EXCLUSIVE: Rahyan Carlos on directing Janice de Belen’s lesbian scene: ‘She’s so professional’

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='070316DirekRyan_push.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>During the premiere of his film Ringo: <i>The Dog Shooter</i>, director Rahyan Carlos said he had a very clear vision of what he wanted to do with Ricky Lee’s story about a young man who gets a job as a dog shooter (or dog mating assistant). Carlos admitted he was satisfied with the work given by his lead actress Janice de Belen who plays a lesbian dog breeder. 'I handpicked Janice de Belen because I wanted a siyete na buhok, ayoko kasi gumamit ng wig. Gusto ko magpapaiksi talaga ng buhok and ang hirap magpaiksi ng buhok ng mga ibang artista na pinipili namin kasi may mga continuity sa soap and si Janice nung nakita ko sa Ipaglaban Mo, siyete na yung buhok niya kagad. I think she did a lesbian role before in (the movie) The Fatima Buen Story but this is her first time to do a really matapang role for a lesbian. Kasi aside from being a butch, dog breeder kasi siya dito so I really needed her to live like a butch and love like a butch,” he shared during the gala night of the World Premieres Film Festival held last July 1 at SM North Edsa.</div><div><br/></div><div>Director Carlos said the <i>Be My Lady</i> actress was not intimidated by the nature of the film which he confessed was a bit dark. “Dito nakita ni Janice na yung role niya is really challenging. It’s something na hindi pa niya nagagawa sa buong buhay niya. Nung binasa niya yung script ni Ricky Lee in-oo-han niya kagad. So wala akong naging problema sa kanya at all. She’s so friendly. She’s so professional. It’s a matter of I just can’t compromise with the (sex) scene because 99% ginawa namin yung ano dapat yung nararapat na nakalagay sa storya at sa script at ginawa naman niya yun in all fairness. So I think ang pinakamahirap lang naman na napagawa ko sa kanya dito is yung love scene nila ni Liza Dino which is hindi naman siya nag-compromise. Nag-compromise lang kami in terms of preparation but other than that, she’s very, very open. She was very professional,” he admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>One of their most challenging days on the set was one of their last scenes to be shot. 'Actually it was very sensitive so dapat pang-fourth shooting day namin gagawin pero minove namin ng minove hanggang yun yung last namin sa last shooting day kasi kailangan lang niya ng time. Sabi niya, ‘It’s not about the shots, it’s not about anything. I will still do it direk. I will still be in character but just give me time for it.’ At nirerespeto ko yun sa mga artista ko. Hindi ko sila pinipilit. Kasi there are two things why yung artista ko hindi natatakot sa akin or sinusunod nila yung pinapagawa ko. First things first, if it’s your first time to work with me I will ask you two things, how do you want to work and how can I be of help? So lagi kong sinaalang-alang yung anong kapasidad and hindi ko sila pinipilit na mga artista,” he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>As a dog lover himself, direk Carlos hopes his film will affect moviegoers on a deeper level than just being pure entertainment. 'I have nine big dogs. I have three Alaskan Malamutes, two Dobermans, three St. Bernards and two Golden Retrievers. Dahil sa kanila kaya ko nagawa itong pelikulang ito. Wala pa kasing kuwento tungkol sa dogs dito eh. There are two major audiences of this, the dog lovers and the LGBT community. Kasi sa pelikula talaga ang statement namin at ang statement ko bilang director is there’s no gender when it comes to being a parent. Hindi mo kailangan maging blood related para magmahal ng isang tao. At huwag mong sasaktan ang aso which is man’s best friend,” he added. </div><div><br/></div><div>Ringo: The Dog Shooter stars Sandino Martin, Janice De Belen, Liza Dino, Bembol Roco, and Inca the Doberman. Watch it at the 3rd World Premieres Film Festival which runs until July 10. For the complete screening schedule, visit www.wpff.ph. </div><div><br/></div>

The Dog Shooter director Rahyan Carlos admits his film is for dog lovers and the LGBT community.

EXCLUSIVE: Rahyan Carlos on directing Janice de Belen’s lesbian scene: ‘She’s so professional’ | PUSH.COM.PH