Taking a Break supports ‘Saving Sally’

image used with permission from Avid Liongoren

“Marty, the geek, is an aspiring comic-book artist who is secretly in love with his beautiful best friend, Sally, the gadget inventor. Like every love story, there are complications: Sally has abusive monster parents and a literal dick for a boyfriend, while Marty has the innate ability to do nothing about everything despite his vivid fantasies of defending the love of his life from the big bad world.“

That’s the synopsis creator Avid Liongoren provides TousCoprod, the European Kickstarter where a Frenchman is campaigning for the completion of the film.

A bit of background, I first heard about Saving Sally when Rhian Ramos mentioned it in passing during an interview around three or four years ago. Oh, yeah, in case you didn’t know, I used to interview celebrities for a living. Digression aside, what Rhian said about the film had me intrigued. Unfortunately, waiting for Saving Sally was like waiting for Godot.

I wanted to support the film then, but I’m not really rolling in cash. And then I left that job and, well, I forgot about Saving Sally.

Until someone posted about it on Facebook. And then I remembered. And now I had the means to support the film. Unfortunately, TousCoprod wants Euros. Of which I have none. So I e-mailed creator Avid Liongoren and asked how I could help out financially without having to go through the European Kickstarter.

You can find out how by visiting the website for Saving Sally.

In exchange, creator Liongoren agreed to answer a few questions for my blog:

Taking a Break (TaB): What inspired you to make Saving Sally? Where did the story come from?

Avid Liongoren (AL): I wanted to produce a project that combined actors & lots of drawings (since I’m an Illustrator first & foremost). As for the origins of the story, it’s nothing amazing. The story was written by an old friend based on collective experiences of us & our other friends. Every boy (or girl) has once (or many times) carried a torch for someone special who was with a jerk (or a dick).

TaB: Has the story changed at all from when you conceived it and shot it? How different is the Saving Sally you’re making now to the one you started out with?

AL: Refined, but not changed. If Saving Sally started out as a cheese omelet we ended up with an omelet with mushroom & onions & bacon bits & more cheese… but it’s still an omelet.

TaB: You’ve done a lot of things since you started Saving Sally. You’ve directed ads, mainstream short films (like Party Pilipinas‘s ‘Red Mask’)–has that affected how you’re editing the film?

AL: Our edit has been locked for almost 3 years now. A necessary thing since all we have been doing is building & refining the world around the edit. So no, my other work does not affect our pipeline.

TaB: Why the decision to mix live action with computer-generated images and effects?

AL: Because that is what I’m good at? Also, it was the best way to tell our story.

(“Computer-generated” creates this image of high end visuals, we don’t have that, the film is very low-fi in terms of vfx, we are workig on the other end of the vfx spectrum & we are going for warm charm & not the woah factor, since we are incapable of that)

TaB: Have you seen Tiktik: the Aswang Chronicles? What are your thoughts on the movie, and do you think it will affect how people will receive Saving Sally when it comes out seeing as they employ the same idea of mixing live action with CGI?

AL: I’ve seen it & thought it was great & I’m so happy for them because they took a risk of spending a lot of money on a non Star Cinema type film & it paid off. I have no idea though how it will affect how people will receive our film, my mind is not there at all.

TaB: Aside from budget/finances, what has been the biggest challenge in getting Saving Sally off the ground?

AL: Finding a girl to replace our first Sally & doing the film again from scratch (story told here by the screenplay writer).

TaB: If you could go back in time and tell your past self all the problems that Saving Sally would face–would you have still gone through with making it? Assuming you say yes, what would you have changed then to make the whole thing easier for you without sacrificing the quality of the film you want to make?

AL: Tito Boy Abunda is that you, nasaan ang Magic Mirror? : D

If I could go back in time, I’d still do the film BUT give myself winning lotto numbers : )

And… that’s it. Obviously, I’m a little rusty on the interviewing front. Apologies.

But before I completely sign off, I encourage those who are looking for a project to support to, well, support Saving Sally. They have rewards for donations/financial help, so you don’t feel like you were cheated off your money. But trust me, seeing this film completed would be reward enough.

Check out the Saving Sally website to find out how to donate!

Exclusive: Teejay Marquez for ‘Pagari’

Apologies for not having a Filipino Friday post last week. I wasn’t able to take a break *wink* from work. That said, here I am now with what I was supposed to upload last week: an exclusive interview with tween actor Teejay Marquez about his upcoming independent release, Pagari.

