00:00 Now, the film Malayari is also quite historic because Mentor Productions has made a groundbreaking
00:06 deal with Warner Brothers for the distribution of this anticipated horror thriller.
00:11 Now, to tell us more about all of this immense, you know, incredible film, we have joining
00:17 us live Mentor Productions President John Brian Diamante, Warner Brothers Philippines
00:22 Director of Distribution Rico Gonzalez, Malayari screenplay writer Enrico Santos and of course,
00:29 you know, the director Derek Cabrillo.
00:31 Good morning to you.
00:32 Good morning.
00:33 Wow.
00:34 I mean, that was already such, you know, such a big film that you guys had to put together.
00:38 Let's focus first with Mentor and, you know, Warner.
00:42 How did Warner, you know, come into the picture and what made Warner want, you know, to collaborate
00:49 with Malayari?
00:50 Sir Enrico Santos, whom I've known from ABS-CBN, called me, contacted me one day saying that
00:58 they want to, if Warner Brothers is interested in distributing a local movie.
01:03 Well, it felt right at the time and the timing was, it came at the right time with us.
01:08 We were actually looking for, I was given the instruction to start looking for a local
01:13 movie that we can distribute at least one or two a year.
01:17 And the time that, I know about the movie already when it was first announced several
01:22 months back and then they pitched it to me, but the last factor was I was made to watch
01:29 the movie and the horror was genre.
01:32 I know Piyola from way back also and I liked what I saw, so I gave my recommendations to
01:36 my bosses, my regional bosses.
01:38 Incredible.
01:39 I mean, for Mentor, what does this mean for you?
01:42 I mean, this whole collaboration with Warner, I mean, not only for the movie, but of course
01:46 for the industry as well.
01:47 What is this whole?
01:48 Actually, I'm still overwhelmed because we're new and it's technically our disadvantage
01:54 because we're new, we don't have any distribution arm.
01:59 So basically, I discussed it with Dirk and Sir Enrico that we have to really look for
02:05 a distribution company to help us distribute this movie and it was just stars aligned.
02:13 And then it was out of the, it's a radical happening that Warner will be open on distributing
02:22 our film.
02:24 And me, I just made sure that we have to put out a really good quality film out there.
02:31 That's my only goal and Warner is really icing on the cake.
02:35 I mean, you just sealed the deal.
02:37 I mean, last November 25, you signed the contract.
02:42 So okay, so we figured that connection.
02:46 How did Enrico and you, you've worked together several horror films together in the past.
02:54 How did you get in touch with Mentor?
02:57 It's a common friend.
02:58 We have a common friend, which is Gio.
03:00 And then Gio introduced me with Brian because during that time, they were looking for a
03:06 project for a film concept that they want to develop as well.
03:10 And it's a good start for us because we have a material way back in 2018 that we really
03:18 want to do, which is Malayari.
03:21 And it took us four years.
03:22 Yeah, I heard four years in the planning.
03:24 I mean, why Malayari, Enrico?
03:26 I mean, what's what made you decide, you know?
03:29 Well, we were coming from the heels of Clarita, the first possessed woman recorded in the
03:34 Philippines.
03:35 I mean, there are many unrecorded, I suppose.
03:37 And then so we said, what other new but true stories can we come up with?
03:42 It seems that Filipinos have gotten into a liking for something that's true to life and
03:46 really close to our home.
03:47 So Malayari was the next thing, the serial killer from the Philippines, the first and
03:51 the only.
03:52 So we started working on that, researching in Pampanga, even going to the very church
03:56 that we went to.
03:57 And it just stayed there until we met Brian and things started to fall in place.
04:01 I mean, four years is such a long time to put this story together.
04:08 What were the challenges that you had?
04:10 I mean, how difficult was it to dig up stories and information, historical facts about Malayari?
04:17 Well, it's quite difficult for me and Enrico because one thing is we don't have any records
04:23 way back during the 1812s, the court records.
04:28 So there are some part of the stories that we can't figure it out.
04:33 Yes, the files are sealed in the Archbishop of Manila.
04:36 So we couldn't get in there.
04:38 We had to go all the way to ask some friends.
04:40 We didn't go all the way to Madrid, but asked some friends in Madrid to dig up some files
04:44 for us.
