Amante Pulido, Angelina Kanapi, and other Cast Members of Matangtubig Experienced a Real Storm!

            "Totoong binagyo kami,tiyempong nandun kami that time,nandun din si Mailes (Angelina) at Cherry,akala ko nga mapapak ap kami kasi,ginaw na ginaw kami," Pulido recounted.

Picture from Amante Pulido's FB account

Amante Pulido is the lead actor in Jet Leyco's mystery film (the writer thinks it is) Matangtubig (Town in a Lake). The former plays Homil, a villager in a fishing community who bears witness to what really transpired prior to the disappearance of two girls. According to the director himself, this was inspired by true events in Balete, Batangas where two children went missing. Peppered with symbolisms regarding media's hyperrealism, the film is not for the normal moviegoer expecting a straight story. On it's Facebook page, its genre was written as "Supernatural Suspense/Hollywood Existentialism."

Picture from Amante Pulido's FB account

This is Pulido's first lead role yet he has worked with numerous productions before in playing meaty roles. He more recent appearances include supporting parts in films like The Grave Bandits (2012) and Maratabat (2014). He's happy with the dynamics between him and his co-actors. He has previously worked with Star Orjaliza (who pays Vivian, his wife in the film) and Cherry Malvar (mother of Teri Malvar who's the star of 'Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita). "Naku,angsaya namin,nakagaanan ko sila ng loob, WALA NI ISANG BAD VIBES O NAGMURA sa kanila. Bihira ang ganung production.To my fellow actors, I am so honored & grateful to work with them."

Angelina Kanapi (leftmost) and Rener Concepcion (rightmost) during the gala night of the film

Aside from Pulido, two actors that shone in their respective roles are Angelina Kanapi (Thelma Cruz) and Dylan Ray Talon (Justin). Their screen presence was so strong that you can't help paying full attention to them as they deliver their lines. Talon's billing in the film is "introducing", meaning this is his first major role. He isn't new to the acting industry though. "Naging part ako ng last film ni Jet pero minor role lang ako dun. Nakita niya ako, magkagrupo kami from FEU Theater Guild. Tas, kinast na niya ako."

Dylan Ray Talon after the gala screening

The film is also notable for its grain-free frames during very dark scenes. Leyco talked a little bit about the process during the Q&A session. "We used Sony A7S. We shot it in 10 days with a full crew and 2 extra days with a skeleton crew."

The film's poster designed by Miko Livelo

The film's remaining screenings are later October 27 (Tuesday) 6pm at the Gateway mall and on October 29 (Thursday) 1pm at Robinsons Galleria. The film is part of the 2015 QCinema Film Festival (Year 3).

Nash Ang's Film about Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Wins at Cine'Eco

*photos from Nash Ang's Facebbok account

The film festival’s 21^st year signals a great victory for a Filipino filmmaker. Cine’Eco – The International Festival of Environmental Cinema of Serra da Estrela, is the only festival of its kind in Portugal dealing with the recognition of humanities responsibility to take care of the earth and all the living things in it.

            The awarding was held at the city of Seia in Portugal. ‘Paraiso’ (Paradise) got the Grand Prix CineEco 2015 and Ang got 2,000 euros. It is a documentary film showing the how the typhoon survivors, particularly children, piece their lives back together after the passage of the storm. What was once their paradise became nothing but a ruin. According to festival director Mário Jorge Branquinho, 80 films from 20 countries competed in the said festival. He also called Ang’s style, “direct cinema”.

            Ang’s film career started when his film ‘iskWATER’ won in the 1^st South East Asian Student Documentary Awards – Internation Science Film Festival in 2010. In 2011, he became NCCA’s ‘Ani ng Dangal’ grantee for upholding international excellence the film category. His other film directing credits include Lusong (2011 documentary) and Seoul Mates (Cinema One Originals 2014 entry).

            ‘Paradise’ premiered in the Philippines via the Singkwento International Film Festival held last February where it was the opening film. It was the closing film of the 2^nd Transcultural Network Festival South Korea held this year.

            Aside from directing, Ang also acts for film and does musical theater.

