“Comedy is universal,” declares Chris Martinez, writer and director of the smash Philippine hit Here Comes the Bride. Chris began his professional life as an advertising agency copywriter, then director of TV commercials. At the same time he wrote plays, many of which have been staged to great acclaim in Manila. In 2004 his screenplay for the comedy Bridal Shower (FEFF 2004) was directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, and in 2008 he wrote the drama Caregiver (FEFF 2008) for Chito Roño. That year he made his feature film debut with the indie dramady 100, the story of a terminally ill woman who goes through a list of 100 things she must do before she dies. Chris then wrote Kimmy Dora, which became the biggest indie box-office hit of 2009. Here Comes the Bride (FEFF 2011), which he wrote and directed, was one of the biggest commercial and critical hits of 2010.
You’re one of the most successful directors of comedy in the Philippines. What do Filipinos find funny?
I think Filipinos laugh at the same stuff that every one on the planet finds funny. I have a theory that humor is universal. Of course there are some cultural nuances to consider, but based on the festivals we’ve been to with 100 and Here Comes the Bride, international audiences laugh at the same things Filipinos find hilarious. Mistaken identity, comedy of manners and errors, black-greenbrown humor, slapstick, cognitive dissonance, sex comedies — they all work for everybody!
There are many body-switching comedies, but Here Comes the Bride has several people switching identities, and it gets crazier. How did you come up with the multiple body switch idea?
The great Armando Lao, my creative consultant, and I brainstormed on the concept of the film. It was decided that we wanted to do a body swap movie. Over beer, we wrote down different aspirations of Filipinos. What do Filipinos want? Youth, fortune, beauty, love, sex, etc. We took the top five and assigned each to a character type.Then we decided it wouldn’t just be two people switching souls, or even three, but five! Yes, we upped the degree of difficulty. In the first part of the production, it was like I was the only one who clearly understood the script. Everyone who read it got so confused — which was a good sign!
Everyone in HCTB is perfectly cast: Tuesday Vargas, Jaime Fabregas, John Lapus, Eugene Domingo, and Angelica Panganiban. Did you write the screenplay with them in mind?
Not really, but they were always on the short list at the back of my head while I was writing the material. I was so lucky to have the perfect cast. They are so talented and naturally funny! Each one of them had to study two characters at the same time. We had a workshop where we had to “design” the characters — the original and the “possessed.”
What are your next movie projects?
I have a Cinemalaya entry this year entitled Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank). I wrote it and I am also co-producing it. It’s about poverty porn as depicted in Filipino indie films. Obviously, it’s a comedy. I am also in the pre-production stage for the remake of Temptation Island. We are shooting the film in April. The cast has been finalized. It’s an exciting bunch of actors to work with. Regal Films and GMA Network are co-producing this one. Then, there is also the sequel to Kimmy Dora. The sequence outline has been approved by the producers. I am writing the script this month. It’s the continuing story of the twins but this one mixes in a different genre. Asian horror! And soon I will have to work on the sequel of Here Comes the Bride! So it’s sequels, remakes and septic tanks for me this year!
Isn’t it scary to remake a camp classic like Joey Gosiengfiao’s Temptation Island— I suspect they shot it as a serious movie!
I am treating Temptation Island like it’s Shakespeare! The remake is more like an homage to Joey Gosiengfiao and Toto Belano, the original creators of that absurd film. In the remake, the characters will also be renamed Pura K., Cristina G., Virginia P. — based on the heroinesof Joey’s past films. I also viewed his other movies like Bomba Star and worked some memorable scenes into the new script. When people ask me if I am pressured by the task, I always say, “I’m remaking Temptation Island, not Schindler’s List!” It’s going to be fun! And funny! I want everyone to have a good time when they watch it.
What kind of movies would you like to do?
After all these commitments that I have made with the producers, maybe I can go back to making movies like 100 — stories
with serious themes but with a comic touch.
What are your all-time favorite movies, Filipino and foreign?
A lot! I’ll just list some until my mind goes blank. Here it goes. Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting, Requiem for a Dream, Chicago, West Side Story, Manhattan, Annie Hall, Groundhog Day, The Hangover, Cinema Paradiso, Psycho, Evil Dead, Insiang, Himala, Bona, Tuhog, Itanong Mo Sa Buwan, Karnal, Black Swan.
Jessica Zafra