04:45 And of course, the parish records and the site of the actual place, that's how we started
04:50 building up the story.
04:51 And it was like three historical timelines.
04:55 I mean, three timelines, how necessary was that to be part of your film?
05:03 I asked you all of that earlier in the interview, but for you, from your point of view?
05:08 Then one day Enrico called me and then he was discussing the timeline of 1812 and how
05:13 we're going to connect it to the 2020.
05:15 How it doesn't seem relevant for 2023 audiences unless we put two timelines.
05:21 And then we decided, why not let's put another timeline so that we could be able to connect
05:25 the three timelines.
05:27 So it started as a dare, sort of.
05:30 But it became necessary because then I told Direk it becomes a history of fear, from the
05:36 fear in the Spanish era, the American era, and the present day.
05:39 So it sort of elevated the horror a bit.
05:41 And you're an expert when it comes to documentaries.
05:43 So you know how to piece all of these things together.
05:49 How about the fact that it is a horror, you guys are experts when it comes to horror.
05:56 Filming Piolo, this is Piolo's first horror film.
05:58 You know, how was that?
05:59 He said he had to shoot what his first day was the ending and all of these things.
06:05 It's quite challenging for Piolo, actually.
06:06 Actually, when we were talking during that day, I remember he was nervous because he
06:13 didn't expect that we're going to shoot the ending on the day one.
06:16 But I keep on telling that we have to do it today and then we don't have any other time
06:21 to do it, to shoot the scene.
06:23 But the good thing is, he's open.
06:27 He's game to the idea of shooting the scene.
06:30 And then, of course, it's very challenging.
06:32 He's nervous.
06:33 But when we saw the shots after we got the X-ray, it was so perfect.
06:42 I was so nervous because I couldn't find anything else.
06:47 You are so lucky.
06:48 You have the best of the best here.
06:50 Best screenwriter, award-winning screenwriter, best director.
06:53 I mean, you picked the best partner, we have mentored Piolo Pascual.
06:57 I mean, this is just a wonderful, neatly wrapped gift package.
07:03 How far do you plan to take Malian?
07:06 Hopefully, Warner will be able to help us distribute outside the Philippines also and
07:12 other territories.
07:13 Because, you know, Mentor is a believer of Filipino talent.
07:20 I think we have that.
07:21 It's just, you know, give these talented people the right environment.
07:27 You know, we have Malian.
07:30 And Academy Awards?
07:32 Are we heading there?
07:33 Well, first...
07:34 Why not?
07:35 I have to convince my regional bosses this is worthy to be released in other, at least
07:40 Asian territories first.
07:41 And we'll see from there.
07:43 Okay.
07:44 And horror for the Christmas season.
07:46 I mean, why not?
07:48 I mean, horror can be any time of the year.
07:51 But I mean, you know, it is the holiday season.
07:54 We do have this, you know, horror thriller film.
07:57 What is the main message?
07:58 I mean, what is it that...
08:00 The complexion of the film festivals have changed.
08:03 It used to be the families would come in droves.
08:06 Now the parents sort of stay back at home.
08:09 And the barcadas, the tropas of teenagers, go to the cinemas on the first day.
08:14 We'd like to capitalize on that peria roller coaster attitude of teenagers.
08:20 Let's get there and let's scream our hearts out after the Christmas.
08:23 Yeah, well, we've always had horror films anyway in the Metro Manila film festival.
08:26 It's not definitely going to be the first.
08:28 And you've always... well, there's one article that I read that you interviewed for about
08:34 love.
08:35 What is the...
08:36 Greatest horror.
08:37 Greatest horror.
08:38 There you go.
08:39 Love is definitely the greatest horror.
08:40 So watch the Metro Manila film fest happening on Christmas Day.
08:45 So you know, do invite.
08:48 We were inviting everyone to please watch Malyari this coming December 25 as part of
08:54 the Metro Manila film festival.
08:56 Okay.
08:57 So we have Piaola Pasqual, Janela Salvador, Elise Siozon, JC Santos, and Miss Gloria Diaz.
09:02 Yeah.
09:03 Thank you so much, gentlemen, for being with us bright and early right here on UTV.
09:07 We wish you all the best.
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