Passion for one’s craft was best manifested by everybody – from the directors, actors, technical and production staff and even by the local assistants involved in the production of the Cinema One Originals grantee “KOLORETE” last Sunday, 31 August 2008.
My calltime for my shooting for Kolorete was at 12:00 noon. So, I was taking my time and left my home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan at 9:40 a.m. I drove my car passing through the old Quirino highway and not the modern North Luzon Express Way. I have all my time and I estimated that under normal speed, I can be at the location in Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan in two hours. It was a hot and humid sunny Sunday morning and I told myself I am sure the shooting will be a breeze given the fine weather.
Indeed, I was at the location a few minutes before 12:00 noon. I parked my car under the share of a big gmelina tree to protect it from the heat of the sun. I had a packed lunch which was left for me by the staff since they were out in the field for the shooting. I learned that there were two units that were shooting that day: one unit was under the direction of Director Ruello Lozendo and the other one was directed by Director Sherad Anthony Sanchez. They are the co-writers of the story and the screenplay.
Director Ruello handled the shooting of the scenes at the location where a stage constructed as the set. It is located in a vacant field which was accessible only by a half kilometer foot trail. It is very difficult to walk on the foot trail because of the protruding lime stones on the trail. One has to be very careful with his steps otherwise, his feet will get hurt by the sharp lime stones. The location was chosen because it is an open grassy field at the foot of the mountain which is ideal to establish an undeveloped Philippines during the Spanish era.
Director Sherad handled the shooting of the scenes in a place which the people from Biak na Bato called the tumana.
After eating my lunch, I took out my folding bed and placed it under the trees and I slept while waiting for my call to be on the set. I was scheduled to be called at 2:30 p.m. based on the shooting schedule.
It was already 3:00 p.m. when I woke up. I observed that the sky was already heavy with nimbus dark clouds. It was totally the opposite of the clear sky sunny sky earlier that morning. That was when Mang Toto arrived and told me that the Unit under Direk Sherad had sent him to advise me that I was needed already at the set. Ateena Amor who played Theresa, decided to join me in going to the set.
The sky became even more dark as the nimbus clouds became more thick signaling that heavy downpour was set to start. Ateena and me were so lucky that we were able to seek shelter in a big house with g.i. sheets as roofing before the heavy rain started to pour!
It rained from 3:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It was a typical heavy afternoon thunderstorm. After it stopped, the group under Director Sherad arrived all dripping wet from the heavy rain. It was already dark, and we all moved to the Munsayac House to take a rest.
(to be continued…)
