In the interest of full disclosure, I personally know Quark Henares. And to actually answer Joey's question, I liked the film, knowing what he had to go through, most of which was ridiculous. I didn't like the acting too much (I thought the best performers were actually Patricia Javier and one of the "buddies" of Wendell), but appreciated the realistic dialogue, unconventional cinematography and editing, and black humor. It actually feels a bit like a comedy until the end, which is disturbing (a parallel it shares with Date with Jao Mapa). But it's a good effort, it's a miracle I even like it, because I was expecting something botched, from what Quark told us of his experiences. I'm glad the film is doing very well at the box-office (it's tripled its budget in the first week) and hope this means he'll get more control and support from Viva in the future. Now on to replies!
Downhill Boy,
One of Quark's pitches was a behind-the-scenes film a la one of his student films, Saging at Rambutan. But he was told that "ayaw ng masa ang behind-the-scenes." With no qualification whatsoever.
Sungit,
As far as I know Lyle didn't "back out of doing a boldie," but couldn't fit it into his schedule. Quark's relieved that the movie's doing well, but isn't particularly ecstatic with the film. He didn't have final cut, was told to add scenes, etc.
And good post on what you have to do, unfortunately -- compromise. If Viva offered me a bold movie I'd take it too, just to be able to get my foot in the door. You play by the industry's game, and hopefully get to change things around when you're in the right position to do so, and help the industry. Diba?
Bartmaniac,
He had to go through a lot of crap during the shoot. Sometimes he'd get home depressed. And not just from Viva execs, too.
RidgeRacer,
The DVD "should" contain Quark's cut of the film.
Let's hope. And apparently, though Quark wants to do a commentary for the film and pack it with features, it's an expense that a certain company doesn't feel is justified.
Papi Chulo...
...*sigh*
No, Date with Jao isn't a rip-off of Being John. I don't know how anyone came up with that.
"If he was the good writer they say he is why does he have to take on a genre that doesn't amount to anything when it comes to respect. He's gotta a contract for like three movies within the same soft porn genre."
Blame it on the industry. They commissioned a script from him. He wrote it. It wasn't for him. It became his. Better to try and write a decent "soft porn" film than to let some other hack do another cookie-cutter job. And yes, he has a contract for three films, but your information is incorrect. He is not limited to genre, as will be shown by his next film.
And what reinforcement? Commentary refuted your claim. And though you may have heard "Date with Jao" is a rip-off, you really should see it. Or maybe you can ask your "friends" specifically WHY "Date" is a rip-off of Being John.
And the course in NYFA was 2 months, not 3.
Joey,
How about you? How did you like the film?
ramon
