Shooting has commenced for "Fatherland," the latest movie from award-winning director Joel Lamangan.

Produced by BenTria Productions and Heaven's Best Entertainment,  the movie's all-star cast is led by young actor Inigo Pascual, who portrays a son searching for his father. Except for Richard Yap, the cast was presented to the media during a story conference at the Manila Hotel recently.

Aside from Inigo and Richard, the film stars Allen Dizon, Cherry Pie Picache, Mercedes Cabral, Angel Aquino, Ara Mina, Max Eigenmann, Jeric Gonzales, Arabella Davao, Yasser Marta, Kazel Kinouchi, Abed Green, Jim Pebanco, and Bo Bautista.

"Kaya napakarami nating artista dahil lalabas sila sa tatlong maliliit na storya sa loob ng isang pelikula. Sa pelikula, habang hinahanap ang tatay, nakikilala ng anak ang bayan niya. Nae-expose ang bata sa bayan niya. Ano ang nangyayari sa bayan niya. At ano ang problema ng bayan niya sa kasalukuyan?" said Direk Joel.

(That's why we have so many actors because they will appear in three small stories within a movie. In the movie, while looking for the father, the son gets to know his town. The child is exposed to his town. What is happening in his town? And what is the problem of his people at present?)

He added: "Hindi siya maliit na storya. Hindi siya madaling gawin. Pero ang magandang tingnan dito ay yung emotion ng isang anak na naghahanap sa magulang at yung exposure ng problema ng bayan in the process."

(It's not a small story. It's not easy to do. But what is good to see here is the emotion of a child searching for his father and the exposure of the town's problems in the process.)

Engineer Benjie Austria of BenTria Productions said he is thrilled to work again with Direk Joel. "I hope to work with Direk Joel Lamangan on future projects. Please support our movie Fatherland."

Roy Iglesias further discussed the film during the same media conference.

"It's a story between a father and a son. A son in search of his father. Hindi niya nakita ang tatay niya mula ng six years old siya when he went to the US.

"Familiar sa news yung mga makikita ninyong characters sa movie. Nakilala na ninyo sila sa mga balita. I am looking forward to this movie dahil mahuhusay ang mga artista natin. 

"Kayang-kaya nila yung mga complexities ng character. Maswerte ang production dahil nakuha nila ang magagaling na artista," Roy said.

Direk Joel believes the role of the son is perfect for Inigo.

"Mahabang proseso sa casting. Nagusap kami ni Dennis (Evangelista) at nagdecide kami na si Inigo ang pinaka-bagay kasi ang role is American boy na bumalik galing sa US. Nanggaling na siya ng US," he said.

(It was a long casting process. Dennis (Evangelista) and I talked and we decided that Inigo was the best because the role is an American boy who came back from the US. He is from the US.)

Cherry Pie & Mercedes

Director Joel said he is also excited to work with Cherry Pie and Mercedes, who are both his co-stars in the popular television series "Batang Quiapo" on ABS-CBN.

In "Batang Quiapo," Cherry Pie portrays a kind character while Mercedes plays a villainous role. In the upcoming movie, their roles have been switched.

"Excited ako makatrabaho sila kasi nakita ko naman gaano sila kahusay. Co-actor ko sila and nakita ko how good they are. So one time, sabi ko sa sarili ko, 'I will direct these two stars. Pero alam ko na noon pa na gusto ni Cherry Pie baligtad ang role nila kaya binaligtad ko ngayon. Mabait naman ngayon si Mercedes," said Direk Joel.

(I am excited to work with them because I saw how good they are. They are my co-actors and I saw how good they are. So one time, I said to myself, 'I will direct these two stars.' But I already knew that Cherry Pie wanted their role reversed so I reversed it now. Mercedes is kind now.)

It's Marcedes' first time working with Direk Joel, so Cherry Pie gives her friend some advice.

"I just talked to Cherry Pie and sabi ko first time pala kaming magsasama sa pelikula. Excited din ako na makasama siya at ngayon ko lang nalaman na yung character namin ay iba. Excited na ako mabasa yung script para malaman kung ano yung kaya kong gawin at pwede kong gawin," said Mercedes.

Cherry Pie answered: "We have a very good working relationship so excited ako na makasama siya sa ibang platform. I always tell her noon sa set nai-inggit ako bored na ako palit na tayo ng role. Kapag kontrabida mas colorful ang role kasi napapag laruan mo at may layers. Mas challenging. So now, ako naman ang bad and I love it. Excited ako. Ibang dynamics naman ang makikita nila."

"I've worked with Direk Joel. He's one of the few directors that I respect. Old school director yan so ibang-iba si Direk Sabi ni Ched first time lang niya makakatrabaho si Direk Joel. Sabi ko, 'Day dapat handa ka. At saka dapat mabilis ka. Hindi puwedeng mabagal at aanga-anga. Direk totoo lang po (ang sinabi ko)."

Ara said it would always be a pleasure to work with Direk who she considers as her father.

Asked if she's expecting another award from this movie, Ara said: "Hindi naman ako nag eexpect uli ng award. Hindi talaga ako maka hindi kay Direk Joel dahil sanay na ako sa kanya. Na-hone niya ako as an actress. 

"Talent pa lamang ako noon nang mahawakan niya ako hanggang sa naging bida ako. Anghel na Walang Langit, Kadenang Bulaklak, The Flor Contemplacion Story. Wala pa ako noong dialogue sa movie hanggang sa dumami na ang speaking line ko. 

"So lumaki ako talaga kay Direk Joel. Parang tatay ko na siya. It's always a privilege na makatrabaho ko siya at ang mga artista rito na makakasama ko uli. I'm excited to work with them," Ara added.

'Dancing' with father

Since the movie discusses a father-child relationship, the young actors were questioned about their current relationships with their fathers.

Inigo Pascual: "Si papa lagi naman po nandyan. Pinapabayaan niya akong gawin yung gusto ko. He supports me kapag may kailangan. Masaya ako na nasa industry ako kung saan narito rin siya. Natatanong ko siya tungkol sa industry na ginagalawan namin."

Bo Bautista: "I have a pretty good relationship with my dad kahit hindi kami lagi nagkikita. Pero kapag wala naman kaming work, he's always there to support me and my siblings. Okay naman kami."

Ara Davao: "Medyo same kami ni Inigo since nasa same industry siya yung papa ko. Nalalapitan ko siya for advice. At nasasabi rin niya sa akin kung maganda or dapat ma-improve pa yung isang nagawa kong project. He supports me."

Jeric Gonzales: "Miss na miss ko na yung tatay ko dahil sobrang busy sa work natin. Nagbirthday ako pero hindi ko sila nakasama pero may celebration naman kami later. Ang tatay ko ang support system ko. Very close kami at kung busy ako, nag tatawagan lang kami." 

Yasser Marta: "Bihira ko makita ang tatay ko pero ikwento ko lang na after 15 years, umuwi siya rito sa Pilipinas. Ang daming emotions pero happy naman. Umalis na rin siya agad at hinatid namin siya  pero happy naman kami dahil nakapag-usap na ang pamilya. He was 13 the last time I saw him. Born and raised po kasi ako dito sa ibang bansa. So lumipat kami rito sa Pilipinas. Noong pumunta na kami rito, hindi na uli kami nagkita at nag usap. After 15 years ito, na pala yun. Hindi pa rin agad nag-sink in sa akin. Pero naging masaya naman yun samahan namin."