Isang indie film na may kontrobersiyal na tema ang nakatakdang magkaroon ng world premiere sa ongoing 12th Cinemanila International Film Festival.
Ito ay ang Brod, o short for "Brother," isang pelikulang "love story" ng dalawang lalaki sa isang fraternity. Kumbaga, homosexuality sa fraternity. Ngayong December 8, Miyerkules, 9:00 PM nakatakdang mapanood ang Brod sa Robinsons Galleria. Ito ay isang pelikula mula sa The Grit Project.
Isa ang Brod sa limang entries na nag-compete sa Digital Lokal category. Ipalalabas ang Cinemanila films sa Robinsons Galleria hanggang December 8, 2010. Naganap ang awards night noong December 3 sa Mogwai, Cubao X. (CLICK HERE to view the list of winners of the 12th Cinemanila)
Ang Brod ay pinagbibidahan nina Kenjie Garcia (bida ng Ang Lihim ni Antonio kunsaan nagwagi siyang Best Actor mula sa dalawang Spanish gay-lesbian film festivals ngayong taon) at Ardie Bascara (unang nakilala bilang Basti Romero sa gay film na Sanctuaryo, pero ngayo'y mas gusto na niyang gamitin ang kanyang real name, ang Ardie Bascara nga).
Line producer ng pelikula ang film editor na si Charliebebs "Bebs" Gohetia, at direktor naman si Direk Ray Gibraltar, mula sa script ni Archie del Mundo (na ngayo'y nagdidirek na rin).
Si Charliebebs "Bebs" Gohetia ay nagwaging Best Editor sa Cinemalaya 2010 at sa PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2010 (both for Astig nina Dennis Trillo, Sid Lucero, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Arnold Reyes), samantalang si Direk Ray Gibraltar ang Best Director sa Cinema One Originals 2009 (for Wanted: Border ni Rosanna Roces).
Kapwa nakapanayam ng Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) ang line producer nitong si Bebs at si Direk Ray, sa pamamagitan ng email.
Paano nga ba nagsimula ang konsepto o kuwento ng Brod? Ano'ng kaibahan nito sa ibang gay-themed movies?
Kuwento ni Bebs: "Noong August [2010], way before namatay sa hazing 'yong University of Makati student at [naganap] 'yong La Salle bar exam bombing, nag-uusap lang kami ng friend ko. Iniisip namin, ano ba ang talagang nangyayari sa fraternity initiations? At kung may gays sa frat? Dahil nga isang macho microsociety ito.
"If there are, we explored the possibility of a love affair between a neophyte and his frat master.
"So ayun, I contacted Archie [del Mundo, the scriptwriter] to write the script from the concept while developing the story in the process. He researched about the topic. I also interviewed frat members na bading and true enough, may mga bakla nga sa frat!
"Karamihan sa kanila ay hindi ni-reveal ang kanilang identities sa kanilang mga 'brod' sa pag-apply nila. Some never reveal their sexuality at all kahit member na sila.
"I wanted to avoid doing another Batch '81, 'coz it's already a classic. So, I decided, 'yung love story ang magiging main angle ng pelikula."
Pahayag naman ni Direk Ray: "Mas nako-consider ko ang Brod na isang love story... Love story ng dalawang lalaki... Para sa akin kasi, accidental lang ang pagiging gay ng pelikula at ang pagiging frat film nito.
"Sobrang dream ko kasing gumawa ng love story--mapa-straight love story man ito between babae at lalake or lalake sa lalake or babae sa babae. It doesn't matter, basta love story.
"Kaya excited ako sa pelikulang ito... Ang ganda kasi ng contrast ng machismo ng fraternity at gay love," banggit ni Direk Ray.
CASTING. Bukod kina Kenjie at Ardie, kasama rin sa cast sina Marife Necesito, Xeno Alejandro, Paul Jake Paule. Kasama rin sa cast sina Jess Mendoza, Nicole Andrew Guila, Neil Tibayan, at Patrick Esteban.
Gaano kahirap maghanap ng actors--lalo na ang lead actors--na gaganap na gay lovers sa kuwento ng Brod?
Bebs: "Medyo mahirap ang casting noong simula. We had follow-up audition days noong hindi kami nakahanap ng magpi-fit na actors sa mga roles. After coming up with a shortlist of possible actors, nag-conduct kami ng initial workshop, then final casting na.
"Kenjie Garcia was the perfect as Terence, the neophyte who fell in love with his master. Simpatiko, charming at flirt and at the same time. May aura na 'I'm gonna get what I want'.
"Sa initial casting, wala pa kami nung character ni Tad [law student, frat master] hanggang sa initial workshop."
Hanggang sa tinulungan na raw sila ng talent manager-film producer-creative executive ng TV5 na si Noel Ferrer. Si Ferrer ang nagsabi kay Ardie Bascara na mag-audition for the role.
"Days after, Noel told Ardie to audition. I had him [Ardie] read some lines and ayun, we found our Tad. The supporting actors, lahat nag-audition. Xeno Alejandro (Ang Lalake sa Parola), Jess Mendoza (Ben and Sam) and the others, mga theater actors na.
"Sa audition pa lang, we told the actors na about the requirement for a frontal nudity, dahil nangyayari kasi talaga 'yun during initiation. We also have international actress Marife Necesito as support."
Direk Ray: "Nag-audition ang halos lahat ng cast. Bakit sila napili? Una, dahil pasok sila sa mga roles... Ang sarap din kasi mag work sa mga raw talents, especially kung non-actors sila.
"Karamihan ng mga cast dito, galing teatro, maliban kela Kenjie at Ardie. Halos lahat ng support ay galing teatro."
