Netflix, the world’s leading Internet television network, has partnered with TV5 Incorporated to seal a contract with Cannes award-winning director Brillante Mendoza for his series ‘Amo.’ ‘Amo’ is going to be the first miniseries created by Filipino filmmaker and production team to be streamed on Netflix. It stars Vince Rillon who plays the lead character and actor Derek Ramsay as a good cop. Also in the cast ensemble are actors Allen Dizon, Felix Roco, Apollo Abraham, Archie Adamos, Mara Lopez, and with the special participation of Baron Geisler.
“Amo” is a 12-part action pack TV series on President Rodrigo Duterte’s the war on drugs first set to premiere on TV5 August 25 of last year. The TV series is set to depict the current situation of the Philippines regarding the current administration’s ‘war-on-drugs.’ It shows the rampant vigilantism against suspected illegal drug personalities and the controversies encompassing the Philippine National Police regarding the government’s campaign against illegal drugs including the role of the police in enforcing it suitably.
According to Inquirer, the TV 5 -Netflix partnership happened after a Singapore-based Filipino-American Netflix representative press out for a possible partnership. In a statement, Netflix Vice President of content acquisition Robert Roy said that “Amo” is a “bold and suspenseful show that has the potential of capturing thrill-seeking viewers worldwide.” He also said, “We are always seeking to work with passionate, talented storytellers like Mendoza, to bring premium content to Netflix’s 117 million members around the world.”
Here’s what we know about ‘Amo’ on Netflix
The story revolves around the character of Joseph (Vince Rillon), a high school student who’s running a secret business of vending ‘shabu’ or crystal meth. He started selling to his fellow gang members then later in Metro Manila where he found himself in a bigger market.
Ramsay’s character
Premiere actor Derek Ramsay will play the role of a good cop in chase of the alleged drug dealers and users. In an interview with whereiseduy, Derek said that the scenes are like real. Ramsay recalled a scene where they [the other cops and drug pushers] were instructed by Direk Brillante to just run after and chase someone. According to him, they were told that they should stop unless the director shouts ‘cut.’ The actor said that it was his first time to run that fast, catching up with real policemen and apparently unsure of what he’s going to be faced with as people in the area don’t know they were just taping a scene there.
‘For them it was real, they thought we were real policemen and that it might be a legit police operation that made the scene look real,’ he said.
A bit similar to ‘NARCOS’
Lead actor Derek Ramsay said in an interview with whereiseduy that he found the movie similar to Netflix’ hit series ‘Narcos.’ ‘Narcos’ is an American series exhibiting the rise of the cocaine trade in Colombia and the real-life stories of illegal drug kingpins of the late ’80s.
The lead actor
The lead character will be portrayed by indie actor Vince Rillon who also starred in the indie movies Captive in 2012, Fallback in 201, and Bagahe in 2017. He was chosen by the award-winning filmmaker, Brillante Mendoza himself, to play the lead role.
Mendoza went out of his comfort zone with this groundbreaking deal
Unlike his previous films which he chose to include in international film festivals and traditional distribution course, Direk Brillante Mendoza went out of his comfort zone and is going straight to viewers online through Netflix.
‘Amo’ was invited to the screening of Cannes Film Festival
Director Brillante Mendoza is heading to his 5th appearance in the Cannes International Film Festival in France after they received an invitation to screen his series ‘Amo.’ The news was first confirmed by TV5 President Chot Reyes herself with the confirmation of Direk Brillante. ”Amo’ has been invited for screening in Cannes next month. And it only has two episodes and they’re already impressed so we’ll see,’ Reyes said in a press conference as reported by Interaksyon. The film fest is happening on May 17 to 28 of this year.
‘Amo’ will be available on Netflix worldwide beginning on Monday, April 9.
Watch Brillante Mendoza’s AMO trailer via producer Carlo Valenzona’s YouTube account.