Author Topic: Ishmael Bernal (Read 23410 times)

keating · « **Reply #90 on:** Apr 12, 2007 at 12:58 PM »

Quote from: Noel_Vera on Apr 11, 2007 at 01:07 PM

I've always thought most of Bernal's films are comedies, including Manila By Night, Salawahan (great film!), and Aliw.

Ah, yes SALAWAHAN! Even the smorgasboard classic THE GRADUATES blends social realities comically.

marj · « **Reply #91 on:** Apr 27, 2007 at 08:25 AM »

BROKEN MARRIAGE (1983) is now on pre-order at regalfilms.com.

keating · « **Reply #92 on:** May 05, 2007 at 03:42 PM »

Ishmael Bernal on the set of PAGDATING SA DULO (Excerpts taken from Phil. Panorama dated March 7, 1971. RMN thanks for the cool clippings!......more to come pls.)

Shot inside the Magallanes theatre after the last full show of LOLLIPOPS AND ROSES where hardcore Nora fans were part of the hundreds of extras for the preem of Paloma Miranda (Rita Gomez) and Pinggoy Morales (Vic Vargas) film.

Bernie: "Hoy Nick! We are shooting at Magallanes Theatre on Saturday evening. Punta ka naman ha? Anyway it is just a few steps from your house. Hoy.....mahal! Bring your friends ha!"

Maria: (The Elvira Manahan Girl Friday) "Senyorito iniimbita kayo ni senyora sa shooting daw sa Sabado. Manuod daw kayo. At saka .....magdala daw kayo ng mga kaibigan ninyo!:

Butch: (Bernie's and Vic Vargas buddy) "so what are you wearing on Saturday? Bernie wants me to wear my suede vest with the long fringe but I don't want to melt under the Kleig lights. I'll dress up at your house Gani!"

Christian: (Christian Espiritu designed the costumes by Rita Gomez) "Nick sabi ni Elvira magpunta naman daw tayo sa shooting nila sa Sabado. Malapit lang naman sa atin, di ba? Hoy magsu-suit ka na naman ba? Magcasual na lang tayo, tutal informal naman ang mga premieres dito sa atin".

Shooting day, Saturday evening at the Magallanes Theatre in Makati.

11:00 pm- Several hundred movie extras have been positioned at the lobby of the theatre. A huge streamer announcing the premiere showing of the picture is strung across the facade of the moviehouse. Clusters of balloons at the lobby and poster announce: PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF PAGDATING SA DULO By invitation only. Frankesa Productions is shooting the ending of the Rita Gomez-Vic Vargas starrer. It is a movie within-a-movie in which Rita Gomez plays a stripper turned movie actress.

11:15 pm- Nora Aunor fans have come out after the full show of LOLLIPOPS AND ROSES. Bernie shouts thru a microphone...."Huwag kayong titingin sa kabila, shooting ito! O....ready.......! Lights go almost blinding everyone, Motor! Action! The cameras started to grind and the steel of the theatre are slammed shut! The Nora fans were surprised with disbelief. "Bakit may demonstrasyon na naman ba?!"

11:45 pm- George Sison one of the producers is counting paperbills and he is paying off some of the extras including the Nora fans. People in cars arrive at the lobby. We see actors from Repertory Phils, Theatre Guild and movie actors from various films, some habitues of Los Bravos, American Embassy foreigners, also from Asian Devt. Bank and Makati Villagers motley aggrupation of artists. They swirl about momentarily, only to congeal into little groups. "Where's Elvira?" asks one of them.

12:00 midnight- Cameras have been re-positioned, extras line the entrance to the theatre, leaving a narrow aisle thru which the celebrities are to walk to get to the moviehouse, Behn Cervantes herds everyone into the theatre lobby. "Say, everyone (they are all doing cameo bits, a euphemism whcih means they are merely doing this for kicks as dear friends of the producers/ and director) please get into the lobby now. We need a well-dressed crowd over here." Bill and Linda Reinfield inquire, "Is Elvira around?"

12:30 a.m.- "O everybody....this is a take", Bernie announces. "Motor! Action!" The cameras grind and Nida Blanca escorted by Panchito walk thru the screaming fans. The names are shouted. The cameras pan towards the lobby and....Cut!

1:10 a.m.- The extras are now yawning and Bernie prods them back to their places . The cameras grind once more and Barbara Perez and Robert Arevalo enter the lobby. Barbara waves at us and walks over to where we are. "Cut!" "Ay Nick.....kung hindi lang kay George!"

