00:00 Well, the critically acclaimed Japanese film monster will hit Philippine cinemas October 11.
00:05 Now, thanks to the family-owned movie company Nathan Studios.
00:08 And to tell us more about this, joining us this morning, of course, is the beautiful president and CEO, Ms. Rhea Tyde.
00:15 Good morning.
00:16 Morning. Thank you for having me.
00:17 What a journey. I mean, just hearing you speak about all of these things, I am thoroughly impressed.
00:22 Okay, so take us through the 101.
00:25 So how can we actually get a film?
00:27 You went to Cannes, not necessarily to buy a film.
00:31 Yes.
00:31 Okay, go. You went there just for your Topac?
00:34 To screen Topac, which is also screening in different festivals.
00:37 It just so happened that the Cannes one had a market.
00:39 Okay.
00:40 So while we were waiting for the screening and waiting to sell Topac,
00:44 we went around the market as well and found films to bring into the Philippines.
00:48 I think you just went shopping.
00:49 Basically, we went to the mall.
00:51 Okay, so you had to screen.
00:53 So tell me about, okay, you saw this movie, you saw this monster.
00:57 It caught your eye. And then what do you do?
01:01 So first off, we got Monster based solely on word of mouth during the market
01:07 because everybody was raving about it.
01:09 Everybody we bumped into was like, "Have you seen Monster? Have you seen Monster?
01:13 I'm trying to get tickets for Monster."
01:14 Okay.
01:15 So we were like, "Okay, so this is something that people will probably really talk about."
01:19 And true enough, they won Best Screenplay in the Film Fest.
01:25 And this one, when you were hearing all of these things, on your end, you only saw the screen.
01:30 The trailer.
01:33 But I feel like part of me really wanted to get the two
01:37 because it reminded me of the idea of Parasite, the Korean film.
01:40 And I'm a big fan of Korea because of Shoplifters, which is his 2018 film,
01:45 which really did well.
01:46 It also won the Best Film in the Film Fest during its time.
01:50 So he's like a reliable filmmaker.
01:53 And I was like, "This is the type of thing that Filipinos should see."
01:57 Right.
01:57 And very limited our reach to that.
02:00 Yes.
02:00 Asian, like Japanese films.
02:02 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:03 So, okay, tell me a little bit about Monster.
02:05 What was it? Tell me what it's about.
02:07 Oh, without spoiling.
02:09 Without spoiling. I know it's tough.
02:10 It's so hard.
02:12 It's kind of like a whodunit thing, a psychological thriller, which taps into...
02:20 It's also social commentary, if anything.
02:22 Universal social commentary that seems fit to Japan but can also be addressed here, basically.
02:30 And there's a lot of things involved.
02:32 Like, it taps into mental health.
02:35 It taps into a lot of things.
02:37 Bullying.
02:38 Bullying, yes.
02:39 Bullying, mental health.
02:41 Yeah.
02:41 Okay.
02:42 So it's a little bit of a slow burn, but it's so well-named.
02:48 But I think, because of the market, because we have been exposed to Korean films, Japanese films, and something,
02:53 so I think we do have a sense of what it's like.
02:57 And I feel like it opens possibilities for us to realize that these are films Filipinos can be making as well.
03:03 Okay.
03:04 And so that being said, we know that it is not easy to acquire this.
03:09 As you said, you were bidding, and then somebody else is bidding also to get it.
03:14 Okay, but you went through all of this, and then we do understand now that ever since the pandemic,
03:20 it has been a bit of a difficulty for producers to actually sell their films,
03:26 for people to go to the cinemas and watch films.
03:30 So what was going on in your head when you took that big risk?
03:35 Again, the fact that we want to widen the horizons of the Filipino market when it comes to watching films.
03:41 I feel like this is an investment, slowly introducing a new genre to the Filipino market,
03:49 and opening up possibilities, really.
03:52 It's a good film, so I feel like it's something people should see.
03:54 I want to watch it! I want to watch it! I mean, just based on hearing you talk about it.
03:58 Okay, it's not—okay, don't. I don't want to hype it that much, but it is good.
04:02 I really enjoyed it, personally.
04:04 Okay, I mean, that says a lot.
04:07 I mean, the fact that you do enjoy it, and people are actually talking about it.
04:11 And for Nathan Studios, what is your direction?
04:14 I mean, you went there, and you got "Monsters," and of course you have your "Katliya Killers,"
04:20 and then Topak, as you said, is doing the rounds.
04:23 Do you have a particular set of films that you want, like in your—
04:28 In our roster?
04:29 In your roster, in your portfolio?
04:31 I feel like, coming into the producing business as well,
04:37 what we really wanted to do was to highlight Filipino talent and bring it out internationally,
04:42 which is why we're so adamant about bringing everything out.
04:46 And then eventually, we realized that apart from bringing things out of the country,
04:51 it's also nice to bring things in, to make it a little bit more exciting, maybe,
04:57 to change the genres that are available for the market.
05:00 So yeah, there. It's really just making—bridging the gap internationally.
05:04 But what's nice also about your—like Nathan Studios, of course, with your mom,
05:08 and your whole family, is that, of course, you love what it is, but it's also quality films.
05:12 Yes.
05:13 I mean, "Katliya," of course, we watched it, and then it is now streaming.
05:18 Yes, on Prime Video.
05:18 It is still on Prime Video, and Topak, as you said, is doing the rounds.
05:23 Yes.
05:24 And now "Monster," and you not only "Monster," but you do have a lot more.
05:27 We have a lot more films that we acquired, but they're all still being made.
05:32 So that's a process. You can buy films that are still pre-production or in production.
05:38 So it's actually very exciting.
05:39 Okay, so "Monster" is coming out October 11, and a best screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival.
05:46 But now, okay, let's put that aside. You're so busy.
05:50 A little bit.
05:52 I mean, aside from leading Nathan Studios, you're also busy with your series.
05:56 Yes. It's called "Nag-a-Apoy na Mga Daman," and "ABS-CBN,"
06:00 and "TV5" is their first collaboration together.
06:03 How do you find time? I mean, how do you break it up?
06:07 Prayers.
06:07 Prayers?
06:08 Joke. No, I feel like it's nice because with "The Soap," we have an MWF schedule for shooting.
06:15 So I'm able to schedule things in between.
06:17 And I guess you get the best of both worlds. I mean, you get to produce, and you get to...
06:21 Yes, I feel like it keeps me on the ground, like keeps my feet on the ground,
06:25 in the sense that I'm a lot more empathetic with production and all of that.
06:29 So lastly, before I let you go, I mean, being a producer,
06:32 where would you see would be the state of Philippine cinema?
06:36 Are we stuck in one genre? Are we ready for other genres? Where are we headed?
06:40 I feel like we are definitely ready for more genres,
06:43 which I think is why we took the risk into acquiring films like "Monster," which is an art film, basically.
06:49 But my hope for Philippine cinema is that it'll be revived in terms of the profitability and the income for everybody
06:58 because it seems to be really struggling right now.
07:01 I mean, in the States, they did have their whole rallies and stuff.
07:06 I feel like eventually, maybe we can also work around making it a lot more inclusive and lucrative for everybody.
07:14 Yeah, because I know, even based on the past festivals, a lot of people actually wanting to do horrors and thrillers
07:20 and just moving out from the cutie traditional rom-coms.
07:24 Which is exciting.
07:25 Which is exciting. I love rom-coms. I mean, it's so nice to feel good all the time.
07:29 But Ria, all the best to you.
07:31 Thank you so much.
07:32 Thank you so much for waking up so early and being with us here in the studio.
07:36 Bye!
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