| Concerto, The Film (Cinemalaya 2008) | for everyone |
My husband is watching my rehearsals at the CCP Main Theater because he will shoot the performances of Galaw Galaw that I’m directing. It's a show featuring dance groups in the country.
Paul Morales, the artistic director of the Airdance Company, approaches him and says, “Nonoy, would you consider acting in my film?”
“A film about my family, during World War II. I’d like you to play the father.”
Back home, my husband chuckles as he relates the invite to me.
(He is a former danseur of Ballet Philippines.)
“You’re gonna be a film actor?!?” I ask. “Discovered in your 50’s while watching my rehearsal???”
Paul Morales is a dancer/choreographer himself who has done successfully in theater and film. Well, okay.
Paul Morales = dance.
Nonoy Froilan = dance.
“Was the ‘father’… a dancer?” I ask.
“No, a former miltary officer,” he replies.
“Uy! Bagay! You’re so masungit nowadays
anyways … just act like you do to (our son) Raffy. Wa ha ha!”
I can’t describe Concerto because I haven’t seen it. All I know is the film is based on a true story about Paul’s kin.
In a nutshell: a Filipino family moves to the forests of Davao during WWII where they meet
Japanese soldiers in a camp. In the hub of mortar blasts, endurance and survival, a musical concert marries war with friendship.
Interesting! Unique!
They shot the film at Casa San Miguel, Zambales, better known as the Bolipata brothers’ haven for artists.
The film features Jay Aquitana, Meryll Soriano, Shamaine Buencamino, Elijah Castillo and Alynna Lescano.
Incidentally, I watched Shamaine Buencamino in Floy Quintos's Ang Kalungkutan ng mga Reyna at the CCP Labfest 4 recently. I’d like to take this opportunity to rave about her. Shamaine really nailed the role of the queen-wannabe president. Not once did she depart from the idiosyncrasies of the fabulous character that only an actress of her caliber can do justice to. I tried to catch her ‘act’ but not once, not once did she flinch. An eccentric role like that can open many windows to theatrical clichés – so dangerous to inept artists. But Shamaine, with her mind-boggling talent, was so credible and funny I was teary-eyed. She is one of God’s greatest gifts to the Pinoy performing arts. Shamaine is also appearing with her equally exceptional husband, Nonie Buencamino, in the film, Hubad.
Oops, back to Concerto. Okay,
some chismis. I tell Nonoy to give me a few inside stories so I can write about the film. Now this guy isn’t very talkative (unless he
has sipped about 5 glasses of wine.) “Please give me interesting snippets,” I beg.
He tells me that during one shoot the cast goes on a break and the young actors ask him about ‘ballet’. He tells them about ballet class, the positions of the arms and feet, the beautiful lines
that dancers work on. Meryll steps up to demonstrate her skills. She takes classes with Douglas Nierras, according to Nonoy. “Ang cute naman ni Meryll,” he adds.
Then he asks the girls to point their feet and discovers that Alynna has the gorgeous arches of a ballet dancer. “You should be a ballerina!” he exclaims.
“Then what?” I ask.
“That’s it. She has nice feet.”
“Noy! More … more …”
“Oh and I always took small bottles of wine with me to
Zambales. Viking and I had many discussions about life.”
“Noy, yes, but the film, the film …”
“Well, I wish we had more time to bond as a ‘family’. It kinda happened towards the end of the shoot. Sayang.”
“Zzzzzz …”
“Oh, and we had to huddle in one scene because the bombs kept coming. I insisted on a pseudo blast so we would know where the sound was coming from.”
“But why should you know that?” I inquire.
“So we can all bend in the same direction.”
“Ah! Choreography … zzzzz …”
“One night," he continues, "Jed – the stunt woman of Meryll at the piano – played a few songs. Pretty soon, we all started to sing. Very Loud. Si Garry Lim ang nagunguna. Saya namin! Shamaine, who was sleeping upstairs texted Paul to tell us to tone down.”
“Yan, intriga! Then what happened?”
“I dunno. I was in bed na but I think Paul went to the group and joined them.”
“Noy, ahm … how do you feel about acting in a film?”
“Nice!”
“I’d probably cringe when I see your face as big as the Main Theater proscenium.”
“Oo nga no?!?”
“How was Paul as director?”
“Pretty calm. He’s good!”
I giggle. “Did you call him ‘direct’ like actors call film directors?”
“Nope, I couldn’t. I just called him ‘Paul’.”
“You know what? I still don’t know what to write.”
“Just tell people to watch the film!”
“Maganda ba? Have you seen the trailer?”
“Nope.”
“Well a lot of people told me they saw an excerpt. They said it really looks good!”
“I actually think so,” he smiles.
"Noy, you're on your 5th glass of wine. How come you're not too talkative?"
"Because I had very few lines in the film. Kinukuha ko lahat sa tingin. I think the military character rubbed off on me."
"Sige, tulog na lang tayo."
Please watch the premiere night of Concerto on July 18, CCP Main Theater at 9pm . I can't wait to see the film with you !!!
For more info, call CCP Media Arts, telephone 832 1125, locals 1704 & 1705. KITAKITS at the CCP from 11 to 20 July 2008 at mag-kwentuhan tyo!
Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2008
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