Ruel S. Bayani is grinning from ear to ear. When I sat down with the topnotch producer-writer-director-TV executive for an exclusive interview, he just shared with me a teaser of good news: Cattleya Killer, a series he spearheaded and recently exhibited in MIPCOM (Marche’ International des Programmes de Communication or International Market of Communications Programmes), is deep in negotiations for international distribution.
He can’t disclose the details yet, but what he can share is the “journey” of how this came into fruition.
It all started when, after passively participating for the past years in MIPCOM in Cannes, France, ABS-CBN was finally able to present. According to its web site, “MIPCOM Cannes is the world’s greatest gathering of television entertainment professionals from 100 countries. Celebrated as ‘the mother of all entertainment content markets,’ and happening every October, MIPCOM is the most anticipated week for global decision-makers to compete for new series, source international production partners, and set the development agenda for 2022 and beyond.”
Ruel shares that when Eugenio Lopez Jr., AKA Kapitan, was still alive, the former ABS-CBN boss would religiously attend this event every October in Cannes where he and his team would buy shows for airing on the Kapamilya Network and or its cable and UHF subsidiaries. “Pero doon pa lang, ’yun ang dream niya, makapag-screen sa MIPCOM because it is the biggest TV event in the world,” says Ruel. After much wheeling and dealing, it was only this year that ABS-CBN was finally given a full slot to screen an original work for selling to the global market. “Screenings only happen 3 to 4 times a day for four days. It’s hard to get a slot but thanks to our distribution agent in LA and aggressive marketing na talagang napansin, we were able to secure one,” shares Ruel. “There were only two Asian participants this year: Japan and the Philippines, and this is the first time for the Philippines that this has happened.”
In their screening slot, a special AVP of ABS-CBN was shown as well as a trailer, plus a specially edited episode of Cattleya Killer was screened to industry leaders and buyers. The gritty and thrilling series stars Arjo Atayde, Christopher de Leon, Jake Cuenca, Ria Atayde, Jane Oineza and many more. It tells the story of Anton (Arjo) and how he helps his dad (de Leon) stop a murder spree that seems to mimic the killing style of Gene Rivera, a serial killer who terrorized Manila 20 years ago—a case his dad had solved. The series is directed by Dan Villegas.
During the MIPCOM event where he was joined by the Ataydes (who also acted as co-producers of the show), Ruel couldn’t help but be emotional when he went onstage: “I would like to dedicate all our efforts to our Kapamilyas, our kababayans, the Filipinos all over the world. To champion Filipino talent in the global stage is one thing, but to provide them joy, pride, honor and inspiration—that to ABS-CBN is a true measure of our success.” Ruel couldn’t help but feel emotional during that time, especially when he mentioned the word “kapamilya” and he saw a lot of Filipinos bearing Philippine flags in the audience looking at him. “A lot of Filipinos came to support us. They, together with buyers and executives from acquisition companies, were there to watch our show. This has been a dream of mine and ABS-CBN, which is to champion Filipino talent in the global stage.”
When you ask him what makes Filipino works a standout among others, he turns serious and says: “We always champion the resiliency of the Filipino spirit and the Filipino family. This is reflected in almost all Pinoy content. It’s the value of family and it says a lot of who we are as a people. You don’t have to be Filipino to appreciate family and I think that resonates very well.”