What is there to be said about Pagari? I’ll let Teejay fill you in on that one. So here we go: video time!

Much thanks to Teejay for the time (and the patience). My DSLR wasn’t cooperating well that day, and we had to do a lot of do overs and take twos during the interview–as you can probably tell from while watching the interview. Much thanks too to my friend Ceres who was my camera person for the day!

And before I completely end this post, I have a question to ask you: what should I improve on for my next interview/video feature?

Event: A Book Launch for Papa Jack

Well it was just a matter of time before Papa Jack entered the publishing industry; and after the success of Chico, Delamar, and Gino’s The Morning Rush Top 10 compilation, it makes sense that another popular radio disc jockey would get his chance at releasing his own compilation.

Last Sunday, February 17, Summit Books invited a few press people and bloggers for an intimate launch with radio disc jockey Papa Jack. And from the point of view of someone covering the event, I liked this one better because it was more quiet than the last event I went to–which was the launch for The Morning Rush Top 10 Book 2.

The event itself was short, which was good. And as an inteview subject, Papa Jack was honest and to the point–which is how he is even in his radio show. But why waste time trying to describe how he was, when you can just watch him here–

After the Q&A, Papa Jack signed autographs for the present press people, and answered a few more questions in one-on-one interviews, before the event fully gave way to the fans who were early for their 2 p.m. autograph signing session.

And because I don’t like seeing good press releases go to waste, here’s the one Summit Book gave:

This month of hearts, Summit Books launched Papa Jack of 90.7 Love Radio’s new book, Everything I Learned About Love I Learned from Papa Jack, at Bestsellers in Robinsons Galleria. Last February 17, 2013, the Papa ng Bayan met with the press and his kabisyo fans to eagerly talk and answer questions about his book, and met each one to sign their copies.

With a compilation of 365 love quotations from his hit programs True Love Confessions and Wild Confessions, this book is definitely a must read for the entire year–one quote a day really keeps the heartache away! Everything I Learned About Love I Learned From Papa Jack will really teach you years worth of wisdom whether you are single, dating, in a relationship, “it’s complicated,” or heartbroken.

This book will take you on a journey as you ride with Papa Jack to 6 stopovers in the subject that is mostly-complicated, sometimes-”oh-so-sweet:” LOVE — from courtship, to healing that broken heart, to learning to love again. You will surely laugh and cry with the stories of the most memorable callers on Papa Jack’s radio program. This book will surely teach you to love better, not just to your significant other, but most importantly, to love yourself even more.

Everything I Learned About Love I Learned from Papa Jack is out now in bookstores everywhere, and costs a cool Php 143. And by cool, I mean figuratively. I love how a compilation of quotes about love costs Php 143. Points for Summit Books.

If you want to meet Papa Jack in the flesh, you can catch him on March 3 at SM Naga, on March 17 at SM Manila, and on April 7 at SM Gaisano Davao.

Event: The Morning Rush Book 2 Launch

And here we go.

Last week I was invited by Summit Books to attend the book launch for the second The Morning Rush Top 10 compilation book. You already know what I think about the book, as it’s been out in the market since late last year, so I’ll stick with the event for this post.

Just like last year’s launch for the first book, it was held at the Activity Center of Robinsons Galleria. Unlike last year’s event though, there was no separate venue for the bloggers and press to conduct their interviews. On the plus side, the excitement and energy of the radio DJs fans are palpable as you mingle with them; but, on the other hand, you’d also feel sorry for them as they’re left out of the cordoned area as priority was given to the press and family members attending the event.

Not that I should complain, because I was one of the lucky few allowed inside. But speaking as a fan, getting left out in the cold while supporting your idols is not the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

As for the program prepared for the event… It’s short. Which is nice. It heads straight to the point of the event, which is the autograph-signing. But, again with the but, I wish there were more time for the radio hosts to be more candid with their fans. I understand that that’s just not possible with the time constraints and the venue restrictions–but, speaking again as a fan, that’s what we usually come to events for. To have that small candid moment with our idols.

I guess I am complaining a little. For the fans. But don’t get me wrong. I applaud Summit Books for what they’re doing. These autograph-signing events are still opportunities for fans to spend time with their idols, and to get to know each other.