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Angelina Kanapi Bares All in Audire

"We don't believe that actors don't just tell stories. As an actor, I've always believed that it's not enough to entertain. Ok yun, but, the best part for me kasi is not the curtain call when they say congratulations. Yung pinakamasarap sa akin na naririnig eh yung kukunin yung number ko tas sasabihin niya na nagising ako kanina tas iba na yung nararamdaman ko," Kanapi related after the press review. The actress also confirmed that the piece was not originally intended to be within the philosophy of 'theater as a therapeutic' process. It somehow became that along the way. "Personally, as an actor, I aim to heal. Pero if I don't get to heal, eh di ganun lang," she added.

Audire is a Latin word meaning 'to listen'. The performance is very improvisational in nature and it is the fist time this writer was able to watch a performance wherein sound was the primary element. The piece is a one-woman show, in which there is neither a constant narrative flow nor a script to follow. The performance proceeds as the actress reacts to different sounds and bravely uses her own experiences and translates into a performance.

Kanapi is one of the formidable actresses of Philippine theater. She is more known as 'Mailes Kanapi' in the theater scene. In 2011, she won a Best Actress award from Gawad Buhay! for her performance as Masha in the Filipino adaptation of Chekhov's 'Three Sisters'. Her recent theater credits include Pozzo in Waiting for Godot5 (Tanghalang Ateneo, 2015), Berthe in Giselle (Ballet Philippines, 2014), and Chabeng in Stageshow (Tanghalang Pilipino, 2012). She also has a major in a film  which is part of the upcoming QCinema Film Festival entitled 'Matangtubig' directed by Jet Leyco.

The performance piece was directed by Jeffrey Camañag under the production company Artist Playground, "where creation is always an artistic process." Sheila Espina did the sound design. Audire's remaining shows in the very intimate 'The Little Room Upstairs' located inside Landsdale Tower at Mother Ignacia St. will be on Oct. 24, Oct.31, and Nov. 7. There will 3pm, 5pm, and 7pm shows during these Saturdays. Ticket price is 250php and you may contact Roj Regoso at 09773062924 for ticket inquiries.

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Documentary about Filipino Transgender Women Has a One-Day Screening Tomorrow

           "Shunned" is a brainchild of filmmaker Janice Villarosa. The full-length documentary is about a group of trans women competing in a pageant. They find strength in one another as they struggle with a society which perceives them differently. The cast is made up of Cebuana transgender women.

           The film had its Asian Premiere at the Cebu International Documentary Film Festival. Its other screenings were/will be at the following festivals: Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Italy), Festival Signes de Nuit (Paris, France), Long Beach QFilm Festival (California), Cinema Diverse (California), Laughlin Int'l Film Festival, Hawaii Int'l Film Festival, Fort Lauderdale In't Film Festival, and Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival.
          

            Villarosa decided to pursue filmmaking tackling the subject justice in her films "when a very good friend of hers was sentenced to serve over 20 years in prison for something he did not do." She is a dual citizen of both USA and the Philippines.

             The film will be shown tomorrow, October 8 (Thursday), at the Gateway Cineplex. There will be some pre-screening activities around 5:30PM but the movie will start at 7PM. Tickets are at PhP100 each and can be bought at the venue itself.


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7 Things That Make Tanghalang Pilipino's "Mga Buhay na Apoy" Exciting!

1. Kanakan' Balintagos official theater comeback!

Formerly known as Auraeus Solito, Balintagos' heart will always be in the theater. Before becoming a film director, he used to head his theater group in UP Diliman. During his time there, he staged both contemporary and classical plays, as well as his own materials like Manhid. He is both the writer and director of this play, an auteur.

2. The material is a Palanca winner
The full-length play won the first place in thie year's Palanca awards.

3. Irma Adlawan's first play in three years
Though Irma Adlawan is one of Philippine theaters' leading actresses of the 21st century, she had a respite of a few years from the theater scene. Her last play was "Forsaken" House in 2012 where she played the lead role of "Encarna". When she was asked about this during the presscon, she said there were no offers during that period. 

4. Rotating Set

Okay, the set doesn't literally rotate during the play. It just gives the audience a complete "reverse perspective" after the intermission (Acts 3 and 4). Go see for yourself. The set was designed by renowned architect an recent Gawad CCP awardee Paulo Acazaren.

