April 3rd, 2009
by ana agabin
Here I am, resolved to never again make another indie film in my life.
As I mull over the events of the recent shoot, I get a text asking me to call Robbie Tan, head of the Cinemalaya monitoring committee.
“Robbie, I’m not done with shooting. I scheduled eight shooting days. I shot for ten days, I still didn’t finish it.”
Robbie assures me that it’s perfectly normal and encourages me to keep it up. I explain that I didn’t want the quality to suffer just because I’m pressed for time or money. He says that that’s the way it should be.
They expect a rough edit soon. I reply that I’d get to it.
By golly, I’ll get to it… and remember the pains we went through to shoot it? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 24k, ana agabin, apollo anao, cinemalaya, mark villena, pao orendain, randy roldan, recci bacolor, robbie tan, timmy torres, wasdi
Posted in on location | 7 Comments »
April 2nd, 2009
Why in the world do people go through with it? I mean producing and directing indie films, and going through all the hardships just to make a film?
WHY?
After what I went through shooting for ten days, I just don’t understand it.
I want to go back to doing high-budget documentaries and AVPs. I want to be able to hire the people I want at their requested talent fees, and provide them comfortable amenities, and work in an easy environment.
This indie filmmaking thing is just not my cup of tea.
I went through such anguish during the latter part of shooting 24k that one thought persists in my mind: it’s simply not worth it.
Tags: ana agabin, directing indie, shooting 24k
Posted in on location | No Comments »
March 16th, 2009
We’re just about ready to roll. I’m leaving tomorrow early morning for our location to better visualize my shotlist against the locations. By March 18 we’ll start principal photography.
What can I say? It feels like opening night of a theater production. Even though you’ve prepared for it, somehow you still get some jitters.
But just like in theater, I know that when the show starts, it’s all going to work out alright.
Break a leg team!
Posted in pre-production | 2 Comments »
March 14th, 2009
All the while I’ve been writing here, I never really went into details of what the film is all about. Here’s a synopsis of what to expect:
[31 July 2009 -- Because the film radically changed through the course of production, the previous synopsis no longer applies. I have, therefore, decided to delete it lest it give future viewers the wrong expectations. Below, instead, is an updated synopsis.]
24k
Receiving good omen from a medium, Manok and Boyet journey back to their treasure site in the mountains to continue digging for Yamashita treasure. With them is Freddie, a new member of the group, who is financing the rest of their operations. Upon returning to their site, things don’t quite happen as the medium predicted. In the thick of their obsession to find treasure, they are forced to make choices that would change their destinies.
24k is a true-to-life depiction of the misadventures, the bizarre encounters, and the melancholic life of a group of treasure hunters who gamble their future digging for Yamashita treasure.
Posted in the works | No Comments »
March 13th, 2009
Hooo! Time flies!
I’m shooting in 5 days and it seems there are still a lot of things to prepare. I’m excited and anxious at the same time. It kinda reminds me of getting married or having a baby. It feels like you’re never completely prepared for it. Hahaha!
art dep! paki urong ang waterfall!
We did some last-minute arrangements at the location last March 9-10. Everyone in Suyo is so excited already.
Today, we’re having a script reading and look test with the cast.
I just finished the final written revision of the script yesterday. What a relief. This exercise made me realize that a script is never really final. As long as there is time available, a writer will revise and revise. Hahaha! Well, it feels good to finally let go. Any other revisions will just have to happen on the set.
Tags: 24k script reading, dawara falls, suyo
Posted in pre-production | No Comments »
February 28th, 2009
I got feedback yesterday from Robbie Tan regarding our test shoot. He’s the head of the monitoring committee for Cinemalaya and the one who’s really nakatutok on what the 10 filmmakers are up to. He said that the result of the shoot was generally good. He nonetheless gave me a few comments and suggestions on how to improve. The main gist of it was to have a lot of coverage so that we would have enough footage to choose from during editing.
I have to admit, I initially thought the test shoot was a huge hassle. Especially since I found out about it only this February, when I was already planning a Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 24k, ana agabin, cinemalaya, edwin guillermo, hitler, pao orendain, robbie tan, test shoot
Posted in cinemalaya | 2 Comments »
February 24th, 2009
We are doing our test shoot for two sequences tomorrow already. I decided to shoot it really as a test, rather than shooting with the real actors in the real locations with (gulp) the real equipment.
So this is how we’re managing it…
We’re using the video equipment and lights of our production house, Eccena Inc. We’ll be editing there as well.
Edwin found us two theater actors who are game to play the parts of the lead and his wife, for a minimal fee. Edwin himself will play one of the parts.
Yesterday my sister, Liz, went searching for temporary locations for our test shoot. She found a couple in the vicinity of our mom’s house in Marikina. (Yey convenient!) I checked it out, and we decided on one that happens to be the house of another theater actor. (Small world.) The owners were happy to let us use it for a couple of hours.
Today, I’m meeting with Pao and Liz to talk about the logistics and the shots.
Unfortunately, our production designer won’t be able to join us tomorrow for the shoot. She’s got a lot on her hands, what with 2 Cinemalaya entries, and probably some rackets.
Oh well, the sequences are simple anyway. I was fortunately allowed to shoot just 2 sequences instead of 3 so hopefully it will be short and sweet.
Tags: 24k test shoot, eccena inc
Posted in cinemalaya | 2 Comments »
February 20th, 2009
by ana agabin
My script went through my team of usiseros and advisers these past few days. Today I’ll be revising it again, hopefully for the last time.
It’s a blessing in disguise that I had to move my shoot to March 18, instead of February 25. With all the script revisions, I would’ve been so unprepared if I forced myself to shoot next week.
Funny how this directing business has turned me into a more spiritual person.
Met with Bing Lao yesterday, who is fresh from his directing debut of Biyaheng Lupa. He shared some stories and anecdotes and lessons he learned from Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 24k script, ana agabin, bing lao
Posted in pre-production | No Comments »
February 16th, 2009
Sa wakas! Finally! Hallelujah!
I’m done with my script revisions!
I can go back to having a social life!
Whew! What a relief.
I’ll still have the script go through my team of advisers and usiseros, but i’m pretty satisfied with it. I need to let it lie for a few days before i read it again and see if it needs more work.
I’m itching to put on my director’s cap and work on my shot list. Aha. That should be fun.
Posted in pre-production | No Comments »
February 12th, 2009
Yey! We finally have a logo design!
This design was conceptualized by Tom Estrera, a talented, young graphic artist.
I didn’t know Tom at all when I was looking for a logo and graphic designer for 24k. I usually hire creative people based on the work they’ve done, rather than relying on referrals. Believe me, i looked at quite a few portfolios before I landed on him. What I liked about his work was that although some of his designs were very simple, the concepts were strong and innovative.
So I took the chance of tapping his talent, even though he came an hour late for our meeting. (It’s a fine arts person thing you know, not coming on time, I told myself.)
Ah! Thank goodness I made the right decision after all.
Tags: 24k logo, tom estrera
Posted in the works | No Comments »