“Itong pelikulang 'to, mataas ang pressure pantayan, hindi man higitan, ang ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye.’”

This is how box office director Cathy Garcia Sampana described the mounting pressure and expectations on her upcoming film ‘Hello, Love, Again’ (HLA). 

ABS-CBN News sat down with Sampana after their outdoor shoot in Calgary, Canada back in August. Sampana said, there are a lot of factors that makes ‘HLA’ a whole new different level compared to ‘HLG’ (Hello, Love, Again).

ABS-CBN CEO and President Carlo Katigbak also paid them a visit and Direk Cathy couldn't help but tell the executive, “Bakit mas mahirap ngayon? It’s a lot harder. I cannot explain why, in terms of the story. In terms of treatment, I have more cast now. So it’s a lot harder to cover everything.”

First - the story. Direk Cathy explains, “‘Hello, Love, Again’ ano naman ang ikukuwento natin? Ano this time? Yung mga tao, ayaw mo mag-fall short. Anong itama natin? Let’s perfect it."

Second - technicals. She shared that she switched technical requirements for HLA, “I am using anamorphic lenses now. May kakaibang framing siya. I tried that in ‘Toss Coin’ with KDLex, so may medyo iba ang composition ang kailangan. I wanted a different storytelling with the lenses and the camera. Maraming bago.”

In ‘HLG’ Sampana used handheld cameras to capture the fast-paced life of Hong Kong. But in ‘HLA’ she wanted to capture the quietness and calmness of Calgary. 

“Calgary is quiet. Very peaceful. Very calm. So sinabayan. So it’s more careful framing, mas static, may kailangang markers na i-hit ng tama.”

But will they be able to show the beauty of Calgary, she said, “More than the beauty of Calgary, (it’s) showing the difference of life in Calgary and life in Hongkong.” 

Third - crowd control was a challenge especially in the first few days of their shooting. “Yung mga Filipinos sanay na pupunta magpapapicture. Ako, I understand them in fact I talk to them, I also want to give them what they want. But unfortunately, there are rules to be followed.”

“Iba talaga sila dito eh, tahimik talaga sila. So everytime we disrupt that peace and quiet neighborhood, siyempre we get calls and reports and I really hope that Filipinos would understand,” she added. 

Fourth - the cast has grown. A bigger cast means more shots. 

Fifth - bringing Joy and Ethan back to life. “Para kaming nanganak ulit. Sabi ko nga it’s so hard,” she said. “Everytime I see Joy, really never have I seen Kathryn in Joy.”

“I really told Kathryn, ‘Kath ang hirap. Hahanapin ko si Joy sa’yo ulit.’ So it’s hard, ang hirap balikan.” 

“Ganun din si Alden, kay Ethan. Sabi ko, ‘anak, medyo ano. Konting ano, kasi kadugtong eh. Hindi pwedeng bago tayo. Balik tayo sa dati. Yung minahal na Ethan and Joy, I want to see them again.” 

It was hard but the good thing is, according to Cathy, “Malaking bagay na mababait ang artista mo.”

“Nakita ko ang four, five years of growth and maturity in them, individually. Kathryn has gone thru more and so as Alden. Nakita ko na, ‘okay hindi na ito yung batang pinahihirapan ko noon sa 'Hello, Love, Goodbye.' Marami na rin siyang natutunan buti na lang bumagay sa kwento. So, nakakatulong siya.”

And best of all, after spending more than a month in Calgary - shooting, embracing the new environment, the challenges of the story - the best gift that Direk Cathy got was, “I am very touched everytime I go to let’s say a homecare, sinasabi sa akin, ‘thank you direk, naikwento mo ang buhay namin dito sa Calgary.”

Cathy Garcia-Sampana ibinahagi ang mga hinarap na hamon sa shooting ng 'Hello, Love, Again'

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