MORE Kids in Cinemalaya 2013 Auditions

Kids audition for Cinemalaya films in front of directors and casting agents. Photo was taken during Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Cinemalaya film fest recently concluded its 2-day schedule for general auditions last January 20, 2013 at the CCP. Film entries will now be making their respective auditions or read-throughs separately. The audition process for the fest is where hopefuls can have a screen test and filmmakers and or their casting directors are able to look at talents collectively.

The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the Cultural Center of the Phil but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls.

From left: Competition Committee Head Laurice Guillen, Monitoring Head Mel Chionglo and Monitoring Committee member Benny Medina at Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

Competition Committee Head Laurice Guillen said, “It’s the second and last day and we’ve had more than 300 just for today alone. We’ve been doing it this way for so many years now the system is more efficient. There are a lot of children now because a lot of the films require those ages. Its very efficient.” Head of the monitoring Committee Mel Chionglo was among the panel that attended the auditions. Chionglo replaced Robbie Tan who served for 8 years.

A long line of hopefuls from kids to established actors were there for the hectic 2-day auditions. Among the actors seen that day: Marife Necesito, Aleera Montalla, Menggie Cobarubias, Joe Gruta, Gerhard Acao, Arnold Reyes, Gary Lim and Bernardo Laxa,. Some are young TV personalities like Anne Curtis’ lovely younger sister Jasmine Curtis and Kylie Padilla.

Marife Necesito with swimmer/ talent Alfonso Bautista at Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

Several films have themes, which revolve around children. But not all will be appropriate to be viewed by younger audiences. She added, “If there are kids they are picked up by THE LIARS (by Gil Portes) , PUROK SIETE (by Carlo Obispo), SIYAM (by Joseph Israel Laban) ganun so I don’t know yet. Some of them even before they come in the scouts for the directors are outside already picking out the ones that are possibilities.”

from left: QUICK CHANGE team direk Eduardo Roy, Roderick Gabrido, THE LIARS team: direk Gil Portes and Jombits Quintos. Photo was taken during Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

News website Interaksyon reported that THE LIARS by Gil Portes (in the Director’s Showcase category) is ‘based on a real-life sports scandal, it traces the incredible rise and the humiliating fall of a humble Filipino baseball team of young boys in an international baseball competition in the 1990s.’

From left: PUROK SIETE team direk Carlo Obispo and Max Celada during Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

PUROK SIETE by Carlo Obispo is a countryside comedy that follows 14-year-old Diana and her younger brother who are on their own. Set in a remote purok or village, the film features the lighter side of a country lifestyle. The main characters take advantage of the fun and thrills of the town festival to make their childhood sweet and memorable.

SIYAM by Joseph Israel Laban is inspired by the actual story of one of the youngest mothers in Philippine history, “Siyam” follows the story of Krista who at the tender age of 9 got pregnant from the sexual abuse perpetrated by her own father.

The main competition or NEW BREED category has a total of 10 films: DIPLOMAT HOTEL by Christopher Ad. Castillo, TRANSIT by Hannah Espia, SIYAM by Joseph Israel Laban, BABAGWA by Jason Paul C. Laxamana, PRIMERA BELLA by Richard S. Legaspi, PUROK 7 by Carlo Obispo, DAVID F by Emmanuel Palo, REKORDER by Mikhail Red, QUICK CHANGE by Eduardo Roy Jr. and DEBOSYON by Alvin B. Yapan

The audition process can be quite tedious and nerve racking at the same time. Guillen described the process, “Usually it’s like this, every time they come in batches of 5 with numbers. They just introduce themselves. We have monitors here so the directors see how they register on video. After they finish introducing themselves the individual directors and their staff pick them out. And then they have their own auditions and screen tests.”

from left: Max Celada of PUROK SIETE is excited with talent Michael Banapos who was part of SA ILALAIM NG TULAY by Earl Bontuyan in Cinema One fest. Photo was taken during Cinemalaya auditions held last January 20. The actual fest will run from July 26 to August 4, 2013 and will screen films not just at the CCP but also in Greenbelt and TRINOMA malls. Photo by Jude Bautista

According to her some films have already made their casting decisions this early on. “EXTRAS (by Jeffrey Jeturian) is about the movie and television world. Extras are important; you will have name stars playing cameo roles. Jeff has been doing his own casting already. If they’re not here for 2 days they have their casting people already”. EXTRAS is in the Director’s showcase category and ironically, has Governor Vilma Santos in the lead role.

Other films in the Director’s category are: PORNO by Adolf B. Alix Jr., AMOR’Y MUERTE by Cesar Evangelista, THE LIARS by Gil M. Portes and SANA DATI by Jerrold Tarog.