Jane Oineza and Zaijian Jaranilla at the recent press preview of the first two episodes of “Si Sol at si Luna.” Image: INQUIRER.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista
Director Dolly Dulu’s rejected film script found a second chance after it was adapted into a digital series starring Jane Oineza and Zaijian Jaranilla, who transformed the story into both a romantic adventure and a coming-of-age narrative.
“Si Sol at si Luna,” now streaming on YouTube, revolves around a May-September affair, where Jaranilla takes on his first mature role as Sol, a film student seeking creative inspiration and who falls for the older, broken-hearted Luna (Oineza).
According to Direk Dulu, the script was originally submitted to the CinePanalo Film Festival, where it earned a place in the top 16 entries but failed to make the final cut.
“Of course, I was saddened by CinePanalo’s rejection. I believe our script was good, so it hurt that it wasn’t accepted. I said before, it felt like the film’s last hurrah because it had gone through so many festivals, participated in ones that almost got made but still couldn’t get produced. So I thought, maybe I’ll just park this script for now,” she said.
Amid Dulu’s effort to “take her loss with grace,” she was informed that the festival organizers decided to proceed with the project in a different form, as “Si Sol at si Luna” was greenlit as a weekly digital series.
The filmmaker noted that the episodic format allowed the story more room to breathe, saying, “It became more intimate and more real.”
Dulu, known for her works in “The Boy Foretold by the Stars” and “Love Beneath the Stars,” said Oineza and Jaranilla are perfectly suited for their roles.
“Because their age group is willing to explore the characters. They fit the plot and the descriptions of the characters. Their personalities matched as individual stars,” the director explained.
Meanwhile, Jaranilla emphasized that he recognized the heart in the story, and not just the steamy scenes that the audience anticipated.
“I’m also considering the material. It’s not just about the daring or kissing scene. The series or film should have a heart. With this series, I realized that I’ve matured and can handle those kinds of scenes,” he said.
Oineza, on the other hand, said viewers could look forward to watching every episode because there is much to offer.
“There’s a lot happening with the characters. It’s so eventful per episode. There’s a cliffhanger that will make you want to watch the next episode right away,” she said.
Aside from its romance and adult themes, “Si Sol at si Luna” aims to illuminate discussions about mental health.
Episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on Puregold’s official YouTube account, with a new episode set to drop tonight, June 7. /ra