PNS -- ONE of the most innovative shows on TV today is “Rakista,”  produced, co-written and co-directed by Quark Henares and shown Thursday at 7 p.m. on TV-5, with catch up on Sunday at 1 p.m. It’s about the wacky struggles of a rock band called The Love Team composed of five students: Caloy (Carlo Aquino), the vocalist-songwriter; Ted (Charles Christianson), the lovelorn guitarist who thinks being in a band will make him more attractive to girls; Nix (Alchris Galura), the gifted musician who thinks he’s superior to everyone else; Sven (Wincy Ong), the weirdo whose changes in getups is as about as varied as his multiple identities; and Bebe (Rhea Nakpil), the only girl who’s so emo (emotional) but refuses to be known as such. Quark is very20happy with the positive feedback “Rakista” is getting. “It now has a loyal following and people blog about it,” he says.

“We’re getting the market for whom the show is intended, which is the teen and yuppie audience. There are even viewers who upload each episode on Youtube so those who missed it can watch it. Writers of other networks tell me that they watch it kasi yung mga hindi nila nagagawa sa shows nila, nagagawa namin, so I’d like to thank TV 5 for giving us the artistic freedom to do show the way we envision it.

  Just like TV shows in the U.S., I’m the creator of the series and we’re tapping other directors to do each episode. Ang dami kasi tayong promising directors na hindi nabibigyan ng break and I’d like to give them a chance in ‘Rakista’, basta they maintain the show’s style which is a bit raw and we use handheld cameras.”  It’s obvious that Quark is in love with rock music as he has his own rock band, Us 2, with designer-singer Mich Dulce. They are now recording their first album. He’s also megging a movie about a rock band starring Glaiza de Castro and Jason Abalos, “Rakenrol,”  now on its last two days of shooting. Doesn’t he want to direct something more mainstream, like a regular TV show? “I am directing one right now for ABS-CBN, ‘Parekoy0, with Randy Santiago.

Bilib nga ako sa ABS-CBN, supersystematic ang pagka-organized nila roon.”He seems to be spreading himself too thin with so many fields of endeavor. “He’s a Renaissance Man,” says his executive producer Madz Arias. “He can do a lot of things.”But what’s this we hear that he has a tiff with Rico Blanco after he megged the music video of Rico’s new song, “Yugto”, and Rico rejected it? “I’ve done 40 music videos in my entire life and I only have problems when it’s with him.

This is my third with him after ‘Balisong’ and ‘A Love to Share’, and even in those, lagi siyang may reklamo. I never had a problem with other artists I’ve directed.  I just did a music video with Ely Buendia and there’s no complain at all. I really didn’t want to do ‘Yugto’ and I told him baka magkaproblema na naman, but he even told me ‘Bahala ka na’.

You know, directing music videos now is something you do just for the love of it kasi madalas, abonado ka pa dahil paliit nang paliit ang budgets. So after this one with him, ayoko na munang gumawa ng music video. It’s not worth it.”Quark also has photo studio called Blow Up Babies and he teaches short films at the Ateneo once a week. But what does he really love doing the most? “Love ko pa rin talaga ang movies,” he beams.  — PNS