Yet again, it’s been one stressful day at the office. I don’t usually complain about work because I always have the construction workers across the street, who’ve just demolished a whole huge building and are now cleaning up the rubble to put up a new and bigger structure, to remind me that what I do “ain’t really working”, to borrow from Dire Straits. But I’m tired nonetheless even if I don’t get blisters on my thumb.
Then I just have to remind myself that my work in the agency has blessed me with great, great friendships. It ain’t so bad after all. Would I have had as many interesting friends if I finished law school? Naah.
I’d like to boast that one of those friends is Jeffrey Jeturian the director. I knew him since 1994 when we first worked with a then introverted Angel Aquino for a shampoo commercial. He was her manager. Jeffrey was the easiest talent manager to deal with. He agreed to everything I offered. I kinda sensed he was distracted, that talent management was a springboard to bigger showbiz goals. It didn’t take long for him to direct his first movie in 1998 – Sana Pagibig Na, starring Angel. He’s only done about 7 movies after that very auspicious debut, but his filmography is the most consistent since Mike de Leon’s.
Tuhog is a favorite. Before the Cinemalaya winner Jay (which I love) there was Jeffrey’s take on media ethics, how reel exploits the real. Two filmmakers buy the rights to the story of a mother and daughter who've been victims of incest. The film version turns out to be hilarious and defamatory against them. It only gets more sordid and doubly painful for the victims.
It takes an intelligent director to understand the intricacies of juxtaposition, without being corny and preachy. And Jeffrey is always like that in his movies – smart, subtle, and entertaining. Hey, he’s my friend! ☺ But I didn't get to see his award-winning film in the last Cinemalaya. Bad, bad friend.
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