Labing-anim (16) na taon bago muling bumalik sa pagdidirek si Mike Sandejas para sa pelikulang Sinagtala.
Read: Sinagtala premiere, suportado ng loved ones ng cast members
Bida sa Sinagtala sina Rayver Cruz, Rhian Ramos, Glaiza de Castro, Arci Munoz at Matt Lozano.
Si Mike ang director ng 2006 Cinemalaya movie na Tulad ng Dati, na tinanghal na Best Film noong taong yun.
Huling pelikula niya ang Dinig Sana Kita, na nagwagi ng 2009 Cinemalaya Audience Award.
Nalinya siya sa pagdirek ng commercials at branded content.
Mayroon siyang content creation company, ang Ubuntu Premium Studios, at tumatayo siyang creative director doon.
"Minsan, ako rin ang writer at saka director. So, I was busy naman and that was paying the bills,” kuwento ni Mike.
Nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Mike sa mediacon ng Sinagtala, sa Seda Hotel sa Quezon City noong March 11, 2025.
Ipinaliwanag niya kung bakit natigil siya sa paggawa ng pelikula.
"The film industry is kinda weak. Kasi when you look at the film industry kasi, I mean, all around the world, it was really hard to look for opportunities.
"Natakot din akong gumawa at mawalan ng pera," pag-amin ni Mike.
Kadalasan ng mga pelikula niya noon ay indie at hindi raw sikat ang mga artista.
"Yun naman ang criticism sa akin sa first two films ko," aminadong sabi niya.
"And this is the first time that I get to prove myself in a mainstream film. Wala na akong excuse ngayon. Kasi, yung casting, nandiyan na.
"Pero yung kuwento po at element sa pelikulang ito, medyo malakas po ang loob ko," tukoy niya sa Sinagtala.
Read: Rayver Cruz feels sure that he wants to marry Julie Anne San Jose
ON FAILED ATTEMPT TO JOIN MMFF 2024
Lahad pa ni Mike, isinumite ang Sinagtala para sana sa 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) noong 2024.
Hindi ito nakapasa, pero naniniwala si Mike na "perfect timing," lalo na April 2 ang playdate ng Sinagtala.
"You know, I’m a fan of the MMFF, but I also know its problem. So, it’s an experiment of sort if you released on your own...
"Could we have done well in MMFF? I think so, because of my cast. Can we do well without it? We will find out.
"So, I think, there are films naman na tinatangkilik ng mga tao kahit na hindi film festival.
"So, hopefully, this could be a good example of how the industry can be, moving forward."
May pressure ba kay Mike na kumita ang pelikula?
"I never had a [commercial] release like this before, so I don’t know what to expect.
"GMA was more experienced with this. I made the film. I gave the film everything that it needs to be a hit, and hopefully it will become one."
Read: Glaiza de Castro handa nang magka-baby sa asawang si David Rainey
WORKING WITH GMA-7 executive ANNETTE GOZON-VALDES
Si Mike ang nagsulat at nagdirek ng Sinagtala. Nabuo raw niya ang kuwento nito bago ang COVID-19 pandemic noong 2020.
Noon pa lang ay nasa isip na ni Mike na kunin si Rhian na isa sa mga bida.
"I pitched this to GMA, and then I got a call. Si Annette Gozon-Valdes is an old buddy from U.P.
"My original company, Ubundu, wanted to produce this, but yung brand sponsor, umatras. So, hindi natuloy, tumama ang pandemic.
"Hindi na kami nakapag-usap ni Rhian noon, so parang failed attempt," lahad ni Mike.
Hanggang sa nagkaroon si Mike ng pagkakataong muling mag-pitch kay Annette na presidente ng GMA Pictures, ang film company arm ng GMA-7.
"Kasama yung ginawa namin ni Rhian na pitch trailer," masayang kuwento ni Mike.
Nilinaw ni Mike na ang producer ng Sinagtala ay ang Sinagtala Productions, pero nakipagsanib-puwersa sa GMA Pictures. Si Alan Peter Cayetano ang creative producer at si Rose Conde ang executive producer.