SYNOPSIS. "Brothers? Or Lovers?" ang nakaka-intrigang blurb ng pelikula.
Fraternity is brotherhood. Brotherhood is love. Does it only exist between two men with the same ideals? Only with brothers of the same sexuality? What does it take to co-exist in a world dominated by strong norms and tradition?
In a society as small a unit as the fraternity tambayan, can the true essence of brotherhood be possible? What happens when it crosses boundaries?
The story is set in 1998, just a few days after Erap Estrada was sworn in to Malacañang, and exactly three years after the Anti Hazing Law was enacted.
Terence (Kenjie Garcia) is a 20-year-old graduating pre-law student who believes that entering a prestigious fraternity will help him with his ultimate ambition to become a lawyer and eventually become a politician. But will his being gay become a hindrance?
"Closeta ka na nga sa bahay n'yo, closeta pa rin ang labas mo sa frat. Enjoy ka ba sa pagtatago?"
Joining him by sheer force of association is Mico (Paul Jake Paule), 20 years old, a would-be former roommate. This day marks Terence's transfer to a new dormitory after a strange case of fire that burnt down one of the campus' oldest housing units for students. Unable to share the same room again, Mico finds it hard to maintain his closeness to Terence. He has been secretly in love with him for years.
Transferring to a new dorm, Terence meets Tad (Ardie Bascara) for the first time. A brewing friendship is expected. Common interests. Instant rapport. And perhaps instant affection.
Tad is a 22-year-old law student. He is the second highest leader of the fraternity. When in the exercise of duty, he is tough--outside, he is kind and gentle. As a poor boy who wants to uplift his status, fraternity seals in his chances for sure and better jobs when he graduates.
In the dorm, they are best friends. In the frat house/tambayan--they must assume positions. Terence is a neophyte. Tad is an upper classman. Like world's apart. Mico knows how these things become almost impossible.
Bolet (Xeno Alejandro) is 23. Upon his shoulder are the heavy loads of continuing the legacy of his senator father. He must maintain the prestigious reputation of the fraternity of which his father is a former member. What if some threats become apparent in the organization--will he be able to act on it?
However, being a lawyer/politician is not what he desires. He is secretly an artist. A repressed artist he is, he is harrowed by his own destructive/violent nature.
Although not written as a bible rule, homosexuality is a great element that they need to conceal inside the fraternity.
And the grandmaster discovers the forbidden. Bolet assigns Tad to become the final initiator of the night.
Ayon sa two-time winner as Best Editor na si Bebs, nagpahinga muna ito sa pag-eedit ng film at nag-concentrate sa film production.
"I decided to take a break from editing so I took the challenge of line producing a film. I asked Direk Ray to direct the film because I wanted a fresh perspective, gay film na ididirek ng isang straight na direktor.
"He was up for the challenge. Exciting ang project, dahil pareho naming firsts ito, and I must say, it was super fun!"
Kuwento naman ni Direk Ray sa kanyangshooting experience ng pelikula: "Ang sarap i-explore ang material. Challenging. Lalo na 'yung nag-uumapaw na machismo sa Pinoy society.
"Ang gandang paglaruan ang contrast ng frat at ang love story ng isang 'pledgee' at 'lord.'
"Sa cast, sobrang marami ako natutunan din, it's fun working with new actors... Salamat sa kanila sa pagtiwala na i-explore namin sabay-sabay 'yung material, especially, maraming maseselan na eksena.
"Nakatulong nang malaki ang workshop with the actors, mas naging mabilis at mas nakilala nila ang kanilang mga karakter. Ayaw ko na ulit gumawa ng pelikula sa loob ng 2 days. Hahaha!" tawa ni Direk Ray.
"Salamat sa lahat ng staff at crew, na kahit 25 hrs na kami nagsu-shoot ay good vibes pa rin... Sa mga crew na nag-sakripisyo ng ibang raket matapos lang ang shoot ng pelikula, maraming salamat sa kanila!"
DIRECTOR'S PROFILE. First full-length film ni Direk Ray Gibraltar ang When Timawa Meets Delgado (2007), at ilang documentaries rin ang kanyang ginawa: ang Joy to the World, Ang Prosesyon (2008) at ang Syokoy (2009).
Wanted: Border (with Rosanna Roces) ang nagbigay sa kanya ng Best Director award at nanalo pa ang pelikula bilang Best Picture sa 2009 Cinema One Originals film fest.
Kadalasan sa kanyang mga naunang pelikula'y siya rin ang editor at scriptwriter.
PRODUCTION STAFF: Ang bumubuo ng production crew ng Brod:
Production: The Grit Project
Director: Ray Gibraltar
Executive Producer: Milbert Ambat (isang businessman)
Line Producer: Charliebebs "Bebs" Gohetia
Screenplay: Archie Del Mundo (Ben and Sam, Detektib, Pendong as screenplay/ Taksikab as debut full length film as director)
Associate Director: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Director of Photography: Maisa Demitillo
Production Designer: Alf Thaddeus Alacapa
Editor: Ray Gibraltar
Musical Score: Monet Silvestre
Sound Design: Ditoy Aguila
Ano ang mensahe ng pelikula para sa kanilang audience?
"Love between two men happens. Regardless of norm, duty or even fraternity system," sabi ni Bebs.
Ayon naman kay Direk Ray: "Ang mensahe ko dito ay mahirap ipalinawanag ang pag-ibig. Ito'y nararamdaman at isinasabuhay...
"Kahit mali man sa mata ng karamihan--sa mata ng macho nating lipunan... Love goes beyond brotherhood."