5. Lights from dusk till dawn
Sorry to disappoint performance photographers but there are no bright lights during the play except for the lunar moon towards the end. You'd need a prime lens to capture all the action without grain. What we get is a near-perfect reimagination of lights mostly at dusk and dawn, a work of art in itself. The very capable lighting designer is Dennis Marasigan.

6. Chekhovian drama fused with Palawan folklore

In a Chekhovian drama, the pacing and acting is encapsulated in the school of naturalism. It is literally real-life drama. Since the auteur of the play is a Palaw-an, he inserted scenes involving the Parimanis, which is the "absolute truth and beauty". It lended a surrealist quality to this Chekhovian drama which proved once again that art can also be ethereal aside from eternal.

7. You will see why it is better to live in truth

There's a scene where a character talks about another character who thinks it's okay to just go around telling white lies. He even goes far as to say that this person paints lies in different colors. After you watch this play, you will realize that acceptance, forgiveness, and facing the truth are very important in maintaining quality relationships. Lies can only get one so far and the truth will eventually be uncovered. Characters in the play go through a ritual of cleansing. Fire may have hurt them a lot in the process but they came out of it stronger and more whole.

Remaining Performances: 

October 9-11 | 16-18 | 23-25 | 2015
Friday 8pm | Saturday 3pm & 8pm | Sunday 3pm
at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

Tickets:
891.9999 | Ticket World
832.3734 | CCP Box Office
0917-8763678 | Sponsorship & Show Buying
0908.8941384 | Group Discount

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Robots Invade Tanghalang Ateneo

R.U.R. (Robot Unibersal ni Rossum) is a Filipino adaptation by Guelan Varela-Luarca. I say adaptation and not translation as indicated in the souvenir program because there were changes from the original like the nationalities of the human characters. The play is the maiden offering of Tanghalang Ateneo for its 37th Theater Season with the theme Staging Revolutions.

  Helena Glory (Gel Basa) and Harry Domin (Avie Alcantara)


Karel Čapek, a Czech writer, wrote the play in 1920, 2 years after the World War 1 ended and 3 years after the Legion of Russia was established. After the play was staged, the word robot became popular in science fiction and language as a whole. The TA staging is directed by Jk Anicoche and stars the TA pool of actors, all students in the university. Jerome Ignacio, the lead of the film Filemon Mamon, has a vital supporting role as the doctor who will eventually modify the robots in Act 2.

  Radius (Geo Celestino) gets pricked by Dr. Gall (Jerome Ignacio)


Divorced from the text's sociopoliticoeconomic musings in the form of America or Russia as the ultimate world power (depends on which version of the text), R.U.R. can certainly stand on its own interpretation by the director. Instead of being the innocent ingenue in the original, Helena Glory is quite aware of her sexuality in this version and plays the game of seduction (in dance form) with Harry Domin quite deftly. However, there was not much chemistry between the two actors compared to the 'lovers' in the last scene of the play. Migyle Jimenez (Robot Primus) and Camille Abaya (Robot Helena) energized the whole stage with their very organic chemistry. 

     Robot Helena (Camille Abaya) and Robot Primus (Migyle Jimenez)

A winning element of this production is the set design. It really evokes the feeling of an island where you can do anything with its sand, light strips of cloth, and bamboo. It gives a sense of entrapment at the same time, entrapment in one's Messianic complex which will eventually make everything fall apart. Glory's gown designed by Santi Obcena is also very eyecatching.

  The cast and artistic staff after the press preview


Anicoche envisioned the play as a celebration of life and the Filipinos as the world's finest leaders. In his R.U.R. world, the foreigners in the person of Alquist, Hallemeier, Busman, Gall, and Fabry all have to adjust to the Tagalog language which is not their mother tongue. This is a very strong postcolonial statement considering that Filipinos are always the ones adjusting to foreigners.

R.U.R. runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 17, 2015 at the Fine Arts Blackbox Theater, Fine Arts Annex, ADMU. For ticket inquiries and reservations, you may contact 0917-631-4387.


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