Kinuwento ni Gayle Oblea kung paano niya na-cast ang theater actor na si Boo Gabunada para sa kanyang short film na As The Moth Flies, kunsaan siya ang direktor.
Napanood daw ni Gayle si Boo sa musical play na Ang Huling El Bimbo noong pandemya.
Gumanap si Boo sa 2019 production ng Ang Huling El Bimbo bilang young Emman na nagkaroon ng online streaming noong May 2020 sa Facebook page at YouTube channel ng ABS-CBN bilang fund-raising event para sa mga biktima ng COVID-19 pandemic (via the ABS-CBN Foundation Pantawid Ng Pag-Ibig), sa TFC Online noong Setyembre 2020 at sa KTX.PH noon namang Nobyembre of the same year.
Hindi man daw siya fan ng play, napansin ni Gayle ang husay ng theater/film actor na si Boo sa pag-arte kaya naisip nito agad si Boo para gumanap bilang si Jett sa short film na As The Moth Flies.
Nagkataon namang kakilala at nakatrabaho na ni Gayle ang kapatid ni Boo, ang kuya niyang si RG Gabunada, sa isang commercial dahil pareho silang may marketing agency kaya tinawagan ito ni Gayle at kinausap para kunin si Boo.
Read:
- Director Gayle Oblea owes debt of gratitude to Epy Quizon
- As The Moth Flies movie helps Mina Cruz overcome mental health issues
BOO RECALLS HOW THE MOVIE SCRIPT ‘SPOKE’ TO HIM
Lahad ni Boo, “My brother told me na Gayle was looking for an actor.
“I remember Gayle sent me the script and told me a short background about it. I think at the time… pandemic… we’re all at home, isolated, and we are all forced to confront our own demons, I think the material really spoke to me.
“And yun! I was like, ‘Game, let’s do it!’”
Nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Boo, si Direk Gayle at ang executive producers ng As The Moth Flies na sina Happy Manila at Rav Singh noong August 26 sa Flavours Indian and Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant sa Juno St. sa Makati City.
BOO COMMENDS MOVIE’S FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Bukod sa nagandahan sa script, sinabi ni Boo na naikonek niya ito sa kanyang personal na adbokasiya na mas palawakin pa ang kamalayan ng lahat tungkol sa mental health dito sa Pilipinas.
Lahad ni Boo, “I think it’s very important, especially in the Philippines.
“I’ve been to other countries and I found out that a lot of things are more accessible to them… it’s a lot easier for them to seek help.
“But here in the Philippines, one, there’s stigma. It’s kinda strange, there’s still stigma about it. And two, the accessibility as well, proper information regarding when you need to seek help, and what kind of help you can actually get.
“These are all not ideal. It’s there, you can seek help but then not ideal.
“I think one of the main things why I wanted to explore these things with all of the collaborators was because the advocacy speaks to me, and it’s an advocacy that more people could support pa.”
Dahil nga kasagsagan ng pandemya at halos lahat ay may mga kinakaharap na personal na laban, malaki ang naitulong kay Boo sa paggawa ng As The Moth Flies.
“For me, yes it was therapeutic,” sambit ni Boo.
“As I had mentioned earlier, the timing also of it. I think the film was a way to understand it [mental illness] more, and also have more knowledge to be able to share to more people.
“And at the same time, I got closer to my family,” ang nakangiting wika pa ni Boo.
Nasa As The Moth Flies bilang lead actress si Mina Cruz bilang Tonette at ang batikang aktor na si Epy Quizon bilang si Dr. Oliver Sanchez.
At sa gaganaping Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2024 sa September 4-8 ay kasali ang As The Moth Flies bilang isa sa mga entries sa short film category.
BOO SHARES FUNNY ANECDOTE ABOUT EPY
And speaking of Epy, may nakatutuwang anekdota si Boo tungkol sa anak ng yumaong Comedy King na si Dolphy.
Upang mapagaan ang sitwasyon sa shoot nila kapag pagod na sila o inaantok, iniarte raw ni Epy ang classic na Banayad Whiskey commercial scene ng ama nito mula sa 1995 comedy film na Father En Son.
Sa naturang eksena, kinuha ang karakter ng Comedy King bilang endorser ng nabanggit na whiskey at sa dami ng retake ng commercial ay nalasing na ito ng tuluyan sa kakainom ng nabanggit na alak.
Kuwento ni Boo tungkol kay Epy, “At one point, nire-create niya yung Banayad Whiskey.”
Dagdag na kuwento ni Direk Gayle tungkol kay Epy, “Opo, nire-create niya yung Banayad Whiskey.
“I think ginagawa niya talaga yun to loosen up everyone. Kasi siyempre medyo stiff lahat, takot sa kanya.
“Kasi nga, ano siya e, technically he’s a legend. Tapos, dumating siya doon, nakamotorsiklo lang siya.
“Sobrang humble, sobrang down-to-earth. Tapos pagdating namin doon, lahat kami stiff.
“Tapos nag-roleplay siya ng Banayad Whiskey. Ginaya niya yung Papa niya. Tapos lahat kami, tawa. Okay na kami lahat,” sinabi pa ni Gayle.
Mula sa produksyon ng Creative Kartel in association with Desi Matters at executive producers na sina Happy Manila at Rav Singh, nasa 15-minute short film rin si Pam Arambulo.
Samantala bukod sa As The Moth Flies ay kasali rin si Boo sa pelikulang Her Locket (ng actress/producer na si Rebecca Chuaunsu) na isa naman sa mga full-length film entries sa Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2024 na gaganapin mula September 4-8, 2024 sa ilalim ng Solar Pictures, ng festival director na si Brilliante Mendoza at ng City of Manila.
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Epy Quizon at Cassy Lavarias, pinupuri ang acting sa Pulang Araw