Zig Dulay says Dennis Trillo has never failed to impress with his dramatic prowess and versatility as an actor.
Speaking to PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), the acclaimed director recalled that he and Dennis have worked together in many TV projects.
But it was the first time they did a movie together.
Co-produced by GMA Pictures and Brightburn Entertainment, Green Bones is among the 10 entries for the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.
“Tama ka, ang dami na namin pinagsamahan ni Dennis sa Puso Ni Dok pa, bata pa ako noon. Second unit ako na director,” said Zig, referring to the 2014 medical drama series starring Dennis and Bela Padilla.
“Tapos, even nung writer pa lang ako, sa GMA Public Affairs. Tapos, nag-Maria Clara at Ibarra kami, nag-Legal Wives kami.
“Tapos, mga anniversary special ng Magpakailanman.”
Maria Clara and Ibarra (2022-2023) is the hit primetime series that starred Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo, Julie Anne San Jose, and David Licauco.
Legal Wives is a cultural drama series that Dennis co-headlined with Andrea Torres, Bianca Umali, and Alice Dixson.
Magpakailanman is a weekly drama anthology of GMA-7.
Continuing, “Isa sa mga bucket list ko na maka-work siya sa pelikula kasi ang dami namin pinagsamahan dun sa TV.
“Tapos, amazing siya kasi hanggang ngayon, lagi siyang may binibigay na sobra dun sa expectations.
“Kung may isang wish man ako ngayong Pasko, sana ma-recognize yung nai-share niya na talent, na husay dito sa Green Bones.”
The movie begins with Dennis character getting arrested after being accused of killing his sister.
The tragic incident was so traumatic it resulted in Dennis losing his ability to speak.
He got jailed at a detention facility in a far-flung island where prisoners are allowed to roam freely.
Dennis’s character showed good conduct as he served his sentence, but Ruru Madrid, who plays an upright policeman, remains skeptical towards Dennis.
Based on the trailer, Ruru is deadset on unveiling what he thinks are sinister activities of Dennis in the prison island.
Describing Dennis’s role, Zig explained that the 43-year-old actor studied Filipino sign language.
“Seryoso po siya. Saka komplikado yung role niya, lalo na kasi hindi siya nagsasalita.
“So, lahat ng gusto niyang sabihin ay manggagaling, kung hindi man sa actions ay mainly sa mata.
“Yun talaga yung number one na na pamantayan ko sa isang mahusay na artista— kapag nangungusap talaga yung mata nila nang walang ibang ginagawa.
With Dennis going to the set fully prepared, Zig said it was a breeze to shoot most of their scenes.
“Maliban sa feeling ko natural siyang artist, alagad ng sining, pinag-aaralan niya yung role.
“Kasi alam niya kung ano yung hinihingi, alam niya kung ano yung kaya niyang ibigay, tapos pinu-push pa namin dun sa best version.”
ZIG ON WORKING WITH RURU MADRID
As for Ruru, Zig said he was willing to learn whatever he needs to deliver for the role.
“Natutuwa ako sa kanya kasi 200% yung passion niya.
“So, every time na sinasabi niya kanina na parang humihingi ako ng versions, nabigay na niya, mahusay siya.
“Tapos, ipu-push ko siya, isa pa, tapos pu-push ko pa siya ulit, tapos nabibigay niya.
“Kasi yun yung masaya, determinado siya, So, walang imposible sa taong super passionate.”
Zig also guided Ruru how to act for the big screen
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na magkaiba yung language dun sa hinihingi ng TV, at dun sa pelikula.
“Since ang tagal na niya hindi nagpepelikula, excited siya na malaman niya.”
How is acting for the big screens different from the small screens?
Zig answered, “Mas realism, yung truthfulness ng scene, yung pinu-push sa film.
“Kasi, di ba, minsan, aware din ako na pag doon sa TV, dahil alam natin na yung mga audience may iba pang ginagawa, pinu-push mo yung content.
“Doon sa pelikula, tutok yung mga tao doon sa loob ng sinehan. So as real as possible.”
Zig added that he’s the type of director who collaborates with the star.
“Ilalaban mo yung identity niya bilang artista or kung paano niya nakikita yung role in that way.
“Napu-push yung collaboration ninyo kasi may input siya, may input ka, nandito yung material.
“So parang, minsan chumichika kaming dalawa [ni Ruru] kung paano atakihin yung eksena, paano atakihin yung role.
“Kasi for the longest time, siya nag-TV show. Actually, pareho kami.
“Kahit na nag-Firefly ako, simula ng Sahaya [noong 2019], dire-diretso ako nag-TV series, e. So, ginaground ko rin yung sarili ko.”
ON BUILDING THE MAKE-BELIEVE SET FOR GREEN BONES
For his part, Zig said what excited him about the project was putting together the locations for the fictional prison island where the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) live.
He calls it “world building.”
Elaborating: “World building in such a way na sa Pilipinas, hindi ito nag-exist, itong lugar na ito or yung mundo nila.
“But still, iga-ground mo siya din sa realism. Kasama pa rin yung mga research and everything.
“Kasi, lahat ng ginagawa ko, even sa TV series, fan ako na dapat totoo siyang lugar.
“Kasi, naniniwala ako na maliban dun sa kuwento ng mga characters, may kuwento din yung lugar.
“At may pakiramdam ako na yun yung naidadagdag ko every time. Kailangan mong buhayin yung lugar.
“Kailangan mong mabuhay yung mga PDLs. Kasi, kasama sila din sa environment.”
Then the next challenge for Zig is how to make the scenes believable and relatable to the audience.
“Sa ganitong klase ng material, paano mo pa rin siya iru-root doon sa reality? Tapos, paano mo ilalabas yung puso?”
After watching the final output of Green Bones, Zig said he was very happy that he took on the project.
