MY LIFE AS ART

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BY PETER SOLIS NERY

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IT HAS BEEN a journey since the impetus that started Ikapito nga Adlaw – a film by Peter Solis Nery up to this moment of last promotional campaign for the film’s world premiere tomorrow, Dec. 8, at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo as part of the fourth edition of Cinekasimanwa: The Western Visayas Film Festival.

I arrived in Iloilo from the United States on Aug. 28, and from the airport, I went straight to the Cinematheque Iloilo for a meet-and-greet with the new FDCP Chair Liza Diño upon the invitation of the Cinematheque in-charge Daniella Julieta Caro, who has always been very nice to me.

During the event, I met Cinekasimanwa founder and festival director Elvert Bañares who posed a challenge about seeing some new film work from me. And just because I planned to stay in the country until February next year, I said I will try and see what I can do.

After my yet another coronation at the 2016 Palanca Awards, having won a most coveted gold medal for One-Act Play in English, and boldly gracing the awards night in shimmering Swarovski-encrusted suit, I returned to my quiet and peaceful hometown of Dumangas and began hatching a B-movie plot about gang rape and shapeshifters.

I also got the commitment from “funeral videographer” Jeremy Arguelles Azucena and seaman on-leave Joey Rap Decolongon to be my cinematographers and/or editors. Further, I’ve even auditioned some local gay beauticians for certain roles.

Then, Elvert invited me to their Cinekasimanwa Film Caravan meeting on Sept. 20, where they announced that the deadline for the film grants competition has been extended to Oct. 20. That’s when I thought that maybe I should make a film entry, and join the contest, instead of producing a non-competing showcase film that would probably cost the same.

But to compete, I knew that I have to up my game. For the heart of me, I just cannot see myself making a slasher horror movie, and submit it to a competition.

And rethink everything, I did. I knew that I wanted to do something ambitious, something big and original. I’ve seen several Ilonggo short films in my lifetime, and I wanted to push the envelope. I wanted art, yes; but also maturity, courage and daring; and just to make sure it will be widely talked about, I wanted sex.

When Jeremy and Joey assured me that they were still with me, I bought a P70,000 Acer Predator laptop the following day. Seventy grand is not a small amount of money, if I invest on that thing, they better work hard for my film to get a shot at the P100,000 prize, I told them.

I also told myself the same. So that from Sept. 21 to 22, I developed the script with the original and tentative titles: Mga Nawong sang Gugma (Faces of Love) kag Balangaw sang Gugma (Rainbow of Love). From the get go, I knew that I wanted a masterful script of only 12 or so lines of dialogue. That was my challenge for the multi-awarded playwright/screenwriter in me: Can I write an excellent, brilliant script even, that has only 12 lines? And the answer, I am happy to report, is yes.

Watch Ikapito nga Adlaw, and learn how the literary icon Peter Solis Nery can do magic with words. But also see it for the bold and daring vision of an auteur that he is. The film solidifies Nery’s position as the premier agent provocateur of the region. And as hinted by the second movie trailer going viral on Facebook, and which the film will ultimately show, the chameleon Dumangueño artist is also an actor with great dramatic chops.

Principal photography for Ikapito nga Adlaw took three days; and then, there were two road trips for touristy scenes of my beautiful town, and the shot of the beautiful nude.

In the making of the movie, I drew courage and inspiration mostly from the glorious experience of making my first full-length feature Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa in merely six days. Because, as I always say, God rested on the seventh day. And because I keep saying that, it struck me to be a good title for the movie. So from Faces of Love, it became Ikapito nga Adlaw (7th Day).

The memory of the Bakunawa experience also encouraged me to ask Eman Abatayo, Pinoy Dream Academy alum, and lead star of my Bakunawa movie, to lend his beautiful ballad Sa Imo Lang Ako, which I commissioned in 2012 for Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa. The song shapes Ikapito nga Adlaw so beautifully that you’d think it was especially written for my latest short film.

In my heart of hearts, and in my mind, Sa Imo Lang Ako ranks as one of the top, if not the top, Ilonggo love songs there is. And because of it, Eman Abatayo is still, for me, the greatest Ilonggo songwriter of his generation.

Editing for Ikapito nga Adlaw took about seven or ten days. I really don’t know. Joey Rap Decolongon was doing a great job in the first three days so that I didn’t want to put too much pressure by watching over his shoulder as he worked out the rest. He understood my vision from the very start. I thought that I should just trust and respect his understanding of my vision. And I’m glad I did; because the more I gave Joey freedom, the more he worked to impress me.

I am very happy and very proud of my film. Of course, it is rated R-18, For Adults Only, because of its nudities, sex, and mature themes. It was meant to be. That was my intention. I wanted to push the envelope, expand boundaries, and break the ceiling in Ilonggo film history. I did not want to make an elementary film. I could have gone for a clever one-joke film, or a slasher horror, but I am Peter Solis Nery, and I want to be remembered for quality films, even in the short form.

Because of our R-rating, and the sex portrayed in my film, we are not playing at the SM Cinemas, but rather in the small and intimate Cinematheque Iloilo on Solis Street in downtown Iloilo (find that street from SM Delgado to Muelle Loney, around Landbank, BPI, and EastWest Bank).

We premiere twice tomorrow, Dec. 8. At 3:30 p.m., we front act for the restored Virgin People by Celso Ad Castillo. And at 5:30 p.m., we double with another restored classic, Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s Karnal. These films are decidedly R-18, for mature audiences only. And it is my honor to be paired off with these modern masters. Admission price is P120 (P100 for students). And yes, I’ll say it is worth calling in sick at work, and cutting classes. I mean, if you have to lie at all, then at least do it for some rare chance to see a historic and landmark Ilonggo film.

From the Cinematheque Iloilo where the challenge was posed by Cinekasimanwa founder Elvert Bañares, to the same Cinematheque Iloilo where my film Ikapito nga Adlaw makes history tomorrow as the first and only R-18-rated entry in the Cinekasimanwa Film Festival film grant competition, my journey has come full circle. See you at the movies!

And now, from blogger and music producer Ronelo Ladiao, who previewed the film:

“Undoubtedly, Ikapito nga Adlaw is a mind-blowing Ilonggo cinematic revolution most local filmmakers are hesitant or afraid to chase. Nery weaves a moving, living poetry that is by far brutally fearless in both creative and visual context. Who cares about cinematic perfection, though it has some strong visual appeal. I think (this film) is as sharp as (Nery’s) words and tongue combined.”/PN
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