1:20 a.m.- Bernie shouts, "I need Rita and Vic now!" There is a long lull while the crew look for the stars. Rita appears from the projection room looking stunning in a Christian creation-a long gown in coral stunning in jet black beads. The neckline plunges way down to here, showing a large expanse of Rita. She darpes a long fringed scarf around her shoulders and slinks dwon the stairs to the lower lobby. She looks every inch a movie star. Bernie shouts again, "I need Rita and......." Rita floats up to him batting her eyelashes saucily.

1:45 a.m.- There is a new camera set up. The action- Rita and Vic arrive for the premiere, step off the black limousine. Rita is supposed to be drunk, and Vic helps her thru the crowd of fans , in the thatre lobby. Bernie warns the extras not to make any noise, no laughing. He wants a completely different atmosphere for this scene. The silence must be ominous to focus on the entrance of the two stars. Final instructions are given. "Motor! Action!" There is dead silence except for the whirring sound of the cameras. The car approaches, the car door is opened and Rita and Vic step out. Rita seems to be drunk, she leans for support on Vic's arms. They walk thru the silent crowd of fans and Rita smiles wanly; she reels, and stumbles. Vic catches her and he rushes her into the lobby. It's a good take!

2:30 a.m.- George Sison is frantically making phone calls and queries about Elvira. She finally arrives with a coterie of maids, bearing steaming platters of food and pots of coffee. Everyone perks up at the sight of food. Elvira is very chic in a very simple black gown, long sleeved scooped neck with just a spray of rhine stones for accent. In the film she plays the society wife of the director, Eddie Garcia.

3:15 a.m.- The camera starts to grind again and the action begins. Rita ascends the steps, midway she meets Eddie and Elvira, who very pointedly snobs the drunk movie actress. Rita is rebuffed and she slowly ascends the steps followed by the atmosphere players. Just before she gets to the landing at the top, the action is "frozen".

4:00 a.m.- Bernie has shot all the action he can squeeze from the actors. Everyone seems drowsy, puffy-eyed and yawning at everyone's face. He decides that "that should be all for the night". They have been shooting continuosly since eleven that night and Bernie says......"ay maloloki aki!" And tomorrow I have to shoot the niteclub scene with fifty million extras again!" He pulls a Joan Crawford act (throwing his head back and rubbing his temples with both hands) he shouts, "Ayyyy, I feel like flying to Mexico right now!". Shooting wrapped up.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #93 on:** May 06, 2007 at 08:40 PM »

interesting story... so he used the crowd watching Lollipops & Roses which incidentally is the film that catapulted Nora Aunor to Superstar status. in the movie Rita Gomez was asked what she thought of Nora & Vilma...

keating · « **Reply #94 on:** May 06, 2007 at 08:44 PM »

Too bad most of the cast are now gone. Rita's reply regarding Nora and Vilma is hilarious. Most of the rich socialite from the Magallanes Village were part also of the crowd scene.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #95 on:** May 06, 2007 at 08:48 PM »

that's true... only Eddie Garcia, Ronaldo Valdez & Rosemarie Gil are alive among the main cast... a great film Pagdating Sa Dulo was definitely an impressive film debut from an outstanding filmmaker.

keating · « **Reply #96 on:** May 06, 2007 at 08:50 PM »

I didn't know from the very start that Eddie Garcia's wife was Elvira Manahan. Subas is still alive, Jo.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #97 on:** May 06, 2007 at 09:50 PM »

well Subas wasn't part of the main cast... yup! that was Elvira Manahan...

keating · « **Reply #98 on:** May 07, 2007 at 11:46 AM »

I love PAGDATING SA DULO especially Eddie Garcia's character. You get a glimpse on what was happening inside the film industry.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #99 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:06 PM »

i know some people who've seen it recently and they didn't like it that much... they asked why Pagdating Sa Dulo was praised to high heavens...

keating · « **Reply #100 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:27 PM »

Only a few people came to Sm Megamall when PELIKULA AT LIPUNAN screened it, primarily because of the dead screening time 4pm. I had to cut my work just to be there in time. They showed the 16mm print!

jdv1229 · « **Reply #101 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:32 PM »

that's the only existing print housed at the Philippine Information Agency...

keating · « **Reply #102 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:37 PM »

The projector was infront of me. Its good the print didn't burn.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #103 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:47 PM »

well i guess it was more taken cared of... thank God for that one existing print that Filipino film buffs will still have the chance to watch this landmark debut film by Bernal...

keating · « **Reply #104 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:50 PM »

Too bad Brocka's WANTED: PERFECT MOTHER was lost forever except for the video copy in CCP.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #105 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:52 PM »

that copy was donated by Vincent Nebrida...

keating · « **Reply #106 on:** May 07, 2007 at 06:55 PM »

If only the government can put an excellent archive that can preserve all our classic films so that future generations will see it just like in the U.S.

jdv1229 · « **Reply #107 on:** May 07, 2007 at 07:01 PM »

we're still hoping... but it's expensive to put up a film archive...

keating · « **Reply #108 on:** May 23, 2007 at 05:41 PM »

Ishmael Bernal confer with Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos on the set of RELASYON.

