Playing a Major Role in the Indie Film Kolorete

    One rainy August afternoon, an officemate Fred Ibay walked into my office with an unassuming young man. Fred introduced the soft-spoken young man to me. It turned out he is Director Ruello Lozendo. I learned from Fred Ibay that Director Ruello used to work with him in the Media Affairs Department of our office – the Social Security System.

    During that surprise visit, Director Ruello offered me to play a major role in the new Independent film that he will direct. Director Ruello himself co-authored the story with Sherad Anthony Sanchez. According to Director Ruello, “Kolorete” is one of this year’s seven grantees of Cinema One Originals (an ABS-CBN project). He told me that I would be playing the role of a Friar – Padre Antarez. Instead of giving a categorical yes to his offer, I asked Director Ruello when will my shooting start?
   
    That evening, I made a “google” search for Cinema One Originals and learned that it is now on its 4th year of granting financial assistance for the filming of outstanding screenplays.

    Cinema One Originals has this procedure: At the beginning of a particular year, public announcement is issued for original screenplays to be submitted for screening. From the thousands of entries submitted, Cinema One Originals will select seven screenplays that a screening committee will choose based a specific  set of criteria for excellence and originality. Beginning this year, the proponents/authors of the seven selected films will each be granted P1,000,000.00 to produce their film. Prior to this, the proponents were granted only P500,000.00 for each film. The movies will be shown in a Cinema One Originals Film Festival in November in selected movie houses in Robinsons Galleria, Trinoma and Mall of Asia. It will culminate in an awards night where trophies will be bestowed for outstanding performances for the usual categories. The movies will then have second round of public exhibition in selected cinemas nationwide depending on the public reaction to the film.  Finally, the films will be shown in the Cinema One cable channel.
   
    By the way, two years ago, I appeared in a Cinema One station ID when it promoted its tagline “Ang Buhay, Parang Sine”.

    My numerous blessings for the month of August started out with this project.  As soon as I downloaded the script that was e-mailed to me by Director Ruello, I immediately read it. It was then that I realized that I would be playing a major role!

    It is a period movie set during the times of the Spanish Friars and Alcaldes. I will play the town’s Friar – Padre Antarez who controls the agricultural lands of the church. Veteran Actor Chiqui Xeres-Burgos plays the town’s Alcalde. Soprano and stage actress Jean Judith Javier plays Asuncion, a Manilena who visit the town to help the Friar in his church activities. Coreen Chua plays Isabel, one of my wards while a sexy new talent Ateena Amor plays Theresa, my other ward. Ateena Amor will soon appear in a new project under Director Joel Lamangan. Shot is black and white, the movie promises a new view on the lives of the Filipinos in the hands of the Spanish friars.