Cinemalaya's tempest in a teapot

We attended the 2012 Cinemalaya media conference on the disqualification of Emerson Reyes’ full-length New Breed entry MNL 143. We find it amazing that what started out as a simple case of differences in casting has reached the magnitude of a court case. How and what has made this happen? 

Emerson’s dark comedy told of an OFW returning home in search of a long-lost love with Alan Paule and Joy Viado cast in the lead roles, which the Cinemalaya Organizing Committee thought unsuitable for the material. Monitoring head Robbie Tan suggested instead the likes of Victor Neri and Francine Prieto.

Although this is not Emerson’s first year at Cinemalaya (he had a short film titled Walang Katapusang Kwarto in 2011 which won several prizes), the requirements for the full-length category have different mandates to be performed. The chosen finalists receive a seed grant of P500,000 from Cinemalaya upon agreement of all parties concerned.

This is actually not the first time disqualifications have happened, however. Chairman of Cinemalaya Foundation Tonyboy Cojuangco admitted at the forum that it was one of the hardest tasks to perform. But this is the first time there has been an uproar, instigated mostly through Twitter and Facebook. Emerson has apparently been a devout Twitter advocate so it was only understandable that he aired his discontent and be supported by those who are fellow Twitter users.

Still, anger must be tempered by understanding. Dubbing Cinemalaya Festival director Nes Jardin, competition chair Laurice Guillen and Robbie as The Gang of Three; asking them to get out of Cinemalaya; calling for a boycott of Cinemalaya; and resorting to personal insults directed at Laurice through tweets will not solve anything. Surely, it cannot be about money. Could it be because of presumed insult, of not being fair, of not being given the freedom a director should have? Robbie, whom we have dealt with during the old Seiko days, has never been the most diplomatic of individuals. He tells you what he thinks. He says what he feels. But he never insults.

We who belong to the old school never had the convenience of social media through which to vent our disgust. We of the old school like directors Joel Lamangan, Joey Reyes and Loy Arcenas at the presscon honestly find it difficult to understand what this brouhaha is all about. Perhaps, it was all just a bad dream. We hope it was all just a bad dream!

Extraordinary roles for Derek & Erich

Direk Richard Somes (center) with Derek Ramsay and Erich Gonzales, the stars of his supernatural love story Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang

To begin with, the film’s title Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang is already a teaser. Blame it on the international blockbuster of a Twilight series. Blame it on Ricky Lee’s inexplicably successful novel Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata on manananggals in love. The fact remains that the world has rediscovered what used to be the hidden playground of witches and vampires, werewolves and dwarves, and yes, even kapres, nunos sa punso, and black and white gremlins.

Which is why we were not at all that surprised that Derek Ramsay and Erich Gonzales would be topbilling a love story of aswangs. Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang is director Richard Somes’ own version of the origin of the aswang and his lead stars are only too eager to be playing out-of-the box roles.

Derek has already been saying it is his favorite project that skillfully combines love with horror. “It will show what true love really is,” he has been quoted as saying. Erich will only go as far as confessing that the script calls for love that will sacrifice everything for the one she loves; love that is unconditional and unfailing.

Richard has already shown his mettle in Maria La Del Barrio, Shake Rattle & Roll, Ismael and Imortal. The amazing support comes from Mark Gil, Tetchie Agbayani, Epi Quizon, Mon Confiado, Dan Alvaro, Sue Prado, Sharlene San Pedro, Bodjie Pascua and Maria Isabel Lopez. Corazon opens on March 14 nationwide under the banner of Skylight Films, ABS-CBN’s maindie label — meaning, mainstream with the edginess of indie.    

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