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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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HISTORY has been made. An Ilonggo short film, Ikapito nga Adlaw â a film by Peter Solis Nery is so daring and bold that it is right now dancing between X and R ratings from the MTRCB.
Whether the film is ultimately rated X or R doesnât really matter anymore. The fact that an X rating has even been considered means that the film obviously has shattered the ceiling in Ilonggo filmmaking history. It could (and thatâs the important word) make a record as the first X-rated Ilonggo film.
I made the film. And I made it with the intention of making an artsy film for mature audiences. Sure, we went full monty and had full frontal nudity, but I didnât make it with lewd and pornographic intents. To be honest, I was aiming for an R rating because I havenât heard a lot of Ilonggo films getting R ratings; so I wanted to make one, if only to prove to the world that Ilonggo filmmakers like me are not afraid to push the boundaries of local filmmaking.
In my movie, there is a sequence about the Creation Story, and I wanted to allude to Adam. Obviously, it was the Adam scenes that showed the male genitalia, albeit in a rather far shot, or, in film language, the long shot. Now, if the MTRCB strictly and conservatively interprets their guidelines, such âshow of genitaliaâ could give my film an X rating. But I was hoping that the MTRCB would be a little more lenient considering that the nudity was justifiable (hello, itâs Adam!), and pretty logical (hello, Creation), and therefore, vital to move the story.
Okay, so I also have a simulated gay sex scene, which I thought was done pretty tastefully, and which I think was much tamer than the R-rated Lihis by Joel Lamangan (which I saw at SM Cinemas) where Joem Bascon was banging Jake Cuenca on a big rock by the river. While filming the sex scenes in Ikapito nga Adlaw, I was pretty confident that I could get away with it, and receive, at the most, an R-18-rating.
It is no secret now that I produced the film as an entry to the 4th Cinekasimanwa: The Film Festival of Western Visayas. Look, Peter Solis Nery has quite a reputation in Ilonggo arts and literature. As poet Mel Turao said, âIn the ABC of Ilonggo arts and letters, Peter Solis Nery is the letter X. He holds the most fearsome place.â
As the original and reigning premier agent provocateur of the region, I wanted to stir the filmmaking pot with something bold, daring, and in so many ways, ballsy. Now, I have it on good sources that my film âwill most likelyâ be shown at the FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo on Solis Street, in downtown Iloilo Vity next week, perhaps on December 8 or 9.
Notice âwill most likelyâ? MTRCB has not released the rating for my film as of this writing, and the Cinekasimanwa festival organizers have yet to receive the permit to show the films submitted for review. If a permit is given to show my film, Iâll be an official entry to the festival; but at this point, just what exactly are the possible scenarios?
Cinekasimanwa Founder and Festival Programmer Elvert Bañares had explained to me that if my film gets an R-18 or an X rating, he will fight tooth and nail to include my bold and daring film in the scheduled screenings for the Cinematheque Iloilo. And if it happens, in most likelihood, he will program my âfor mature audiences onlyâ film with such âfor adults onlyâ classics like Karnal and Virgin People because these adult films cannot also be shown in the popular and bigger venue that is the SM Cinemas, which has strict child-friendly movies policy.
In the most extreme scenario, with about a 0.0001 percent chance of happening, although it can still happen, my movie can be rated X âwith a noteâ from MTRCB that it cannot be shown publicly anywhere, not even in FDCP-sanctioned venues like the Cinematheque. In that case, well, my movie will be kicked out from the 2016 Cinekasimanwa Film Festival, and I can start my case against censorship, and become the new cause celebre of the arts, and especially of the whole Ilonggo filmmaking community.
Another possible scenario, which can happen if the MTRCB will show a little more leniency, tolerance, and Christmas spirit, is that my film can get an R-16 rating, in which case, Mr. Bañares might be tempted to give me the bigger venue that is the SM Cinemas.
I have no attachment to SM Cinemas, and I pretty much like FDCP Cinematheque Iloilo. But if I have only one screening, or even if Cinekasimanwa grants me two, the 75-seater Cinematheque would not really accommodate our filmâs die-hard supporters and growing fans, and the curious lot who would want to see what the fuzz is about.
At P120 admission for our short film with the accompanying classic Karnal or Virgin People, I am tempted to just buy the whole block schedule at P18,000 and sell tickets myself so that those who really want to see my movie can get priority. Iâm sure the restored classics are already worth the price of admission, but I really want to put premium on my controversial short film.
So imagine Ikapito nga Adlaw â a film by Peter Solis Nery double with Celso Ad Castilloâs âVirgin Peopleâ at P120 at the Iloilo Cinematheque. Imagine also Ikapito nga Adlaw â a film by Peter Solis Nery double with Marilou Diaz-Abayaâs Karnal at another P120 before or after that. If it sounds like a good plan for Thursday or Friday next week, text me to reserve your tickets. 09150937100 is your new ticket hotline.
I was intent on stirring the pot and making history with Ikapito nga Adlaw, and I have already succeeded because the film is already there, with its waiting-on-the-edge-of-the-chair suspense whether it gets an R or an X; and whether it gets to be shown in Iloilo, or not at all. I mean, history has been made. Whether or not you want to be a part of it is your decision. You have been served./PN
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