Pendong to be screened in SM cinemas starting on June 23

"Producing a Pinoy movie for the Pinoy audience is very much enjoyable," said Sean Lim, director of the new indie feature, Pendong.


The Malaysian-born producer-director recently sent PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) a (Facebook) message, in which he revealed his excitement about the project. "


Coming from a Chinese culture and living in the Philippines is very exciting because of its very rich culture and good sense of humor (of the Filipinos)," he added.


As producer for his own indie outfit, Oxin Entertainment Productions, Sean Lim has been around for almost a decade now, since 2001.


Aside from Pendong, which he describes as "a fun movie", the indie outfit has released quite a number of commercial movies, like the Pinoy sci-fi action-thriller, Xenoa (parts 1 and 2), and Panahon Na, an indie drama.


Upon watching the trailer of Pendong, PEP had the impression it is real fun movie, which tells of the wacky misadventures of three friends, played by Will Devaughn, Alwyn Uytingco, and Felix Roco.


"It is, indeed, a fun movie!" Sean agreed, but added that Pendong, "has some light drama along the way." He admitted he did a comedy movie this time, for a change. "Having done Xenoa 1 & 2, which is a sci-fi-themed movie, and Panahon Na, which is drama."


"VOLKS POPULI." Most Pinoy car lovers are now familiar with the classic automobile brand, Volkswagen (from Germany), whose style has evolved through the years. But the Volkswagen Beetle has that distinct look of a 'turtle shaped' body that makes it somehow unique in the physical aspect, from other automobile brands.


In Pendong, the V-Beetle is as much a character as it becomes a story centerpiece of sorts. Using the Beetle, which one of the characters, Bingo Cruz (played by Alwyn Uytingco) received as graduation gift from his parents, the owner went on a journey up north with his two friends, Calvin (Will Devaughn), an actor, and Jay Salvacion (Felix Roco), a college dropout.


Bingo, confused with his identity, and in search of his biological father, was joined by his two friends in a journey that would bring them closer together and help them grow up.


Sean Lim tells us more about the major players in his new movie. "Will Devaughn. He plays Calvin, a movie star. Calvin is getting tired of his busy showbiz schedules that he longs to have a time for himself. This trip is an escape for him.


"Alwyn Uytingco plays Bingo Cruz. He thinks he has had the perfect and complete life - and ultimately deserves the Beetle car as his college graduation gift. This is after being the goody-goody son who remorsefully follows the strict codes of his parents for years. But when his mother reveals that his deceased father wasn't his real dad - and that his biological father lives and owns a business in a far-flung province up north, he will gather his childhood friends..." and, thus, embark on a journey of seemingly 'wacky misadventures'.


"Felix Roco is Jay Salvacion, a slightly deaf, college drop-out. Jay doesn't seem to know his priorities--his education suffers--as his lovelife seems to sit on top of it. This trip is a time to reevaluate."


"I can truly say that Pendong is my favorite, among my feature films. Maybe because I can relate to the characters.


"And being a Volkswagen enthusiast, I became more attached to it, compared to my previous films," Sean said. As car collector, he owns a 1971 model Beetle. Many think Pendong has commercial appeal. Was it intended?


"When I was writing the story, I never really thought of eyeing a 'mainstream feel" or commercial appeal to the audience. I just let my creative juices go with the flow and incorporate some of my actual experiences," he articulated.


Pendong is set for release on June 23, in time for the celebration of World Volkswagen Day, an event that is celebrated on June 20. Direk Sean Lim also chose this date as the premiere night of Pendong, at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema. Pendong will be screened in SM digital cinemas.


ON GAY-THEMED INDIES. As an indie film director, Sean Lim does his earlier works on purpose that he knows best, as a means of creative and artistic self-expression.


But, as in Pendong, direk Sean said he doesn't exclude the more pertinent film quality, as social consciousness, in whatever way it could be injected on the subject matter and theme.


"Despite the adventurous road trip," he said, "Pendong is a story about friendship, love, family, and self-discovery."


What does Sean Lim think of social realist dramas that make up a lot of local indie films? "I think it is their (filmmakers) way of expressing how they feel about our society which is an eye opener to most audience. But, I guess, a lot of our audience are already tired of poverty and stress. So some people would prefer watching something lighter, something that will make them laugh even just for a while. A small smile can change something big," he enthused further.



What about gay-themed indies? "Nothing against the theme, but it's not my preference," he honestly stated.


FILM ENTHUSIAST. A graduate of Multimedia Arts at the De LaSalle College of St. Benilde, Sean Lim founded Oxin Entertainment Productions in 2001. He said he inherited his production expertise from his father and his grandfather, "a film enthusiast" from China.


Proving that he's leaving no stone unturned to guarantee the success of his latest venture, Sean Lim even went to the extent of acting like the pr/publicity man of Pendong, in giving out details about almost everything and everyone that has to do with the movie.


"Being the executive producer of Pendong, along with Shandii Bacolod, who is also into directing, has made the project easier to handle and we really never had a major problem in doing this movie," he quipped.


"Cinematographer is Rain Yamson II who has been doing commercials, mainstream and indie movies. Production manager are Sunshine Asuncion and Arnold "Meme" de Jesus. Tessa Aquino is our wardrobe manager and Archie del Mundo made the fabulous screenplay," he enumerated.



"There are a lot of special appearances and cameos in Pendong," Sean, likewise, shared. "Introducing in this film is Ms. Xaviera Schuck Iglesias--yes, another member of the Schuck family in showbiz; (she's) cousin of Empress, from Rosalka. She is like the 'Maegan Fox' in Pendong, with a character twist.


"Bembol Roco also made a special appearance in this movie, as Alwyn's long-lost father. Having him as the classic 'kalbo' and Will Devaughn as the modern-day 'kalbo' connects both generations in this movie." Others in the cast of Pendong are Ate Gay, as the stalker/"love interest" of Will Devaughn's character; Joseph Bitangcol, Lara Morena, Marc Solis, Dominic Roco, JM De Guzman, Raphael Rossell, Enchong Deen, among others.


As executive producer and founder of Oxin Entertainment Productions, as well as the company's resident director, Sean Lim is expectedly determined to succeed. He said, "Oxin has been doing commercials and corporate productions since 2001. Pendong is the fifth film done by the company. Having been in the industry for almost a decade now has made the company more involved in the entertainment industry."