THE newly-launched book, Direk: Essays on Filipino Filmmakers, contains portraits of local directors.

If a medical doctor is called “doc,” then we, in the field of filmmaking, call the film director direk.

Professor emeritus Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr., who is also a prizewinning screenwriter and filmmaker, relates: “In Ishmael Bernal’s Pagdating sa Dulo, Eddie Garcia plays the film director who is uncompromising and meticulous; moreover, contrary to industry practice, he is the type who does not want to be called direk. When Romeo, the young star asks, ‘What am I going to do in this scene, direk?’, the filmmaker quietly admonishes him with disdain, ‘Never call me direk. Didn’t I tell you that I get goosebumps when I’m called direk? You know nothing but cutting corners.’”

It is only in the Philippines that we hear people call film or television directors direk, a Filipino shortened version of director. In Hollywood or in other countries, Spielberg is not addressed as Direk Steven nor is Ang Lee as Direk Ang.

AWARD-WINNING screenwriter and filmmaker Clodualdo ”Doy” del Mundo signs a copy of the book during its launch at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This idea inspired the title of the newest book from De La Salle University Publishing House, in cooperation with the Angelo King Institute and Bienvenido N. Santos Creative Writing Center, Direk: Essays on Filipino Filmmakers. Three years in the making, this anthology is edited by Del Mundo.

According to del Mundo, in the 1950s, Gerardo de Leon was known as Manong Gerry, Lamberto Avellana as “Bert,” and Manuel Conde as “Manoling.” It was only in the 1970s when members of the entertainment industry started using direk as a term of endearment for directors. However, Ishmael Bernal disliked this idea and did not want to be called direk. This sentiment is reflected in his 1971 film Pagdating sa Dulo, where Eddie Garcia plays the film director. Over time though, Bernal got used to being called Direk Ishma.

The book is divided into three parts, based on the essays’ lengths. “Short Takes” features filmmakers Manuel Silos, Gerardo de Leon and Eddie Romero. “Medium shots” covers filmmakers Manuel Conde, Lamberto Avellana, Fernando Poe, Jr., Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Peque Gallaga, Mike de Leon, Mario O’Hara, Kidlat Tahimik and Brillante Ma.

Mendoza. “Long Takes” presents a biographical survey of filmmakers Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Lav Diaz.

Direk’s editor Clodualdo del Mundo with book designer and photo editor Cesar Hernando. The book does not claim to be comprehensive and definitive, as it is impossible to include all filmmakers and that is probably the task of an encyclopedia. The selection of filmmakers is also limited to the research interests of film scholars. Hence, the objective of the book is really to start a dialogue and generate more scholarly works not just on film directors but also on other key production members such as cinematographers and production designers among others.

The book was sold out during its launch on 9 August at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, coinciding with the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. The book’s second printing is on the way and will be made available in bookstores nationwide.