doon ko narealized na ang dami kong natutunan sa kanya na kapag na master mo yung art. Yung ganung rehistro nailalabas niya sa film."

Nora Aunor

(Your character, you should feel it. Because then, even if you don't speak, the audience will still feel it. That's what I learned from her, how the eyes can speak. We have a scene where I can feel her. Let's say that I felt her 100 percent. But when I saw the preview, her 100 percent became 150 percent. That's when I realized that I learned a lot from her, that when you master the art. That's the register she brings out in the film.)

Vargas recalled that he participated in workshops led by Alajar.

"I did a workshop with him before, so we were quite close before the shoot started. That's why he fully supports me. Up to now, she still gives me pointers," he said.

Vargas recalled a scene with Aunor, Alajar, and Jose that emerged naturally.

"Meron isang eksena na magkakasama sila Ate Guy, Gina, Jaclyn, tsaka ako. Hindi ako makapaniwala nun. Nagsasagutan sila pero simpleng sagutan lang. I was really amazed," he said. (There is a scene where Ate Guy, Gina, Jaclyn and I are together, and I can't believe it. They are throwing lines, and I was really amazed.)

Vargas also said that the three veteran stars showed a commitment to their profession despite their age.

"Sa mga eksena nilang tatlo nagbibigayan sila at walang sapawan. (In the scenes of the three of them, they give one another other, and they don't overlap.) They know what to do," he added.

On common things of the three stars, Vargas said: "Mabait at humble. Always ready sila sa shoot. Never silang na-late sa shoot. They are so professional. Madalas nakikinig ako sa mga kwentuhan nila."

(Kind and humble. They always prepare for filming. They never get late to the set. As well, they are very professional. I listen to their stories a lot.)

FROM left: Gina Alajar, Nora Aunor, Jaclyn Jose, and Alfred Vargas

Vargas said that Ate Guy surprised him with copies of movies she produced.

"Ate Guy gave me movies that she produced such as 'Bona,' 'Condemned,' 'Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,' Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo,' etc. Then I asked her what I had to watch first. She suggested 'Bona' then 'Condemned."

"Pieta" is written by Carlos Palanca winner Jerry Gracio and directed by internationally acclaimed and Urian best director Adolfo Alix Jr.

In this cautionary tale of a mother and son searching for truth, Aunor will be playing Rebecca, who is battling her waning eyesight and her Alzheimer's when she meets her son Isaac (Vargas) who just got out of prison after 25 years. 

Vargas also realized there's also heartbreak in producing films.

"Kapag producer ka, dapat kang masanay sa heartbreaks. Napaka-heartbreaking mag produce lalo na kung hindi kumita. Mahirap pero kasama yan. At darating ang panahon, at the end of the day, may darating na isang project na kayang bawiin ang lahat ng pelikulang hindi kumita. It only takes one." (When you're a producer, you have to get used to heartbreaks. It's heartbreaking to produce, especially if you don't make money. There will come a project in which you can recover all the money you lost on several films with one blockbuster movie.)