RMN · « **Reply #109 on:** May 24, 2007 at 02:37 PM »

Did anybody here hang out in Kasama???

keating · « **Reply #110 on:** Jun 05, 2007 at 07:58 PM »

KASAMA is somewhere in Manila? I might be wrong. KINGKONG the bar owned by the Abaya's is the one I remember since we ate there together with my cousins who are buddies of the daughter of Agrix Films honcho, Sofronio Blando.

RMN · « **Reply #111 on:** Jun 09, 2007 at 06:11 PM »

What if he did Maynila sa Kuko?

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #112 on:** Jun 10, 2007 at 02:05 PM »

In a way he did--Manila By Night.

Hard to see Bernal doing Maynila sa Mga Kuko. It's a straightforward story with relatively simple characters. Bernal was rarely straightforward and never simple.

keating · « **Reply #113 on:** Jun 11, 2007 at 04:01 PM »

MANILA BY NIGHT (Ishmael Bernal, 1980)

Last time I saw this film back in 1996 when Pelikula at Lipunan made a tribute to Ishmael Bernal at the Shang Cinema. The man was present even acknowledging his greatest masterpiece that was banned by the Marcos government as the most mutilated, mangled and censored very badly among his works. Even the Aquino govt can't hold of it, ordered them to put the mind-boggling narration at the finale. The 35mm print that they screened was the same print that they smuggled outside the country without the consent of the Marcos regime going to Berlin Film Festival. On that same year unfortunately, the film maestro met his Creator.

How does the film looks now 27 years later? Bernal's vision of MANILA is still seedier, dark, pessimistic, the characters prey on each other to survive making MANILA sort of a monster creature where tales of joy and sufferings interweaves in the city. Bernal sees hope in the relationships of the characters. Once again death strikes in his oeuvre, in the most strange world during New Year's eve just when everyone is celebrating and the sight of the wrong corpse makes you wonder the absurdity of existence in the city. Just when the characters are starting to tumble down, Pebrero (Orestes Ojeda) the taxi driver will be found out by the waitress (Lorna Tolentino) that he is a womanizer. Ade (Alma Moreno) whom he thought was a nurse, is a prostitute. The blind masseuse (Rio Locsin) is about to be sold by her boyfriend to a foreigner, the climax reach to an end where there is hope and gems in the city. But no one is exempted from the defeat of the characters. Still Bernal manage to create the stunning scene at the Bay where Kano (Cherie Gil) the lesbian and drug dealer and Alex (William Martinez) the drug addict son of a former prostitute (Charito Solis) experience a total euphoria. These two people seek their dreams and aspirations both of whom have failed in love joined by a few friends, drag queens and standbys. The pier is filled with laughter and drug-induced camaraderie and its kinetic energy somehow ignites the sky with illusions and firecrackers thrown in. The joy that fills the screen is not a total euphoria but an escape from the cruelty of the city. The murder of Ade still puzzles me.

Started as an exploitation piece with an all-star cast, MANILA BY NIGHT resurrects again and grabs you. Its funny, shocking, witty, full of surprises and works in various level. Ishmael Bernal's greatest masterpiece lives on!

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #114 on:** Jun 12, 2007 at 05:29 AM »

It's a great and harrowing film, but the power doesn't come from its vision of Manila per se (the city actually looks cleaner there than it does now), but from the sheer viciousness of the characters. Pollution levels change over the years, but hate and spite are forever.

keating · « **Reply #115 on:** Jun 12, 2007 at 07:50 PM »

Its more depressing to see Brocka's MAYNILA SA MGA KUKO NG LIWANAG especially the finale. The look on Bembol Roco's face is so tragic. But then its hard to dismissed Bernal's MANILA BY NIGHT. In the end, the city lives again.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #116 on:** Jun 13, 2007 at 06:56 AM »

The city lives again, and William Martinez is free to screw up his life again. It's a more cheerful face, but there's a rictus behind the cheer.

wedge · « **Reply #117 on:** Jun 13, 2007 at 07:09 AM »

I think the film is a denigration of the city through each of the characters' "eyes". It figuratively exclaims that Manila is a vestige of moral canker.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #118 on:** Jun 13, 2007 at 09:28 AM »

A huge, swollen, pulsing canker. It's the vitality that's so obscene. These people are going to hell on fourth gear.

keating · « **Reply #119 on:** Jun 13, 2007 at 09:50 AM »

Sharon Manabat the sidekick of the blind masseuse played by Rio Locsin is the only redeemable character in the film. Where is she now? I remember her in KALUSKOS MUSMOS.