BUHAY AKTOR: Bibo in MULI

The Making of Muli.
A Rio Cruz Film
Holy Cow Production DLSU


MULI will always have a special spot in my heart being my first short film for a thesis.

I remember when I went back to Manila on the onset of 2015 from my Christmas vacation, I promised myself to give acting a chance. And then I started going to an audition.

I did not intentionally audition for the role of Inigo, but it was an open edition for the graduating class of DLSU, the Producer (Mace), scriptwriter (Marielle) and the director approached if I could read their script before I leave, and so I did.

And a week after I got a call from them asking me to collaborate on their thesis film. Yey!

At the De LaSalle Unviersity for the open audition for thesis film

Script Reading and Meeting with the prod  and these 2 kids  at Fisher Mall where everything was discussed; from TF to logistics and locations of the shoot and the script.

Finally got my script.

And the sequence breakdown

I was having jitters because this is going to be my first time to act with Film students.

Day 1

Excited while waiting for my pick up.

My lifeline in the next 3 days 

A quick stop-over to gas up and dinner

and we have arrived at our destination

Trying to scare the prod, but failed.  Goodnight for Day 2

Good Morning. Early Morning call time.

Great view to resume our filming

3rd Day Shoot in Manila

At 4:00am and trying to stay wide awake. Finally the Director shouted : "It's a Wrap"

My first thesis film experience was all about the fundamentals. Applying everything I learned from the workshop I attended last year. And this keeps me motivated and at the same time get to learn from these people I worked with.

The Poster

Until then,

Bibo 

BUHAY AKTOR: Bibo is BATSI

As an actor, I like to work. period.

If I am not working on an independent movie or doing small roles on tv, I love to collaborate with film students as well.  And by work I mean I develop my craft, building a character shot by shot.

I just finished doing 2 Thesis Films with DeLaSalle University student film-makers, one with Rio Cruz (Muli) and Encrucijada by Jannusz Curt Tan which I will soon blog about.

It's UST Mass Comm students turn before the end of this school year to comply with their requirements and that is to mount a short film before they could graduate.

And it's this season once again that they hold open auditions for the actors they want to portray in their film.

I emailed Duane Uy my portfolio through this ad on facebook:

And immediately got a reply inviting me to go to UST to meet the production of their film TAKAS (which later on was changed to BATSI). 

I meet up with my fellow thespian Chelina Talavera who happens to also auditioning for Alamat ng Rosas (and yes she got the part)

This also gives me an opportunity to meet up with my sister Em who works as an English Professor in UST.

I was about to sleep that day when I got a text from Duane Uy, the Casting Director of the film that I got the part.

So the negotiations for the talent fee and both of our requirements were discussed. It's a done deal.

Day 1 

March 27,2015

It was agreed that they will pick me up at Chowking Dangwa because that is where the 1st location of our film. My call time was 7am. I was already there by 6:30 to avoid the rush hour.

On Set Adventure

The Scriptwriter, Vanessa Cabacungan who is also the President of the UST Debate Society

The Film Director: Desiree Mateo.  I think that as an Actor, I have to react to my student director the way I react to Professional Directors. I know I have to keep in mind the youth of my director but I am very much prepared to take direction. I believe that at any age, if the director is impressed with your work and you develop a good relationship with them, they'll continue to get your service for a long time to come

The MUA Pam Cruz, who created a haggard look for the role (all through-out the film process)

We're done with our 1st day of filming. And I am just as excited as everyone else involved ion the production for our out-of-town shoot the next 2 days as we resume filming.

Day 2 & 3  Batangas

It's a wrap!

Official Poster

Official Trailer

SineReel Film Festival 2015 

The Film was chosen as one of the (30) competing films for thie year's Sine Reel Film Festival and I was there during the public screening. It's a great feeling to have been reunited with the crew I worked with whom I share the same passion.

Top 10Finalist/Awards Night

Among the 30 competing short films, BATSI was chosen as one of the 10 finalists for the awards night.

Collaboration

Given that this is a student film, there's always that flaws but there is brilliance in this movie that you will not find elsewhere. And I am not saying this because I am part of the film, that I am Batsi. While I need to listen and trust my director, they also ensure that I protect my craft.

Thank you to everyone involved in this project.

Until then,

Bibo

Be BIBOfied

Hey Bibonatics,

I am back. And I promise to be more active this time.

Here's one for you. 

Keep on shining!!!

Bibo