TEN years is a long time for people with an ardent desire to produce and offer meaningful films. “Ten years is a cause for celebration,” Direk Jun Lana said. “It’s also a reminder for us not to lose that goal and that reason we’re doing this.”

The IdeaFirst is marking it tenth year this April 12 and the company will host events, including a film festival, that will commemorate what they continuously started ten years ago.

“The box office is important,” attested Direk Jun. “We are doing this for our family. So from the name itself, IdeaFirst, we want to hold this film festival to remind ourselves the reason we are doing this because we want to present stories that matter to us. We want to shed light on stories that otherwise be kept in the dark.”

Like the company’s forthcoming offering, Your Mother’s Son, to be screened this April. “It’s our way of giving back,” Direk Jun said. “It will not just be screening. There will be a Q and A after because we want to talk to the audience to share our thoughts and help encourage other storytellers not to be afraid. There will also be workshops and panel with the writers.”

Perci Intalan, president of The IdeaFirst Company, is proud about what their company has achieved after a decade. “We couldn’t believe it that it has been ten years for us,” Direk Perci said. “We are very thankful to all those who trusted us through the years.

That was what we realized looking back. Hindi tayo pwedeng mawala dito. Every body can tell stories in their own way. We want to show that this is the way we tell our stories. Ten years is proof that we can achieve success.”

The latest offering of The IdeaFirst is Your Mother’s Son, directed by Jun Lana and stars Sue Prado, Kokoy de Santos, Miggy Jimenez and Elora Españo.

“Masaya talaga ‘yung naging shoot namin na kahit na ‘yung mga sensitive scenes, walang naging mabigat for us,” Sue said.

“Clear ang communication naming lahat sa isa’t-isa especially coming from the director and amongst us actors,” Sue added. “We’ve established na safe space ang lugar from the start. Kung may doubts, you can always speak freely.

“Pag-uusap pa lang sa script, we’ve established na safe space ang project and clear sa amin how much we value our relationship with each other. While we were doing that, it never felt like that while we were doing the film. More than being actors, nandoon na ang antas namin sa isa’t-isa.

“Ilang beses na kami nagka-trabaho ni Direk Jun in the past. It was always successful in terms of collaboration and artistic processes. Noong napanood namin, na-realized namin ganoong kahirap ang ginawa namin. But thankful kami.”

Sue felt fortunate since her director, Jun Lana and co-writer, Elmer Gatchalian, closely worked with her. “Communication is the key,” Sue pointed out. “That’s where everything starts. We talk about it in our discussion. That was the direction we took. We talked about it objectively.

“We had to define it and talk about our creative process. After I read the script for the third time, I asked Direk Jun if I could do that approach for a certain scene. I split the story to five chapters. Pumayag naman si Direk. All the way, magkasama kami. From beginning till the end.

“The character of Sarah is her own opacity, which is very real. We see her in our everyday life. Kaya ang gulo ng mundo natin in different levels because of the opacity. It’s already a deceit.”

Meanwhile, the character of Amy, is “transparent,” as described by Elora, who plays it in the film. “Amy is longing for love and she is open about it,” Elora said. “And she’s trying to get the love that she wants.”

Oliver is a young kid, played by Miggy Jimenez, who is not guided by his parents that’s why he left their house. “Sarado na ang utak niya kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin. Nakikinig lang siya sa mga tao around him,” Miggy said.

Kokoy essays Emman, who is paranoid about what has been happening in his life, although Sara is important to him. “Wala siyang pakialam kung tama ba o mali ang ginagawa niya, basta gusto niya,” Kokoy said.