Cinemalaya Competition Chairperson Laurice Guillen recalls that the last time she talked with Emerson Reyes, they had already come to an agreement regarding his entry titled MNL 143.

Emerson wanted to cast Alan Paule and Joy Viado in his film but the Cinemalaya organizing committee asked him to reconsider his choices.

Emerson's entry was supposed to compete in the New Breed category of the 8th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival that would take place this July 2012.

"I spoke with Emerson. Okay na, nagkaintindihan na kami, maayos ang usapan namin.

"Then one week later, they went back again to the original [cast].

"If you are a partner, you should be open [to suggestions].

"In a span of one week, I don't know what happened," said a puzzled Laurice during the March 6 press conference held at the Phat Wong restaurant in Makati City.

REQUIREMENTS. Every year, Cinemalaya chooses ten aspiring filmmakers who will be given a grant of P500,000 to produce their submitted scripts.

In the memorandum of agreement, it is stated that the amount of P500,000 will be made available to the finalist "in 6 tranches, subject to satisfactory submission of the second party of the required documents." 

During the said presscon, Laurice explained that the chosen finalists have to submit six requirements before the first installment (worth P200,000) is released.

These six requirements are:

1) signed memorandum of agreement
2) final production schedule 
3) final budget and counter financing
4) sequence breakdown
5) major cast and staff list
6) synopsis of film

Emerson and the Cinemalaya organizing committee did not agree when it came to casting Alan Paule and Joy Viado in MNL 143.

For this reason, Emerson has been replaced by Gino Santos and his entry titled The Animals.

Despite their creative differences, Laurice still believes in Emerson's talent.