and then when I arrived for our interview at the location of "Ate" last Tuesday. She has just finished the taping of an episode of "Prinsesa ng Banyera" at 4 a.m. that same day and at the same location, went home to sleep for a few hours then went back for the shooting of "Ate."
"Ate" which is directed by Lore Reyes with Peque Gallaga as its production designer, is Ara Mina's first venture as a movie producer. Under her Posh Entertainment production company, she stars in it with her sister Cristine Reyes and Paolo Paraiso. And as a first-time producer she is very hands on and passionate about "Ate" she doesn't mind having sleepless nights and working alternately from her TV series to the movie.
According to Ara, her hectic schedule is the reason for her irritated throat but as the saying goes in the realm of entertainment, the show must go on!
She shared that she has been wanting to produce a film someday that when "Ate" came about, she deemed it as the perfect project for her. She described "Ate" as a story about how an elder sister took care of her younger sister. But it is not as simple as it seems. It also revolves around the idea that too much of everything is bad for a person. Because "Ate" is also about how a younger sister feels when her "ate" is always all over her.
The younger sister rebels and she gets back at her elder sister by sleeping with her "ate's" husband played by Paolo Paraiso. To make matters worst, the younger sister becomes pregnant with her "ate's" husband!
A tale of how an elder sister's love for her sibling could go wrong, and a story of deceit and redemption, "Ate's" cast includes Eddie Garcia, Eva Daren, Jan Marini, Gerard Pizaras, Jemuel and Roshelle Barameda, Jade Lopez and Ian Veneracion.
Below, Ara Mina talks more about "Ate," her fears, her experience and how is she as an "ate" to Cristine Reyes.
WS: Why did you finally decide to produce a movie?
Ara: Matagal ko ng naisipang gumawa tapos gumawa ako ng indie film yung "Selda." And this inspired me. Then when directors Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes presented me the story of "Ate" I was enticed to produce it because it is a story about two sisters and I've been wanting us to do a movie together. I also want a film kung saan ko siya maaalagaan lalo na kapag may sexy scenes.
But people would wonder why you're allowing your younger sister to do sexy scenes especially that you're her "ate?"
"Hindi naman grabe ang sexy scenes kasi we're aiming for R-13 para mapanuod lahat ng mga tao. Hinihingi lang talaga ang love scenes sa story. Ngayon hindi na puwede yung grabe kasi hindi ka na mapapalabas eh paano ka pa kikita at paano ka mapapanuod ng mga tao?"
What are the other selling points of "Ate?"
"This is a movie na magpapakita ng acting ni Cristine na meron pa siyang ibubuga kaysa sa pagpapa-sexy lang. Siyempre isa pang selling point nito eh yung i-compare kami sa pagpapa-sexy. Sa akin hindi ko na ima-mind yun kasi madami na akong pinagdaanan. Actually mas marami siyang love scenes dito tapos ang isa pang selling point dito is first time naming magkatrabaho sa isang pelikula."
Why aren't you scared of producing a movie at this time?
"Bago naman magsimula ito, eight months naman ang planning namin nila direk. Siyempre nag-canvas muna ako, naghanap ng mga tao with direk Lore and tumawad-tawad ako sa mga presyo (laughed). Actually I want to thank all my friends from showbiz who helped me here."
So what was the challenge?
"Pinagplanuhan naman naming mabuti ito. Kung baga alam mo naman malakas ang loob ko. Una nag-album ako, tapos nag-concert ako sa Araneta yung fund-raising ko. Kung baga every year iba-iba ang naiisip ko which is nagiging successful naman lahat. Nagkaroon pa kami ng workshop for this one bago nag-start para mawala ang mga inhibitions namin ni Cristine kasi meron kaming drama rito and confrontations parang feeling ko masarap panuorin kasi being sisters in real life puwedeng isipin nila kung nangyari na ito sa amin...may mga parts na parang nangyari na sa amin pero may parts na hindi naman lalo na yung mga maselan."
Are you as over protective in real life to Cristine like your character Helen in the film?
"Yes, but we just have different professions in the film. I'm over protective in real life pero may difference lang. Dito kasi dumating sa point na nasakal na siya ng husto. Nowadays in real life I let her decide for herself like in her career and in her lovelife. Pagkailangan lang niya ng help dun lang ako susulpot para di ba matuto siya. Kunwari kapag nagkamali man siya at least magkakaroon siya ng lesson."
The story of "Ate" sounds simple, what can moviegoers expect?
"Maraming eksenang pagiging ate talaga. And I feel that a lot of people can relate to it. Maraming makaka-relate na magkakapatid lalo na mga ate diyan!"
So did you have headaches from being a producer?
"Sa awa ng Diyos hindi naman. Mas sumakit ang ulo ko sa movie namin ni Manny Pacquiao (laughed). Dito very smooth, walang problema, walang pasaway na mga artista. Tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa pag gawa and almost 60% na kami at matatapos kami this January."
How much is your projected budget?
"Siyempre pinag-aralan ko muna at nagtanong ako sa manager ko, si Dondon Monteverde, anak ni Mother Lily, lahat ng mga kilala ko sa showbiz humingi ako ng advice. I just set a certain budget and my rule is not to go over it...wala namang masama sa pag-produce ko nito kasi ito ang passion natin lalo na ang pag-aartista. Tapos magagawa mo pa ang gusto mong role eh walang nakaisip na pagsamahin kaming magkapatid."
How was it working with Lore Reyes?
"He works fast. We always talk about the film and we plan things, like kung kaninong post production namin ipapa-handle ang movie. Eve-rything is in black and white kasi siya rin ang line producer. Marami rin akong natutunan."
So in the end you're sure that there won't be any investigation where a P10 million budget went?
"(Laughing). Honestly, mga nilalabas ko rito pinagtratrabahuan ko rin...hindi ko naman alam na mabibigay sa akin ang "Prinsesa ng Banyera" kasi November 2007 pa naplano itong "Ate." Pero I'm happy and thankful of all my blessings for 2008! Marami ako natutunan it's very interesting lalo na basta tapat ang mga tao mo hindi malabong mabawi mo!"
If successful, who do you plan to work with next?
"Maybe si Ate Vi ang next. Pero hindi ko pa afford ang talent fee niya. But then you'll never know. Positive thinker lang ako talaga!"
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