Fans and friends mourned over the sudden death Wenn V. Dermas who succumbed to cardiac arrest on February 29. He leaves behind a legacy of blockbuster movies and hit TV shows. In a portrait made by actor-photographer Jojit Lorenzo , one can see a collage of the director’s iconic movies and TV series that he has made through the years.
Here’s a look back on the life and career of the blockbuster director
- Direk
Wenn as a waiter
Direk Wenn finished B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management and became a waiter for some time.
- Direk
Wenn as a P.A. (Production Assistant)
Direk Wenn started in the industry as a production assistant before he was assigned to be a writer on Teysi ng Tahanan.
- Direk
Wenn as a writer
After being a production assistant on the TV show Tatak Pilipino, he was assigned to be a writer on Teysi ng Tahanan and eventually became an executive producer for the 1995 TV show Calvento Files.
- Direk
Wenn as a director
After picking up tips and experience in filmmaking, he eventually became
a director.
TV Series
Marina (2004)
Marina was an ABS-CBN fantaserye where Optimum
Star Claudine Barretto portrayed Marina, a mermaid.
Kampanerang Kuba (2005)
Kampanerang Kuba is another ABS-CBN fantasy soap opera,
which was inspired by the 1973 film Kampanerang
Kuba which starred Vilma Santos and Bobot Mortiz. Anne Curtis portrayed as
Imang, the hunchbacked bell-ringer.
Kokey (2007)
Kokey was directed by Wenn Deramas and Ruel Bayani. Direk Wenn also directed the sequel of this series entitled Kokey @ Ako which starred Toni Gonzaga and Vhong Navarro.
Dyosa (2008)
Dyosa had Anne Curtis playing the role of a goddess.
(Anne is frequently dubbed as “Dyosa” because of this TV series.) Her co-stars
were Sam Milby and Luis Manzano.
Galema: Anak ni Zuma (2013)
Galema: Anak ni Zuma was based on the comic book Zuma by Jim Fernandez. Andi Eigenmann
portrayed Galema Castillo-Villalobos.
MOVIES
Ang Tanging Ina (2003)
Ang Tanging Ina was a comedy film which starred Ai-Ai delas
Alas. The movie had sequels which were also helmed by Direk Wenn: Ang Tanging Ina niyong Lahat (2008) and Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na ‘to!) (2010).
The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin
(2011)
The Unkabogable Praybeyt
Benjamin starring Vice
Ganda was the first Filipino film to break the P300 million mark at the box
office. It was the highest grossing Filipino film in 2011 and after this
success, every movie team up of Vice and direk Wenn became a blockbuster.
Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy
(2013)
This movie had Vice playing quadruplets who have been separated for a
long time.
Maria Leonora Teresa (2014)
Maria Leonora Teresa is a horror-suspense film that starred
actors Zanjoe Marudo, Iza Calzado, and Jodi Sta. Maria.
The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin
(2014)
The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin is the sequel to The Unkabogable Praybeyt
Benjamin. The movie earned P435 million and it became the highest-grossing
films in the Philippines then.
Beauty and the Bestie (2015)
Beauty and the Bestie is direk Wenn’s last film to compete in
the Metro Manila Film Fest. The movie starred Coco Martin, Vice Ganda and the
popular love team of James Reid and Nadine Lustre. It is currently the highest
grossing Filipino film of all time for domestic gross sales.