INDIE FILM DIRECTOR BILIB SA GALING NI MYLENE DIZON

NAKI-JOIN na sa bandwagon ng bagong indie film directors ang movie producer na si Atty. Joji Alonzo. Isa sa official entries sa 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival ang first directorial film ni Atty. Joji, ang “Belle Douleur (Beautiful Pain)”

Nakapag-produce ng 32 pelikula si Atty. Joji under Quantum Films kabilang dito ang two-time Fipresci awardee and NETPAC awardee “The Best Collector” at “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” na naging Philippine entry sa Oscars.

“Third grade pa lang ako gusto ko nang ma­ging direktor, e. I observe. Every time I go to the set I observe. Binabantayan ko kung anong lente ang ginamit. And I chose, of course, a really good thing. Kailangan maga­ling,” pahayag ni Atty. Joji.

Si Mylene Dizon daw ang only choice niya to play the lead character named Elizabeth in her debut film. Nakita raw niya si Elizabeth sa katauhan ni Mylene.

“When I was conceptualizing the material siya na ‘yung nasa isip ko. Number one, she’s a very good actress. Ang galing-galing niyang artista. Hindi ako mahihirapan as a director kung magaling ang artista ‘di ba?  Plus, she exuded everything that Elizabeth was in the story,” lahad ni Atty. Joji.

Ang mahirap daw na hanapan ng artistang gaganap ay ang lalaking ka-partner ni Mylene sa movie.

“Ah, ‘yung actor for the role of Josh was the more difficult one to pass. Kasi kailangan ko ng bata. Kailangan way younger half the age of Mylene. Kailangan may hitsura. Kasi why would a 45-year old single woman was resolved to remain single for the rest of her life fall for this guy kung walang hitsura ‘di ba? Siyempre, kailangan yummy naman ‘di ba?”

Plus, of course, kailangan marunong daw umarte ‘yung male star. Or else, maiiwan daw siya ni Mylene sa eksena nila.

Puring-puri ni Atty. Joji si Kit Thompson sa set ng “Belle Douleur” kung saan co-producers din niya sina Ricky Lee, ABS-CBN’s executives Carlo Katigbak, Cory Vidanes and Roldeo Endrinal.

Very cooperative raw si Kit and very willing to do everything sa gusto niyang ipagawa sa set para sa ikagaganda ng pelikula.

“I have three love scenes in the film and each love scene has a story to tell. Hindi siya ginawa ko lang dahil gusto ko’ng magpahubad ng tao. No,” diin ni Atty. Joji.

Pagpapatuloy pa niya, “In fact, sabi ko, ‘Kit, mag-cover tayo, ganito, ganyan. Maglagay tayo ng cover-cover.’ Sabi niya, ‘Direk, okey lang ako na wala.’

Sabi ko, ‘Huwag mo’ng gawin ‘yan.’ Hahaha! Sabi ko, ‘Malayo pa ang mararating mo, Bata. Huwag mo’ng ipakita lahat.’ Ako pa ang nagsabi nu’n, which is true.”

Ang isa pang entry sa Cinemalaya na may konsepto rin na May-December affair, ang “Malamaya” nina Sunshine Cruz at Enzo Pineda. Mga babae rin ang direktor ng “Malamaya” na sina Da­nica Sta. Lucia at Leilani Chavez.

“Magkaiba naman. I don’t think Cinemalaya would have chosen our films kung parehong-pareho. Ang alam ko kasi na theme nila is about stealing of art. Coming of age story siya pero stealing of art. Sa akin naman it’s a coming of age story pero liberation of women from this and that,” es­plika niya.

Ang “Belle Douleur” ay kabilang sa ten full-length films na official entries sa 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival na maga-ganap sa August 2 to 11 at various venues of the CCP.

Simultaneously din siyag ipapalabas at selected Ayala cinemas and Vista malls sa Manila, Pampanga, Naga and Legaspi in Bicol, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao on August 7 to 13.

Magaganap naman ang Cinemalaya Awards Night will be held on August 11, 7 pm at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).