Probably I’m a Masochist

I.

Probably I’m a masochist for missing all the sleepless nights of preproduction, shooting and editing. I felt very weird everytime I wake up every morning thinking that I will not go for a classmate’s shoot, that my script will no longer be edited and reedited because I’ve already shot it and made it live in the big screen. For the past three months, I had a world of my own, squeezing my brain for concepts, from interpreting the almost vague but incredibly-written Erwin Romulo script, to making a music video for Color It Red’s song “Stay,” to making my very first short feature. I did all these requirements in three months, while juggling my officework and other subjects. And accomplishing them all with flying colors is a happy feat. But honestly, I miss being busy, or at least doing production work.

My Film 112 buddies. I’m the one who is not looking in the camera. I stole this image from Gerry’s blog which he also ripped off from Jesse’s Multiply. Click the image to enlarge

II.

The concept of my short film, “Kwerdas,” brought to life to release my frustration in playing the violin. The violin has been my dream musical instrument as a kid but I didn’t have the chance not until I was in third year college when I have already earned to buy one. Of course, I learned to play a little but after just two months, the violin is gone. Because I broke it into pieces, an action resulted from my anxiety problems caused by a distorted love life. Of course, the whole film isn’t the way it happened in my life.

The three characters in my short film actually represents ME. Angel, as the deaf violinist, reflects my personal struggle to play the violin. She can’t hear her music and she doesn’t even know whether she can play really well or not, but in her heart she plays the music she wanted to hear. Ann, as the untiring mentor, reflects my eagerness to play and to continue my passion, but for some reasons, I just can’t. Bryan, as Angel’s patient lover, is me who, despite being disregarded, will continue to endure love.

Haha, I think I spilled too much. I wish you could still enjoy watching the film once it will be screened again. Maybe, I can spill you with some trivia about my short film.

1. The interior scenes were shot in Gerry’s grandmother’s house, the same house where two other classmates shot their short films.

2. The violin that Angel broke was actually MY broken violin which we taped and glued. I had five retakes of that scene before I dismiss a good take. Good thing, because after the fifth attempt, there’s no amount of glues and scotch tape could be able reassemble the violin again. The violin that we used for Angel’s performance scenes was that of my friend Johanne.

3. Our location for the car scenes is in the empty parking area of UP Asian Institute of Tourism. The heat was so staggering that day that our two-gallon water supply went to oblivion. My classmates from Don Bosco who accompanied me during the shoot went all the way to the College of Human Kinetics (one foot bridge away) to buy water.

4. The last scene wherein Ann is standing in the hill was shot on a different day and is not in the shooting script. I decided to add it up after I reviewed the rushes. I thought that there is something lacking in the story. The scene, I believe, became one of the most memorable part of my short feature.

5. My characters Angel, Ann and Bryan are the real names of my actors. I decided to pattern my characters’ names to my actors so that they will be more at ease during the shoot. Angel and Ann are my officemates and Bryan is Angel’s real life boyfriend.

6. Jeepney Joyride’s music video, “Ayoko Na Sa Iyo,” is the music video used on the television scene. My big thanks to Nekah San Antonio for letting me use the video that she directed.

7. Achilles Gonzales, who did the score for Ato Bautista’s enthralling digital film, “Sa Aking Pagkakagising Mula sa Kamulatan,” composed the score for my short film. Independent all-girls band Matilda’s Maricor Reyes performed Achilles’ composition.

8. My own cut (director’s cut) for the film is actually fifteen minutes. I need to cut it short to seven minutes to adhere with Mr. Lyle Sacris’ time requirement. I prefer the longer one.

9. I was almost close to crop out the idea of making Angel’s character as a deaf musician because I had a hard time looking for someone who can translate the dialogues in my script to sign language. I almost made her autistic instead. Two days before the shoot, Grace Perez of Himlayang Pilipino, offered me a helping hand.

10. The idea of Kwerdas isn’t actually my initial idea for a short film. My first concept is actually about strangers constantly bumping together in a train in MRT. I dropped it because I find shooting in MRT a hassle attempt. But I’m still looking forward to shoot it in the future.