MANILA, Philippines?Mark Meily started directing TV commercials in 1991, and still enjoys the job 18 years later. He says he loves the creativity it demands of him, although he does get the itch to express himself in another medium occasionally.

In 2003, he started directing movies. ?Crying Ladies,? which starred Sharon Cuneta, and which received acclaim locally and in film festivals abroad. More recently, Meily won Best Director in the 25th Star Awards for his historical drama ?Baler.? The 41-year-old currently has four film scripts in development, and continues to freelance as a TV commercial director.

Describe your rapport with actors during ad shoots.

It?s always easier to work with actors because they?re experienced. Mas madali nilang naiintindihan.

Would Greenwich?s ?Cheesy? TV commercial fall in this category?

Yes, we had two experienced actors, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, who have worked together for a long time. May chemistry na sila. Wala silang diva attitudes?

What can you say about the actors you?ve worked with in your films?

Jericho Rosales, Sharon, John Lloyd and Bea are intelligent actors? You?ll know an actor is intelligent when you mention a film or a scene and they know what you?re talking about. Like, ?It?s Angelina Jolie in ?A Mighty Heart,? when her husband died.? Si Anne Curtis, nagulat ako, kuha niya. Si Sharon Cuneta, I tell her, ?Gong Li in the film ?Ju Dou.?? Sagot ni Sharon, ?Alam ko na ?yan, Direk.?

How has directing TV ads helped you as a filmmaker?

TV commercials are harder to make because you have stricter standards to follow. But the advantage in doing feature films is that it?s your own creation. TV ads are always a collective effort. Doing TV commercials is the best film school in the world. You get the best equipment, work with the most creative people ... and you [are served] the best food!

Content-wise, how are movies changing?

The audience has become intelligent. The problem sometimes with mainstream cinema is, nauuna ?yung artista. ?We have to make a film for so-and-so. Love story, set in an advertising agency.? Doon nangyayari ang scriptwriting. Sa independent films, the screenplay comes first, and then they look for actors.

Describe your dream project.

A historical film about the voyage of Magellan, from the point of view of a slave from Southeast Asia, probably the Philippines.