NEWSFLASH

Special to the Philippine Headline News Online
by Alex Jimenez
Newsflash Entertainment Columnist

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AYA MEDEL -- MAKING HAY IS NO PICNIC

Manila, July 23, 1998 - Fast and furious is Aya Medel's odyssey in local movies during the past 18 months that saw her making two dozen films.

In fact, in the two weeks between her movies "BABAE SA BUBUNGANG LATA" and "SISA," she completed another film!

Definitely the busiest actress in town these days is Aya Medel, the petite morena who splashed on the local movie scene in the wake of the sex trip movies that began dominating local motion pictures since the box office slump began in 1996.

Unlike her predecessors Rosanna Roces, and Rita Magdalena, Aya prefers to tease her male fans. She doesn't go all the way nude but prefers to leave a thing or two to the imagination. Also, she's easier to cast and easy on the budget.

These days, it's far easier to risk a couple of million pesos on a film completed in a couple of weeks than on multi million peso blockbusters that more often than not become box office duds.

Thus, Aya has become bankable. Wih bankability goes the endless shooting schedules, commuting from one set to the next. Hard work it is for her.

Often, she lacks sleep when the shoot's about to end and the make up artist has to do her best to keep those dark rings from showing under her eyes. Then it's on to the next set, another script to memorize, another director to adjust to.

It's become a breeze for Aya, who whiles her time away between shooting set ups talking to her co-stars, joking around with the crew or, if she is exhausted, going off to sleep in her car.

"Madalas, isa o dalawang araw lang ang break ko sa pagitan ng mga shooting. You know, I've gone to far more places I ever imagined I could have gone to during my high school days in Tabacco, Albay. One day, I'm up north, the next day, somewhere down south. Sometimes, I get this feeling that all I would ever want to do ever again is just sleep on and on and on." She rambles on, and stifles a yawn.

"Please excuse me, I'm not getting bored, just tired. There are so many things I want to be able to do and buy for myself. Doing movies is the only chance I'll ever have to fulfil my dreams. I know why I get more roles than anyone else. That's because I'm negotiable," she admits. "My talent fee is small compared to other lead stars. Sure, sometimes I just want to tell them all, you better pay me what I demand. Pero, kung magpepresyo ako, baka huminto na ang mga offers o bumagal. Ngayon ko pa naman pinipilit na mag-ipon."

Insiders confirm that she receives less than 150,000 pesos for every lead role, a pittance compared to others' talent fees.

Because of the constant demand for her services, Aya, more than any other actress in town has had the opportunity of working with many directors. Imagine chalking up two dozen films during her first year in the movie business. Whether it's Mowelfund scholar Johnny Jose Cruz, action veteran Kaka Balagtas or master film maker Mario O'Hara, she makes it a point not only to learn from her directors, but to do her best to please them.

Sure, the roles may not be to the caliber of other senior actresses, but Aya is quickly learning her ropes. All it takes is a rehearsal or two before the take and she ends with her lines memorized and more often than not, a perfect first take.

The variety of roles coming her way is an express lane lesson in the skill of acting. Yes, there are compromises in the business, the disrobing, the sexy scenes, the double entendre dialogues are all part of the sizzle to draw in the crowds.

"It's all a matter of getting used to your job. They require me to memorize, to emote. But I also depend a lot on the director to give me the right motivation. I like working with as many directors as possible. Working with director Mario is really a privilege. Few directors can be as fast and as creative even under the most trying situations. To top it all, he gives his actors a clear picture of what's expected of them. He doesn't act out the role - I have the freedom to portray it as I see fit. Working with him, I get the feeling that he really knows what I can or cannot do. So even when I have difficulty believing in my own abilities, I get much needed confidence from him. Nothing is really too difficult for him, that is why I am grateful for this chance to play Sisa," she enthused.

"I really can't believe it. Bakit ako pa? There are many other award winning actresses around. After I read the script of SISA, I was astounded that a master director like Mario O'Hara would even consider me for the role," remarked a very surprised Aya Medel.

Insiders at the production of O'Hara's "Sisa" Regal Entertainment/Good Harvest Films' centennial movie were just as pleasantly surprised. After nearly two weeks of filming, everyone came to be impressed by Aya's portrayal of Sisa.

It's not thefirst time her acting has been noticed. During last December's Metro Manila Film Festival, she was nominated together with no less than Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano in the lead actress category for her role as an assassin in "Padre Kalibre".

Only recently, Aya proved her mettle at the tills by overpowering big stars Cesar Montano, Mikee Cojuangco, Angelu de Leon and Bobby Andrews and even Ronnie Rickets with her low budget starrer "Tatlong Kasalanan" which teamed her up with Rita Magdalena and Ana Capri.

Snobs may dismiss her movies as quickies, but no one can dispute the fact that casting her in a film is a sure way of setting the cash registers ringing. This, the old dragon lady, Mother Lily Monteverde, grand matriarch of Regal Entertainment herself admitted.

It 's not enough to get good material to get the audience to watch movies. The casting is far more important. So it is in Monteverde's great experiment, the two week quickie, originally called the "pito-pito" which has proven its worth in the industry.

In reality, a "pito-pito" movie is completed in ten shooting days, within 15 calendar days. The "pito-pito" formula is such a success that rival companies Seiko, Viva and Star are studying how to cut costs yet still come up with viable motion pictures.

Integral to the "pito-pito" formula, inexpensive talent fees are a must to movie producers. Yet at the same time, the stars should have the much sought after box office appeal. After Rosanna Roces and Rita Magdalena, Aya Medel fits the bill perfectly.

Following the success of her film "TATLONG KASALANAN" Aya Medel added glamour and much needed box office boost to Joko Diaz and Ruffa Mae Quinto in Kaka Balagtas' "SQUALA," a gang war movie based on the story of Dick Israel and directed by Kaka Balagtas.

It was Kaka Balagtas who first launched Rita Magdalena to stardom. This time, he had it easy as Aya was already an established box office star when she lent support to the film.

Right after that, she headlined, along with Mike Magat, Mario O'hara's latest opus, "BABAE SA BUBUNGANG LATA" which is an elegy to the old school of showbusiness and how present day realities have corrupted the people who run it.

With O'hara, Aya may find much needed respectability as an actress, considering the material of "BABAE SA BUBUNGANG LATA" and the caliber of her co-performers, among them veteran actress Anita Linda and respected theater and film artist Frank Rivera.

Only O'Hara can succeed in making a major film from a small budget movie. This is O'Hara's return to filmmaking after "MANANANGGAL IN MANILA" in early 1997.

Aya admits that the fun and glamour of being a movie star are seldom felt when one has to shuttle from shooting one film after another.

"I do not shuttle from one set to another, I shuttle from movie to movie. My manager, Jojo Veloso is always on his toes, on the look out for new projects. So right after one project is completed, another one is waiting for me to begin shooting. Here in Regal, they have tied me down to an eight-picture contract, subject of course to the conditions I have set. That includes accepting projects outside provided they do not conflict with my schedules here."

"Now is the time for me to make the most of my opportunities. I am sure, the day will come when the deluge of film offers will slow down to a trickle. Everything ends after sometime." She conceded.

Making hay is no picnic, but Aya Medel is on a roll, working hard while her star shines brightly. (aj)

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