The ultra daring millennials

MANILA, Philippines — You can see that this is a very sensitive film to showcase from the limited presscon guests and its ultra daring teaser and film excerpts.

Direk Eduardo Roy Jr. (Pamilya Ordinaryo) admits even the title of the film (F#*@BOIS) has to be sanitized to make it acceptable for general audiences. Initially, he settled for an R-16 rating but then he realized much of the essence of the story will be sacrificed. He decided his latest project will be better appreciated with an R-18 rating.

“This is a very difficult film to realize,” he admits. “The casting alone requires the young lead stars to shed off their inhibitions in order to make the characters true-to-life. I must admit I am always challenged doing films based on true-to-life events. When you write and direct it for film, you get obsessed with making it truly realistic and hopefully relatable.”

His way of saying that there are lots of stories in some sectors of society that will make for great cinema.

Actors Royce Cabrera and Kokoy de Santos knew what they were in for. They knew they were part of a sensitive story and they had to get into the characters as fast as they could.

For one, Kokoy and Royce had to do a daring scene and the director suggested that their private parts be covered. They thought it wasn’t necessary. When the cameras rolled, they became the portrait of millennials in another sector of society.

Like it or not, Roy’s latest film is about millennials who want fast results in their search for a better life. Talk of goal-slayers at a young age. Their choices were not easy but they think they will reach the goals for themselves in a fast way in their own terms.

A look at direk Roy’s initial film output shows he has an eye for stories not often talked about or discussed. His first feature film, Baby Factory, was cited in the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival and won the grand jury award at the 2012 Deauville Asian Film Festival, Blue Chameleon Award at the 2012 Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival and the Jose Rivero Award for Best First Feature at the 2012 Las Palmas Film Festival in Spain. His second feature film, Quick Change, premiered in the Panorama section of the 2013 Berlinale. It won the Critics Award at the Vesoul Asian Film Festival in France and the NETPAC Award at the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan.

Direk Eduardo Roy Jr. when he won the top directorial prize in the 2016 Cinemalaya. He is always challenged by true-tolife stories.

He was destined to harvest more awards for Pamilya Ordinaryo from Cinemalaya to Gawad Urian, among others.

It looks like his latest, F#*@BOIS, is likely to make another distinct mark in the latest edition of Cinemalaya. Based on its teaser and rough cuts, the latest Eduardo Roy film has many things going for it.

“It is an unusual story and a very brave one,” co-producer Raymond Francisco said. “I am on temporary leave from theater and I refocused my creative instinct into good film projects as co-producer. When I saw the partially edited cut, I knew we had something special for Cinemalaya. And I know the story is in good hands with Roy writing and directing it.”

Direk Roy also admits casting for other roles was equally difficult. Especially when he was trying to get a character actor as versatile as Ricky Davao. “When I finished the story, we had to look for someone as a perfect foil for the young actors. And he has to be very daring as well. We can only think of Ricky Davao and no one else.”

Davao accepted the part only because he liked what the director did in Pamilya Ordinaryo. “When I read the script, I froze momentarily. It’s not going to be easy. Indeed, it requires some amount of daring which should look very real. Later, I realized accepting the part was like jumping into the pool with no water and hitting the pool tiles with your head. That’s how tough and provocative my role is.”

This early, festival insiders are predicting another grand slam of trophies for his role in F#*@BOIS.

Direk Roy is optimistic that his obsession with true-to-life stories will be vindicated in his latest film output. “I give my best once challenged. That’s the lure of cinema on my side. I like to think good cinemas should reflect the human condition no matter how unacceptable it looks on the ordinary eye.”

Produced by Found Films and Front Row, F#*@BOIS is one of some exciting entries of Cinemalaya showing at the CCP and other theater venues until Aug. 9.