DIRECTOR MIKE TUVIERA’s “The Janitor” is one of the most promising entries in the Cinemalaya filmfest that starts showing on August 1. “I’ve been wanting to join Cinemalaya kaya lang I’ve directed more than 3 films na so hindi ako puede,” he says. “It’s good they put up the Director’s Showcase at dito ako nakasali na tamang-tama, 10th anniversary nila ngayon. I haven’t done a film in three years so bale comeback films ko ito and I think it’s my best so far kasi ang galing ng script ni Aloy Adlawan at ng acting ng buong cast.”
The story is based on a real life bank robbery in Batangas that happened in 2008 where ten people were killed. Considered to be the bloodiest heist in the country, the film is now set in Laguna and happens in 2011. People clamoured for justice so someone is assigned to hunt down the criminals. This is Crisanto Espina called “The Janitor” for cleaning up the case, played by Dennis Trillo who leads a formidable powerhouse cast. How did Direk Mike assemble his cast?
“Sa office, we put up a whiteboard with all the characters and listed down the actors we want to play them. O, si Dennis bagay diyan , si Richard Gomez dito, si Derek Ramsay diyan. Then we realized ang laki ng casting. Ang suwerte ko lang, most of them nakasama ko na sa movies or TV series before and when I contacted them, lahat, nag-commit. And they were all very cooperative. Shooting went on smoothly. You will see them in roles they’ve never done before.”
Also in the cast are Ricky Davao as the general who manages the operation against the criminals, Raymond Bagatsing, Alex Vincent Medina, Irma Adlawan, Dante Rivero, Nicco Manalo and Jerald Napoles. “The Janitor” will have its gala night at the CCP on August 4, 6:15 PM.
