Peter Nery – Page 16 – Peter Solis Nery

Palanca winner Nery releases ‘Dumangas 2010’ film

Posted on October 27, 2011

Multi-awarded and multi-talented Ilonggo artist Peter Solis Nery keeps his fans guessing what he will be doing next. After a historic triple win at the prestigious Palanca Awards in September, he concludes October with the world premiere of his 42-minute film, “Dumangas 2010” at the Dumangas Covered Gym, Dumangas Plaza on Saturday, October 29, at 7 p.m.

Nery, who is best known for his Palanca-winning Hiligaynon stories and English plays, and his six-year plus foray in Ilonggo newspaper, released a five-minute film, “Dabadaba” over YouTube last year, which became an overnight sensation. “Dumangas 2010” is taken from the same stock of footage he shot on location in Dumangas in September last year. What makes “Dumangas 2010” a visual treat is Nery’s loving and gorgeous photography of his hometown’s famous and not-so-famous tourist spots.

Virtually a one-man production, the film was written, produced, directed, shot, and edited by Nery himself. It stars Manila-based model Jeffrey Dolotina, Dumangas locals Liezel Rose Demagajes and Rigor Decolongon, and the American Randolph Graydon, the other half of Nery’s producing outfit, Graydonnery Artists. The film’s original score is by Manila-based musician Ryan Alfred Peñalosa.

The free-admission film premiere in Dumangas this Saturday, made possible by the office of Mayor Ronaldo Golez, is Nery’s contribution to the town’s 2011 Historical and Cultural Week and Haw-as Festival celebrations. The film is set for worldwide DVD release this Christmas.

Palanca winner pays homage to hometown with film

Posted on October 24, 2011

ILONGGO GWAPO

First, the 5-minute “Dabadaba,” a short film by multi-awarded and multi-talented Ilonggo artist Peter Solis Nery that became viral on YouTube in October last year.

Now, exactly a year later, the 42-minute version “Dumangas 2010” is premiering at the Dumangas Covered Gym, Dumangas Plaza on Saturday, October 29 at 7 p.m.

What took so long?

“Life!” Nery quips. In addition to being an independent filmmaker, Nery is an orthopedic nurse, a traveling lecturer, and an award-winning writer and playwright, among many other things. Although he had been involved in many indie films before, and was assistant director with a cameo role in Tikoy Aquiluz’s “www.XXX.com” (Maverick Films, 2003), “Dabadaba” and “Dumangas 2010” are the first films Nery produced himself.

He explains, “I have a passion for storytelling—be it on the page, on the stage, or on the screen. Unfortunately, I don’t believe in ingratiating myself on others. I don’t trust the politics of literature and arts, so I had to earn a living to support my passion for storytelling. I want to tell my stories as I want them, without having to sacrifice or compromise my artistic integrity, so I am a nurse, too!”

Virtually one-man productions, “Dabadaba” and “Dumangas 2010” were written, produced, directed, shot, edited, and graphically designed by Nery himself. The films, actually versions of the same movie, star Manila-based model Jeffrey Dolotina, Dumangas locals Liezel Rose Demagajes and Regor Decolongon, and the American Randolph Graydon. Music for “Dabadaba” is by Diwa de Leon, while the original film score for “Dumangas 2010” is by Ryan Alfred Peñalosa, both Manila-based musicians.

With the support of Mayor Ronaldo Golez, both films will be shown free to the public as Nery’s contribution to the town’s 2011 Historical and Cultural Week and Haw-as Festival celebrations. They are also set for worldwide DVD release this Christmas.

PASSIONATE STORYTELLER

In 1998, Nery won the Centennial Literary Prize for screenplay. In 2001, he won the Cinemanila International Film Festival Scriptwriting Competition. In 2003, he had a cameo role in Tikoy Aguiluz’s film on cyber prostitution, “www.XXX.com,” of which he was also assistant director.

“So, before indie filmmaker Brillante Mendoza’s Cannes honors, I already had an affair with the movies. I am not really a showbiz virgin. I know that I really want to tell stories. With words, thus the Palanca Awards. And with visuals, thus my dream of making movies,” Nery said.

“But getting a break is not easy. I learned that from publishing. I even ventured into self-publishing, with my DreamWings Publishing. From then and there, I realized that I can only rely on myself to produce what I want to produce. My motto is, if I believe so much in what I do, I should not wait for others to believe in them, too. Just do it!,” he added.

Seeking a greener pasture, he went to America, and became a nurse; but he continued to write. In fact, he continued to win more Palanca Awards. “Then, after helping out my family, I decided to spend some money on my art. I produced more books, finally started my website, and now my film venture.”

It’s all about passion, faith in one’s work, and generosity to tell stories. Nery is a storyteller. And this is his story.

US-based nurse bags 3 prizes in Palanca Awards

Posted on September 3, 2011

A CALIFORNIA-based Filipino orthopedic nurse emerged as the big winner at this year’s Palanca Awards, garnering three prizes in different categories in rites held at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City (Metro Manila) on Thursday night.

