Cathy Garcia-Molina almost declined directing ‘Love at First Stream’: ‘Ang hirap magsalita ng naka-mask”

Rhea Manila Santos

After more than two decades of making films, Star Cinema director Cathy Garcia-Molina said she never expected to finally have an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).“Honestly I don’t know what to expect anymore kasi medyo iba ang set up ngayon that the other MMFFs na dumaan. But ang alam ko lang tangi ay masaya. I’m looking forward to riding the float. Ito first time pa na fluvial so happy naman ako pero excited lang ako. Pero at the same time sabi nila buti na lang marunong ako lumangoy! Lalagyan daw ako ng vest agad agad.“Pero I’m excited. Matagal ko nang hinihingi na sana magkaroon ako ng MMFF movie. Gusto ko lang ma-experience na yung saya ng lahat Filipino movies ang pinapanuod tapos ang manunuod sa ‘yo mga family, anlalaking grupo tapos bibigyan mo ng saya. In fact nung in-accept ko ‘tong film na ‘to, hindi ko alam na MMFF ito. Kaya nung sinabi, nangarag beauty ko. As in na-tense ako and maraming salamat natanggap naman. For the kids, sana mabigyan pansin yung galing nung mga bata sa pelikulang ito because they really did well,” she said during the Love At First Stream mediacon last December 14. <a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/18/fresh-scoops/cathy-garcia-molina-on-directing-new-actors-alam-194709'>READ: Cathy Garcia-Molina on directing new actors: ‘Alam naman nila ang monstrous side ko’</a>When she was first approached to make the film, direk Cathy recalled almost turning it down becuase of the global health situation.“Ang totoo, ayoko sana talagang mag-shoot hanggang pandemya pa. Kasi prior to this movie, parang ang mga protocols ay social distancing, bawal hawakan artista, ganyan, ganyan. Sabi ko talaga sa Star Cinema, ‘How can I do that when I’m a very hands-on director?’ Alam naman yan ng mga bata. I hold them. Kailangan nakikita nila mukha ko. Ang hirap magsalita ng naka-mask and all. Buti na lang thankful na din na medyo lumuwag ng konti, na allow yung hahawakan ko sila. Kasi hindi ko talaga kaya. Hindi ko talaga kayang malayo sa artista during shoot. Isa sa mga adjustments yun. Nahirapan ako ng may mask.“Tapos hiniling ko talaga na sa kuwento pa lang ay i-limit na yung locations kasi bawal di ba ang baklas during shoot. So maraming mga adjustment as far as creative pa nagsimula. So may hiling ka na sa writers na i-limit pati mga talents. Tapos madaming umarte sa amin ay galing sa staff kasi in following the protocols na hindi mag-more than 50, ganyan. So sobrang bawas ang tao namin. Kung ang crew ko in the normal setting is 30, ngayon wala pang 10. So malaking adjustment but it helps. Resilience eh. Kailangan natin mag-adapt sa situation kaya yung mga bata hindi ko binigyan yan ng mga assistant nila. Kasi lalagpas kami sa bilang and in fairness dun sa apat, they did not need them. Trinabaho naman nila yung sarili nila. They were old [enough] naman to take care of themselves and everyone tinanggalan ng assistants. Kokonti ang staff ko but pag gusto mo ang isang bagay gagawan mo ng paraan eh. So with all the love and care ng lahat ng tao, nabuo ang pelikulang ito. Kaya I am very proud of this film,” she shared.<a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/9/fresh-scoops/is-director-cathy-garcia-molina-retiring-after-lo-194516'>READ: Is director Cathy Garcia-Molina retiring after ‘Love at First Stream’? ‘Ito yung last sa kontrata ko’</a>While describing her latest film, the veteran director said that Love At First Stream is a project that is close to her heart because of her own relationship with her children.“Basically, I will call it this is a love letter to generations. This is a movie, as much as it is very current, it’s not only for the teens, for the young ones, but also for the older women or parents like us. This is very true to my heart. Itong pelikulang ito ay nanggaling sa butil sa aking puso na problem at mga tanong ko sa mga kabataan ngayon. And I wanted to learn to through this film kasi marami akong mga bagay na hindi naiintindihan sa kanila and I think vice-versa. And I think I succeeded. I got to learn a lot making this film about understanding my children. So sana yun yung gusto naming ibahagi sa marami, na let us understand each other. Let’s not fight. I don’t want parents fighting with children. I’d rather that we understand each other and hopefully this movie mabigay yun sa manunuod,” she admitted. <a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/10/fresh-scoops/cathy-garcia-molina-directs-kaorhys-and-danthony-i-194551'>READ: Cathy Garcia-Molina directs KaoRhys and Danthony in ‘Love at First Stream’</a>Featuring an original soundtrack from P-pop supergroup SB19 titled “No Stopping You,” the Star Cinema and Kumu co-production Love At First Stream will premiere on December 25, Saturday along with other MMFF entries this year.

