LAST year, director Benedict Mique presented a heartwarming love story, ‘Monday First Screening,’ with Gina Alajar and Ricky Davao as two elderly individuals who find love while attending the first screening of free films every Monday.

“Sa Korean films and series as well as Hollywood releases, Netflix is good with its content,” direct Benedict lamented. “Netflix already got the audience with its subscription. They no longer need the Philippines.

“We have to prove to them that they need Philippine content and more audience. We have to prove to Netflix that we can pull more audience.

Joey Marquez agreed to shoot for only one day and he said yes to ‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ after he read the script. “We had a scene where he gave all his earnings to his daughter so she could go to Canada,” shared direct Benedict.

‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ will start showing in local theaters on September 25. The film was shot in Toronto for only 15 days. Twenty percent of the film was shot in Manila, while 80 percent was completed in Toronto.

They merely brought the two Filipino leads – LA Santos and Kira Balinger – to Toronto. Before they went there, direct Benedict auditioned cast members, including beauty queen Bea Rose Santiago.

Kira and LA play a young couple who decide to try their luck in Canada in the hopes of giving their respective families a better life.

Kira plays Molly, who wants to build a home for her parents and sister, as well as uplift them from hardships.

Meanwhile, LA essays Macky, a restaurant manager in the Philippines who wants a more stable and fulfilling career.

Last year, before ‘Maple Leaf Dreams’ started filming, direct Benedict went to Toronto and did his pre-production alone. He scouted all possible locations and coordinated with the Canadian team who will work with them.

The project marks the first time Kira and LA are headlining a full-length film. As preparation, the young stars got immersed in the working environment of blue collar workers.

They spent a number of days doing the actual tasks assigned to workers in a junk shop, fast food restaurant, office and a grocery.

“Enough of the rock star filmmakers,” direct Benedict said. “We need filmmakers, real storytellers who know how to write and tell a story.

“Producers should get people who are filmmakers who know how to tell a story. A film cannot stand alone because of its casting, no matter how popular the stars are. That will not draw the audience.

“Then you will be surprised that this Thai film whose actors are not even known, is being watched and packing it in the theaters. Whereas you already cast popular actors but there is no one inside the theaters.

“It’s a big lesson that competition is getting harder. The world is open. So we have to be on our toes.”

Acclaimed actors such as Snooky Serna, Ricky Davao and Joey Marquez are also in the cast of ‘Maple Leaf Dreams,’ produced by 7K Entertainment, Lonewolf Films and Star Magic, distribute by Quantum Films.

“If this film will make money and ‘Hello Love, Again’ will also earn, that will be good for the industry. Two good films about Canada and Filipino immigrants. For so many months, there is no local film that made money.”

Direct Benedict’s Netflix project, ‘Lolo and the Kid’ with Joel Torre and Euwann is a good example. The film is number one on Netflix for two weeks, edging the action thriller, ‘Maharaja’ and the series, ‘Kingsman.’

“That was hard,” said direct Benedict. “That’s why Netflix was very happy when Lolo and the Kid became number 1 in 38 countries, where it became Top 10.”

‘Lolo and the Kid’ got 8.5 million views in only one week. It became Top 1 in South Korea and even in Peru.

“We were really surprised Lolo and the Kid was inspiring for us and I hope it inspires young and new filmmakers to make films that are out of the box and develop their skills.”

Direct Benedict is at a point in his life where he only wants to make films that he only likes.

“Monday First Screening was a tele-sine,” informed direct Benedict. “Who would have thought that Gina Alajar and Ricky Davao would reach Netflix?”

Even Net25, who produced ‘Monday First Screening,’ simply wanted to produce a project for TV. Their budget was only for TV. “I told them I would make the budget for the big screen.

“Sayang ang material. I want to make the material for the big screen. I want filmmakers to be inspired. Sometimes, you are given a small budget meant for TV, but inilaban mo to make the project for the big screen.

“Who would have thought ‘Monday First Screening’ would make it to Netflix, when they don’t normally buy something that is offered to them? Even if you have a big star, they will not choose the project.

“Let’s put back the trust of the people and give them something that they will like. If there’s a good movie out there, people will watch it and will no longer wait for two months to watch it on Netflix.”

At present, direct Benedict has projects ready for Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, Tirso Cruz III, even Vice Ganda. I also have a project for Sarah Geronimo and Matteo (Guidicelli).

“Even Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, pero separate sila. They can also be together if they will agree.

“We were casting for Prime for the project for Vice Ganda,” said direct Benedict. “Perfect for LGBT (lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender).”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio