STAR Cinema's resident director Rory Quintos rose from the ranks. She was a PA or production assistant to Laurice Guillen and in two year's time she worked on 10 films. She recalls how at two in the morning, she would deliver call slips in distant places where the only means of transportation was the tricycle.

The cinema has fascinated Rory since she was six years old. She grew up in the era of musicals like ''Oliver,'' which she saw 20 times, and she nurtured a dream of becoming a director someday.

Her desire grew more intense during her UP days as she got involved in the theater under the tutelage of Behn Cervantes. There is social relevance in Rory's films, a result of Behn's influence.

In the beginning, Rory aspired to direct only for television, an interest not shared by her parents who were afraid of what show biz might do to their daughter.

It was Malou Santos who pushed Rory to give movie directing a try. Her stint as assistant director in ''Maalaala Mo Kaya'' and ''Star Drama'' were sufficient credentials for her to merit the promotion. Her first directorial assignment was ''Basta't Kasama Kita.''

Rory has directed six movies to date and avoids being typecast in relation to the choice of material she will handle. She says there is not much problem about shifting from one genre to another ''dahil ang importante ay gusto ko ang istorya.'' (the important thing is I have to like the story).

She has completed her seventh film, ''Anak,'' which reunites Rory with her favorite actress Vilma Santos. She was an assitant when they worked on ''Ipagpatawad Mo'' and Rory considers Vilma as one of the nicest and most gifted people in show biz.

From the start, Rory liked the concept of ''Anak'' and the conflict that arises in the story. Although the character of Vilma is that of a hardworking domestic helper, the plot is more focused between her character's relationship with her daughter after not seeing each other for six years. Had Vilma rejected the offer, ''Anak'' would have been shelved because as far as Star Cinema was concerned, it had to be Vilma and no one else.

Harmonious working relationships are a must for Rory, who admits she has a temper. On a bad day, she can bristle with sarcastic remarks. She hates people who report late on the set late and prefers to work with a regular group of actors like Cherrie Pie Picache, who are all professional.

Among male actors, Rory loves working with Aga Muhlach. Why? ''Because he can easily absorb any role given to him. He has a certain charisma on the set which makes working conditions happy. There are some people na magaang ang dating and Aga is one of them,'' she says.

Was there an instance when she thought Vilma's acting was not the approach she had in mind? ''I thought of her character as a strong person and in one scene, after a confrontation, Vilma attached it differently. I told her, 'You are not supposed to cry,' but she said, 'Mothers always cry.' I got her point!''

Rory never runs out of patience with actors who cannot follow her instructions even after a lengthy explanation. ''Sa bagay na iyan ay talagang mahaba ang pasensiya ko. I will explain it over and over again until they get it right,'' she says.