<a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/18/fresh-scoops/cathy-garcia-molina-on-directing-new-actors-alam-194709'>READ: Cathy Garcia-Molina on directing new actors: ‘Alam naman nila ang monstrous side ko’</a>When she was first approached to make the film, direk Cathy recalled almost turning it down becuase of the global health situation.“Ang totoo, ayoko sana talagang mag-shoot hanggang pandemya pa. Kasi prior to this movie, parang ang mga protocols ay social distancing, bawal hawakan artista, ganyan, ganyan. Sabi ko talaga sa Star Cinema, ‘How can I do that when I’m a very hands-on director?’ Alam naman yan ng mga bata. I hold them. Kailangan nakikita nila mukha ko. Ang hirap magsalita ng naka-mask and all. Buti na lang thankful na din na medyo lumuwag ng konti, na allow yung hahawakan ko sila. Kasi hindi ko talaga kaya. Hindi ko talaga kayang malayo sa artista during shoot. Isa sa mga adjustments yun. Nahirapan ako ng may mask.“Tapos hiniling ko talaga na sa kuwento pa lang ay i-limit na yung locations kasi bawal di ba ang baklas during shoot. So maraming mga adjustment as far as creative pa nagsimula. So may hiling ka na sa writers na i-limit pati mga talents. Tapos madaming umarte sa amin ay galing sa staff kasi in following the protocols na hindi mag-more than 50, ganyan. So sobrang bawas ang tao namin. Kung ang crew ko in the normal setting is 30, ngayon wala pang 10. So malaking adjustment but it helps. Resilience eh. Kailangan natin mag-adapt sa situation kaya yung mga bata hindi ko binigyan yan ng mga assistant nila. Kasi lalagpas kami sa bilang and in fairness dun sa apat, they did not need them. Trinabaho naman nila yung sarili nila. They were old [enough] naman to take care of themselves and everyone tinanggalan ng assistants. Kokonti ang staff ko but pag gusto mo ang isang bagay gagawan mo ng paraan eh. So with all the love and care ng lahat ng tao, nabuo ang pelikulang ito. Kaya I am very proud of this film,” she shared.<a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/9/fresh-scoops/is-director-cathy-garcia-molina-retiring-after-lo-194516'>READ: Is director Cathy Garcia-Molina retiring after ‘Love at First Stream’? ‘Ito yung last sa kontrata ko’</a>While describing her latest film, the veteran director said that Love At First Stream is a project that is close to her heart because of her own relationship with her children.“Basically, I will call it this is a love letter to generations. This is a movie, as much as it is very current, it’s not only for the teens, for the young ones, but also for the older women or parents like us. This is very true to my heart. Itong pelikulang ito ay nanggaling sa butil sa aking puso na problem at mga tanong ko sa mga kabataan ngayon. And I wanted to learn to through this film kasi marami akong mga bagay na hindi naiintindihan sa kanila and I think vice-versa. And I think I succeeded. I got to learn a lot making this film about understanding my children. So sana yun yung gusto naming ibahagi sa marami, na let us understand each other. Let’s not fight. I don’t want parents fighting with children. I’d rather that we understand each other and hopefully this movie mabigay yun sa manunuod,” she admitted. <a href='https://push.abs-cbn.com/2021/7/10/fresh-scoops/cathy-garcia-molina-directs-kaorhys-and-danthony-i-194551'>READ: Cathy Garcia-Molina directs KaoRhys and Danthony in ‘Love at First Stream’</a>Featuring an original soundtrack from P-pop supergroup SB19 titled “No Stopping You,” the Star Cinema and Kumu co-production Love At First Stream will premiere on December 25, Saturday along with other MMFF entries this year.

After more than two decades of making films, Star Cinema director Cathy Garcia-Molina said she never expected to finally have an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).“Honestly I don’t know what to expect anymore kasi medyo iba ang set up ngayon that the other MMFFs na dumaan. But ang alam ko lang tangi ay masaya. I’m looking forward to riding the float. Ito first time pa na fluvial so happy naman ako pero excited lang ako. Pero at the same time sabi nila buti na lang marunong ako lumangoy! Lalagyan daw ako ng vest agad agad.“Pero I’m excited. Matagal ko nang hinihingi na sana magkaroon ako ng MMFF movie. Gusto ko lang ma-experience na yung saya ng lahat Filipino movies ang pinapanuod tapos ang manunuod sa ‘yo mga family, anlalaking grupo tapos bibigyan mo ng saya. In fact nung in-accept ko ‘tong film na ‘to, hindi ko alam na MMFF ito. Kaya nung sinabi, nangarag beauty ko. As in na-tense ako and maraming salamat natanggap naman. For the kids, sana mabigyan pansin yung galing nung mga bata sa pelikulang ito because they really did well,” she said during the Love At First Stream mediacon last December 14.

‘Love At First Stream’ director Cathy Garcia-Molina talks about joining the Metro Manila Film Festival for the very first time.

Cathy Garcia-Molina almost declined directing ‘Love at First Stream’: ‘Ang hirap magsalita ng naka-mask” | PUSH.COM.PH