"Ang nangyari, parang pinartner ni Annette at saka sa funder. I rewrite a bit para ma-satisfy yung funder and that’s it.
"Everything happened last year and I’m thankful," dagdag ni Mike.
Read: Arci Munoz admits setting a "high standard" for future husband
THE CAST OF SINAGTALA
Sinagtala ang pangalan ng banda nina Rayver, Rhian, Matt, Arci at Glaiza.
Bawat isa sa kanila ay may kanya-kanyang kuwento ng buhay na maaaring paghugutan ng mga manonood.
Lead singer ng banda si Rayver bilang Reggie.
Paglalarawan ni Mike sa role ni Rayver: "Usually, kapag lead singer, parang siya yung pinaka-mayabang.
"He’s on top. He’s the most famous member because he’s the lead singer. But, something happened to him that’s why the band disbanded also.
"So, noong nawala siya, he found himself not on stage, not famous, and trying to live life without the fame... Hirap na siyang makakuha ng trabaho."
Sabay pag-amin ni Mike: "It kind of resonates with me. After Dinig Sana Kita, wala akong ano... What am I gonna do now? The film industry is weak."
Parental issue naman ang problema ng karakter ni Rhian bilang June, ang drummer ng banda.
"And Rhian is adopted at hindi niya kasundo ang adoptive father niya, played by Robert Seña."
Masigla pero may tinatagong lihim ang mga karakter nina Arci at Matt.
Marami pang spoiler na kuwinento si Mike pero hindi na binanggit sa artikulong ito para abangan sa pelikula.
Humirit pa si Mike na humanga siya kay Benjie Paras na maganda rin ang kuwento bilang ama ni Matt sa pelikula.
"So, paano mo mapagsasama ang banda? Ang gulo, di ba?
"But the thing is, the twists and turns eventually find their ways. And ultimately, the film talks about purpose."
Read: Arci Munoz, inaming may pagsisisi sa pagpaparetoke ng mukha
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF MIKE sandejas
Siniguro ni Mike na kapupulutan ng aral ang Sinagtala.
“Ginawa namin ito, values-oriented siya. Ako, as a Christian, I’ll do everything for the glory of God.
"And hopefully, we’ve been blessed so far, and hopefully this will be blessed also.
"Hindi naman kami naghahabol ng Hello, Love, Goodbye [box-office result], pero ibig kong sabihin, yung meron kaming panggawa ng susunod," pag-asam ni Mike.
Ano ang inspirasyon niya nang isulat niya ang pelikula?
Sagot ni Mike, "Each of these characters is me, in a way. The last sixteen years has been very tough with me.
"Why? From my marriage breaking-up to near death experiences. I suffered a stroke during pandemic. I have a little weakness in my left side.
"But God didn’t take away anything that I needed, and it also strengthened my faith.
"Because I gave-up on film. Comercial-commercial na lang. I never thought I’ll make a film again, but then, I think, God wanted me to come back."
Inilahad din ni Mike na ang Sinagtala ay tatalakay hindi lang tungkol sa kuwento ng pagkakaibigan at paghahanap ng direksyon sa buhay kundi may kasama ring pagkilala sa Diyos.
"I am now a purveyor. I’m trying to start faith-based entertainment in this country," saad niya.
"And Sinagtala is swabe lang. I don’t wanna be preachy. It’s not preachy at all.
"You know, when people talk about God movie, parang it’s not accepted.
"I don’t know why, but Rewind happened and I credit Rewind for doing that. I got inspired with that also."
Ang Rewind ay ang 2023 MMFF blockbuster movie na pinagbidahan nina Dingdong Dantes at Marian Rivera.
Sa huli, hiling ni Mike na suportahan ng mga manonood ang Sinagtala.
"And I just hope that people will come to watch it kasi, sayang naman yung opportunity.
"I‘m very excited to share the film because, I think, it’s a great experience for anybody who get to watch this.
"So, hopefully, one way or another, they get to watch this and allow me to do more."