MANILA, Philippines – Critically acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza has again received an offer from Star Cinema to make a film under the ABS-CBN movie outfit.

Mendoza, the 2009 Cannes best director, made this confirmation Tuesday but he quickly clarified that he has yet to accept the offer.

“Hindi pa ako pumipirma ng kontrata. Yes, may offer pero wala pang kumpirmasyon na tinanggap ko na,” he told abs-cbnNEWS.com

As a matter of course, this isn’t the first time Mendoza was offered a directing stint by one of the country’s more active, if not prolific, movie productions.

“Matagal na akong kinukuha ng Star Cinema. May mga negotiations na pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa natutuloy,” he qualified.

“If ever I would join them, it would be on my terms. Kung hindi lang naman masusunod ang mga terms and conditions ko, hindi na lang muna,” he exclaimed quite humbly.

According to Mendoza, he was asked to do a movie based on a life of a battered wife, with comedienne Ai Ai de las Alas on the lead.

“Gusto ko kasi, pag binigyan ako ng idea concept, especially writing a script, humihingi agad ako ng bayad. Kasi, hindi lang naman ako ang involved sa project. I am an allied to the writer. Ayaw kong pabayaan ang writer ko.

“Hindi ako ‘yong tipo na naglalako ng project. Naka-8 na akong pelikula pero hindi ako nag-lako ng project. Ayoko rin ‘yong nagbibigay ako ng script o story idea, tapos, natetengga lang. Kawawa naman ang writer. Masunurin naman ako sa lahat ng pinag-uusapan namin. Hindi naman sa pagmamalaki, nakakagawa naman ako ng pelikula nang walang nakikialam sa trabaho ko,” he clarified.

“Because I give my best sa trabaho ko,” he stressed.

He also wants to protect the interests of the movie workers, Mendoza quipped. “Sa ganitong paraan, makaka-solve tayo ng kahit konting problema.”

He had worked with Seiko Films’ Robbie Tan, he recalled, but he had a free hand during the shoot.

“Ni hindi sumilip si Robbie sa shooting. Bumisita lang siya sa editing,” he recounted.

Mendoza said he respects the policies of Star Cinema, and he is willing to sit down again with its bosses to discuss the matters thoroughly.

At this point, he emphasized that he would want to maintain a “free artistic spirit.”