But I still prefer how the first book launch was handled, with the press and family members separate from the fans, just so the fans can have more of the kikay barkada without having to share the spotlight with people who already have an unfair advantage at meeting said idols.

That said, people still had fun at the event–as evidenced by this:

Before I completely end this, here’s Summit Book’s press release about the event:

Last February 3, 2012, Summit Books brought back the sequel to the best seller The Best of Chico and Delamar’s The Morning Rush Top 10 — this time, bringing the entire barkada along with The Best of Chico, Delamar, and Gino’s The Morning Rush Top 10, Book 2 in Robinsons Galleria Activity Center. Monster RX 93.1′s The Morning Rush radio jocks excitingly talked about their book, answered questions from the media and fans present at the launch, and happily signed copies of their book.

Compiling over 100 Top 10 pee-in-your-pants funny lists, this hilarious book showcases the naughtiest and wittiest responses and jokes coming from–where else?–no other than the show’s avid listeners, the Rushers.

The Morning Rush Top 10 Book 2 will definitely make you LOLA (Laugh Out Loud Alone) with pages filled with the craziest and naughtiest topics and illustrations on a wide range of topics–from the 3 B’s (bitchiness, boys, and bekis), to that (sometimes happy, sometimes bitter) 4-letter word, to something a little more in need of parental guidance, and to just about anything you can think of–they even have superheroes in stor for you! The Best of Chico, Delamar, and Gino’s The Morning Rush Top 10, Book 2 is so addictive that we’re sure you won’t be able to put it down until you finish reading it!

The Best of Chico, Delamar, and Gino’s The Morning Rush Top 10, Book 2 is available in bookstores for only PhP 195.

Book: Zombie

“Fourteen-year-old Jeremy Barker is obsessed with zombie movies. He attends an all-boys Catholic High School where roving gangs in plaid make his days a living hell. His mother is an absentee pillhead, his older brother a self-diagnosed sex-addict, and his father an ex-Marine realtor who disappears night after night without explanation. Jeremy navigates it all with a code cobbled together from Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, Planet Terror, Zombieland and Dawn of the Dead:

• Avoid Contact
• Keep Quiet
• Forget the Past
• Lock-and-load
• Fight to Survive

The code is put to the test when he discovers in his father’s closet a bizarre homemade video of a man strapped to a bed, being prepped for some sort of surgical procedure. As Jeremy—troubled but ever-optimistic—attempts to trace the origin of the video, this remarkable debut moves from its sharp, precocious beginnings to a climax of almost unthinkable violence, testing him to the core.“

I picked up the book because of the title. I don’t think my love for anything zombie-related needs any more explanation. But Zombie‘s only zombie manifestation is through the movie titles it mentions. Not that it’s a bad thing. And it’s not as if the book was misleading in any way. It doesn’t say anywhere in the book’s back synopsis that there will be zombies. It does promise something more sinister though. And on that point, it does deliver.

It’s been some weeks since I actually read it, and most of the details of the book is murky now. And I’m the guy who can remember trivial things about almost any thing. Well, that’s a bit of a stretch. I just tend to remember things. So I have to say, this book wasn’t that memorable. Save for the sinister undertones about Jeremy’s dad. Which, I have to admit, while it didn’t really blow me away, it did really deliver. I also did really like the love interest. I just can’t remember her name anymore.

So what am I doing posting about a book I can barely remember? Well, to tell you honestly, I’m trying to catch up on backlog. But then again, that’s not completely true. I have read a few books that I’ve decided I wouldn’t even bother blogging about anymore.

The real reason I wanted to put up a post about Zombie was that because I do think there’s something special about the book. The way the author dealt with the main character’s fascination with zombies, how said character uses the movies as a social crutch–and the way he unraveled the mystery behind Jeremy’s father, I really did think it was masterfully handled.

My only real problem with it is that most of what happens just… escapes me.

Maybe it’s the characters. Save for Jeremy’s dad, who is really intriguing; and the love interest that doesn’t do what most love interests do–none of the characters actually call out to me. Not even the main character. And then there was that one character that I really didn’t like. Whose name also escapes me. I just remember him being Jeremy’s male friend. Who likes chopography. Which I, personally, don’t think is an art form.

So why am I trying to ask you to go and read this book again? I can’t remember, for the life of me. But maybe the following reviews can help you out:
Opinionless
Horror News
Zouch Magazine and Miscellany