Direk Pepe Diokno keeps it real in Single/Single Season 2
Award- winning di re ctor Pepe Diokno is excited to be at the helm once again for the second season of Single/
Single, the breakthrough miniseries of The Philippine STAR and Cinema One. Recognized as a young independent filmmaker and an editor for The Philippine STAR’s SUPREME section, directing Single/ Single adds to his long list of accomplishments as this is his first time to direct a TV series. Single/Single, a romantic comedy, is very different from his internationally acclaimed opuses— Engkwentro and Above the Clouds.
He recounts that for the first season, the main challenge for him, along with the show’s producer Bianca Balbuena and writer Lilit Reyes, was how to creatively blend a good story and an advocacy that would help today’s millennials cope with issues like quarter- life crises, relationship dilemmas, financial management and career planning.
As the work progressed however, Diokno said they all realized that these issues, while they sound so technical, are concerns that are important for every generation, not just millennials. And so everything fell into place and the show became more real and authentic. “For the second season of
Single/Single, we decided that we will continue to keep it real, have fun and get even more creative.” Diokno mused.
As such, audiences have a lot to look forward to this season. For one, the show’s theme expanded to # HowtoAdult, prompting them to tackle and realistically depict subject matters truly worthy of discourse like existential issues, achieving work- life balance, sexuality, relationships, and even death. With this direction, the plot and characters are more relatable and engaging as they are plunged into true- to- life circumstances presented with a witty, fresh and insightful take.
“We feel that this season, we have more room to play around. I think last season’s ending was a bit more serious and heavy as the characters were in a phase where there were a lot of uncertainties. The character of Joee, for example, had a lot of hang- ups that’s why the romance with Joey didn’t take off. But after some time and space between season 1 and season 2, medyo nawala yung hang- ups ng mga characters.
Nawala din yung hang- ups namin with the show. So we decided to just ‘get crazy’.”
Diokno points out, “There’s one episode that’s like a musical. There’s one episode wherein we have the romcom power couple, Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas, sharing their lessons in maintaining relationship balance in the work- setting kasi the character of Joee will go through that in the story. There’s really so much to watch out for.”
Indeed, Single/Single Season 2 audiences can expect levelled up entertainment that creatively intertwines romance, comedy and relevant messaging.