It's been three years since I had one of the creepiest nightmare...when I woke up the next morning, I was enthralled with such detail in my dream. I started writing my nightmare's details that I remembered at the back of my mom's used office papers...when I stopped writing...I realized that I already made a story for a feature film. This was way back in 2006 when I was still taking up a business course in college, although i love films, I never thought of making one until that fine day. but I always felt that there's a creative force that's waiting to get out from my system. I also integrated personal references to the story. And so since them I started to love filmmaking...later on I became obsessed with it. In an instant filming my script became one of my dearest dreams.
Sometimes destiny seems good to me. When one day my sister helped me out on submitting the rough concept of the story to Berlinale Talent Campus...back then I didn't even know what was it. Eventually I got lucky and my script got in the Berlinale Talent Campus. And that experience was really awesome, there I also met fellow filmmakers that I shared ideas with, and I met some friends too. That experience inspired me to go on and complete the script and the ultimate goal is to make it into a film. As time goes by I also learned and so the story also underwent series of "evolutions" and with those sleepless nights, hindrances, and endless questions to my advisers...I finally finished "The Leaving ".
After finishing the script I suddenly fell flat I started to think: "what now?" I was really confused on the next step after finishing the script. Oh yeah start to film it. But just like 98% of the filmmakers couldn't produce their films by their own money and so the next thing to do is to find a financier/producer for my script. But the biggest question was "who, where and how?" and this time I want to break away from my sister's shadow, although I would still love to work with her, but at that point I wanted to learn, I wanted to do this with my bare hands if you know what I mean...I was really eager to do this thing by my own to feel the ecstasy of getting something by your own will. Maybe it's for my own sake too. And so I did research and do some video experiments just to have a glimpse on what filmmaking is like. And So I relied on international funding organization like the Hubert Bals (Netherland), Cinemart (Rotterdam), Talent Project Market (Berlin), Cinemabuhay (Philippines), and a whole lot more. But guess what none of these orgs gave me the shot, maybe they are thinking: "this small fry who didn't have any formal film education, haven't even made a feature film yet, or even a narrative short film who suddenly wants us to give him money to start his film?" . Honestly I was starting to doubt my ability back then also thought of myself as a "one hit wonder" when my script was accepted in Berlin. But then I stood strong kept on trying and now I finally made it...as of today I'm officially one of the CCP-Cinemalaya 2010 Finalists, it means that the Cultural Center of the philippines together with the Cinemalaya Organization have given me the helping hand to produce my very first feature film. It is probably one of the finest moments in my life as of now. It is indeed a dream came true. I was so happy that I didn't know how to react...all I can say is thank you guys who believed in me and supported my stuff! Now the leaving is officially on the pre-production stage!
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