A homegrown love story spices up the once sleepy town of Dumangas, Iloilo and island province of Guimaras as cameras started to roll for the making of “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa (Love in the Time of the Bacunaua) – A Film by Peter Solis Nery.”

A powerhouse cast is sizzling in this upcoming major Ilonggo love story movie as the grandiose production unfurled with the major players heating up the shooting scenes this summer in Dumangas and will jump off to Guimaras on Thursday.

It’s a dramatic love story about a loveless and struggling musician Matt who comes home to Isla Pulang Pasayan to discover that the Bacunaua (sea-monster) Festival that his grandmother “invented” may yet provide the background for finding his own success in love and career.

US-based cinematographer OJ Baclig and film editors Michael Bruner with brother Joe make sure they captured the most convincing shots to give life to the film. Their dynamic “eye for art” complements the vision of producer/director Peter Solis Nery, said 8finity Events creative director Ronelo Ladiao, the movie’s production manager.

“We are grateful to our production staff and crew who really make the shoot a worthwhile experience. It’s tiring but there’s no price for passion, it’s a life-changing experience. We get to bring out the best in each of us especially to our Hollywood crew who made us realize film making and art is more than just a one-time experience but an artistic journey,” stressed Ladiao.

 

© Jeehan Fernandez: April 10, 2012

A powerhouse cast is sizzling in an upcoming major Ilonggo love story movie.

The grandiose production of “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa (Love in the Time of the Bacunaua) – A Film by Peter Solis Nery” will unfurl in Iloilo after Holy Week with the major players heating up the shooting scenes this summer.

It’s a dramatic love story about a loveless and struggling musician Matt who comes home to Isla Pulang Pasayan to discover that the Bacunaua Festival that his grandmother “invented” may yet provide the background for finding his own success in love and career.

Matt’s role will be played by Ilonggo singer-songwriter and Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) alumnus Eman Abatayo who might actually come up with an original composition for the movie, Nery disclosed.

The lovelorn Dulce Amor will be played by Ilongga up-and-coming ramp model and TV talent Priscilla Fontana who will have her first screen kiss in this movie, he noted.

The role of mysterious Emilio will be played by gorgeous model actor Jet Alcantara who promises to show more than just beautiful body in this movie, Nery revealed.

Ilongga diva Sheila Barrios is also set to do a cameo.

8finity Events creative director Ronelo Ladiao is the movie’s production manager.

 

© Jeehan Fernandez: March 27, 2012

At least three emerging Ilonggo filmmakers made it to the finals of the First Sineng Pambansa National Film Competition of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) slated in Davao City in June 2012.

Peter Solis Nery’s Gugma Sa Panahon Sang Bakunawa, Ronny N. Poblacion’s Beadworks, and John Raymund Macahilas’ Ang Mga Aswang are winners of the Visayas Division for Full-length Feature category.

Nery, an LA-based nurse, poet and author hails from Dumangas while Poblacion is a native of Janiuay and Macahilas is city-based.

This year’s Sineng Pambansa kicks off with 2nd Iloilo International Film Festival and 1st Ilonggo Short Film Festival Jan. 19-21 at SM City Cinema as one of the special events of Dinagyang Festival.

Meanwhile, Lester G. Babiera’s Ginabuhi It Bulig (Binubuhay ng Pagtulong) from Aklan is also a finalist in Documentary’s Visayas Division, together with Cierlito Espejo Tabay’s Walay Tumo’y ng Punterya (No End in Sight) from Cebu.

The finalists will be awarded seed money to finish their films, according to FDCP.

“The region-based filmmakers are now contributing their outstanding talent and creativity to the making of a true Sineng Pambansa or National Cinema,” said FDCP Chairman Santos.

A unique aspect of this competition is that the language of the locality was used in dialogue or narration, in order to underscore the vitality of the country’s indigenous cultural heritage through the medium of film.

The finalists are required to submit pre-production documents including complete list of respective production team with cast and crew; and the proposed calendar of activities for the film’s production in accordance with the timetable set in the guidelines, said Teodoro Granados of Competition Committee of FDCP.

The documents shall be submitted to FDCP and shall constitute the basis for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) related to the award of the initial and final tranches of seed money, he explained.

The MOA signing and release of initial tranche is scheduled Jan. 6 at FDCP office in Makati.

 

© Jeehan Fernandez: January 1, 2012

ILOILO – After a triple win at the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature this year, Ilonggo author Peter Solis Nery will hold the world premiere of his 42-minute film, “Dumangas 2010” at the Dumangas Covered Gym, Dumangas Plaza today at 7 p.m.

A one-man production, the film stars Manila-based Jeffrey Dolotina, Dumangas locals Liezel Rose Demagajes and Rigor Decolongon, and Randolph Graydon.

“(B)efore indie filmmaker Brillante Mendoza’s Cannes honors, I already had an affair with the movies. I am not really a showbiz virgin,” Nery said.

Nery won the Cinemanila International Film Festival Scriptwriting Competition in 2001 and the Centennial Literary Prize for screenplay in 1998.

He added, “I had a cameo role in Tikoy Aguiluz’s film on cyber prostitution, ‘www.XXX.com,’ of which I was also assistant director.”

Dumangas 2010 is about the brutal reality of unconventional love in the beautiful setting of a rural town.

“(People should watch the film) because it’s free admission, and it might be released straight to DVD that would sell at $15 a piece this Christmas,” Nery said.

He added that premiering a film in the location is not only a “novelty,” but also “touching.”

Dumangas 2010 is Nery’s contribution to his hometown’s 2011 Historical and Cultural Week and Haw-as Festival celebrations.

 

© Prince Golez & Panay News: October 29, 2011