The thrice-blessed winner, 42-year-old Peter Solis Nery—who came to the ceremony wearing a fedora and all-white suit—clinched first prize for his Hiligaynon short story Donato Bugtot.

He also earned second prize in two other categories: poetry for children for his collection The Shape of Happiness, and English full-length play for If the Shoe Fits (Or, The Five Men Imelda Marcos Meets in Heaven).

The Iloilo province-born Nery, who first won in the prestigious literary competition in 1998, is poised for induction into the Palanca Hall of Fame, an honor that a creative writer can earn once he or she scores five first-place wins.

Before winning for Donato Bugtot, the nurse previously garnered first prize for his Hiligaynon short stories Lirio (1998) and Candido (2007), as well as his English full-length play The Passion of Jovita Fuentes (2008).

Twenty-two writers have been elevated to the Hall of Fame, including The Manila Times College president Dr. Isagani R. Cruz.

Other major winners on Thursday were playwright Joshua Lim So, who earned first prize for his English full-length play A Return Home and third prize for his Filipino full-length play Panahon ng Sampung Libong Ilong (A Season of Ten Thousand Noses); Ateneo de Manila University professor Allan Derain for his Filipino novel Ang Banal na Aklat ng mga Kumag (The Holy Book of Lazy Idiots) and US-based Marivi Soliven for her English novel In the Service of Secrets.

Highlights of the awarding ceremony include a staging of Remi Velasco’s winning one-act play Ondoy, a comedy about a married couple bickering on a rooftop at the height of the devastating September 26, 2009 tropical storm; and the presence of National Artist for Literature F. Sionil José, who graced the event as guest of honor.

In a speech he delivered before fellow wordsmiths and heirs of the late La Tondeña Distillery founder Carlos Palanca Sr., José lamented over the continued underappreciation of Filipino writers, whom he described as “the Chaucers, the Cervanteses and the Shakespeares of our country.”

He briefly turned political at one point, however, when he called many of those in power today as “nincompoops.”

Nery posts 3 Palanca wins

Posted on September 1, 2011

MANILA – Ilonggo author and Panay News writer Peter Solis Nery won three awards in this year’s Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature.

His winning entries include first prize for Hiligaynon short story (“Donato Bugtot”), second prize for full-length play in English (“If the Shoe Fits: Or, The Five Men Imelda Marcos Meets in Heaven”), and second prize for poetry written for children in English (“The Shape of Happiness and Other Poems”).

“I am glad to know that I am still in top form as far as writing is concerned. My Hiligaynon win validated the argument that I am a major master of the language. My English play confirms my playwriting skills, and my English poetry win promises the emergence of Peter the Poet in the national scene,” said Nery.

“Donato Bugtot” is about a deformed creature who gave one of his kidneys to his handsome twin brother.

Nery, who hails from Dumangas, Iloilo, has won six other Palanca awards since 1998.

Among his top prize entries are “The Passion of Jovita Fuentes” (full-length play in English), “Candido” (Hiligaynon short story), and “Lirio” (Hiligaynon short story).

Nery is a Philippine Centennial Literary Prize winner for screenplay in 1998, and a Cultural Center of the Philippines Literature grantee for Hiligaynon Poetry in 1992.

In 2001, he won a special jury prize in the Cinemanila International Film Festival Scriptwriting Contest.

The Ilonggo author has published 15 publications to date—“100 Erotic Sonnets from the Hiligaynon” (2010), “The Prince of Ngoyngoy’ (2001), “A Loneliness Greater than Love’ (2000), “My Life as a Hermit” (1998), “Moon River, Butterflies, and Me” (1997), “The Essential Thoughts of a Purple Cat” (1996), “First Few Notes of a Green Symphony” (1994), and “I Flew a Kite for Pepe” (1993), among others.

“I am grateful that I can balance my writing and nursing job,” he said.

Dabadaba: a YouTube sensation

Peter Solis Nery’s “Dabadaba,” a short film about a very special friendship between an American volunteer and his Filipino guide has become a new YouTube sensation. Here are some stats:

Posted on YouTube: 10/21/2010

First day hits: 435 views

Second day hits: 1,496 views

Third day hits: 1,866 views

Fourth day hits: 2,220 views

Fifth day hits: 2,472 views

Total pages of shooting script: One

Total footage taken: 107 minutes

Film length: 5.26 minutes

Shooting days: Four

Editing days: Three

Principal cast: Four

Crew/Assistant to Mr. Nery: One

Revenue-sharing offer: One

Dabadaba can be seen on YouTube. Search tags: ‘dabadaba: dumangas 2010,’ and ‘peter solis nery.’

It can also be accessed via Mr. Nery’s website, www.petersolisnery.com – videos section.

Facebook users can check out the movie link from the wall of ‘Peter Solis Nery.’

Dabadaba: a YouTube sensation

Posted on October 31, 2010