JERRY OLEA
Siniguro ng director-producer na si Paul Soriano na ipalalabas sa local cinemas ngayong 2025 ang pelikulang Magellan na bida ang Mexican actor na si Gael Garcia Bernal, sa direksiyon ni Lav Diaz.
Si Paul ay isa sa tatlong producers ng Magellan, sa ilalim ng production company niyang Black Cap Pictures.
Ang co-producers niya ay sina Joaquim Sapinho ng Rosa Filmes (Portugal), at Albert Serra ng Andergraun Films (Spain).
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“We’re gonna find the right timing here for Magellan,” pahayag ni Paul nang mainterbyu ng PEP Troika noong Mayo 26, 2025, sa Ten17P office niya sa Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.
“Because I mean, again, like I said, the challenge really here in the Philippines right now is bringing people to the cinemas.”
Gusto talaga nilang ipalabas sa big screen ang Magellan? Bakit hindi sa streaming platform?
“Again, you know, whoever wants to help us with Magellan… if it goes to streaming services, why not?” matamang tugon ni Paul.
“We also wanna do schools — if schools are willing to invite us. Because it is vital part of our history as well. We’re very open to do that.”
Inaasam ni Paul na mapanood ng maraming Pilipino ang Magellan.
“Hopefully the curiosity of a Lav Diaz and Gael Garcia Bernal would be enough for people to watch this version of Magellan,” pakli ni Paul.
SHORT AND MASTER VERSIONS OF MAGELLAN
160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes) ang bersiyon na ito ng Magellan na ipinalabas sa nakaraang Cannes filmfest.
Pagsisiwalat ni Paul, meron si Lav na master cut ng Magellan.
Gusto raw ni Direk Lav na gumawa ng nine-hour cut ng Magellan, pero hindi pa nila alam kung kailan iyon matatapos.
Para ma-meet ang Cannes deadline ay gumawa si Direk Lav at ang co-editor ng “maikling” bersyon ng Magellan.
OK lang ba kay Lav na gumawa ng 160-minute version ng Magellan?
“Lav is very collaborative. He’s very patient, you know. He’s very kind. Of course everything went through him,” sabi ni Paul.
“Even before he went to Cannes, he came to my office many times. We did viewings. He even gave some comments about the subtitles.
“He even shot some additional scenes pa when he saw the cut. He shot pa additional scenes. So Lav is very collaborative.
“And then, you know, the nice thing about Lav, no matter how big a filmmaker he is, how big his name is, he’s still very collaborative. Very humble.
“And always does what’s best the film.”
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PAUL SORIANO-LAV DIAZ COLLABORATION
Isang dekada na ang pakikipag-collab ni Direk kay Paul.
Una silang nagka-work sa eight-hour film na Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis na syinuting noong 2015.
Nagkamit ito ng Silver Bear (second prize, Alfred Bauer Prize) sa 66th Berlinale noong Pebrero 2016.
Tampok sa nasabing pelikula sina John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual, Hazel Orencio, Alessandra de Rossi, Susan Africa, Joel Saracho, Bernardo Bernardo, Cherie Gil, Angel Aquino, Sid Lucero, Ronnie Lazaro, at Ely Buendia.
“I’ve been a long-time supporter of Lav, even some of his other films. Even The Woman Who Left [2016, Ang Babaeng Humayo] with Ma’am Charo [Santos], I actually donated the cameras for him to use,” pagsisiwalat ni Paul.
“So even if I’m not per se producing, I’ve always been supporting from afar, near, and then eventually we got to Phantosmia [2024].
“He wrote Mañanita [2019] for me which I directed, which competed in Tokyo.”
May mga nabuo raw silang iba pang mga kuwento na hindi pa naipo-produce.
Dagdag ni Paul: “We’re working on something now. I like working with Lav because we’re two different perspectives.
“So when we work on one material, we really look at it from all angles.”
Nagka-clash sila?
“Actually that’s what makes our partnership great. We actually clash but it’s what makes the relationship healthu, you know,” pagmamatwid ni Paul.
“We clash positively, kung merong ganun. That’s how I think. We’re not the same, e. Parang if you’re the same, boring, e. Di ba?
“Parang dapat may clash, but it’s because we want to create something better. So I think that’s how Lav and I work, because we’re two different people.”
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NOEL FERRER
Hanggang ngayon ay wala pang pelikulang Pilipino na na-shortlist man lang sa kategoryang best international feature film ng Academy Awards, o Oscars.
Komento ni Paul Soriano: “Well, my two cents on the Oscar nomination is you need a lot of money.
“I don’t know if you read the article that Neon wrote about Anora. Anora spent I think eighteen… seventeen million dollars on the marketing for the Oscars, ha?
“Wala pang budget ng movie iyan, OK. They spent $15M to market Parasite. Can we even get $1M?
“I mean, I’m always a believer that a good story will sell itself. Don’t get me wrong. But that’s a lightning in a bottle. Parang lotto yan, e.
“So if we are playing the lottery, we’re due to win anytime soon. Because it’s been how many years, di ba?”
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WHY FILIPINO FILMS HAVE YET TO MAKE IT TO OSCARS
Sa 29th Oscars noong 1956 nag-umpisa ang taunang competitive Academy Award of Merit para sa Best Foreign Language Film Award, na afterwards ay tinawag na Best International Feature Film Award.
Dagdag ni Paul: “But at the end of the day, I always say this, e. If that’s your goal, then I don’t think that’s what’s best for the film.
“Kasi what’s best for the film is to tell a story. I mean, if someone comes up to me and says, ‘This is an Oscar film,’ nobody has…
“I mean, Steven Spielberg is not nominated every year. Christopher Nolan doesn’t win all the time. Leonardo DiCaprio took seven times to win.
“So there’s no formula, e. What I really believe is that these auteurs, or these actors, these directors should always prioritize the story, the message of the film.
“And kumbaga, dumating yung Oscar — affirmation na lang yan.
“For me naman, at the end of the day, the Oscar is making the film. I mean, especially in today’s times.
“If anyone is able to fund my film, I’m so appreciative of that. I’m so humbled by that, and grateful.
“Because for someone to spend millions of pesos to fund my dream, who am I not to be grateful?”
Marami ang nagsasabing naghihingalo na ang local movie industry kaya mahihina ang Filipino films sa takilya.
Hanggang ngayon, hinihintay pa rin natin ang susunod na Pinoy box-office hit film. Sana, meron na.
At ngayong araw na ito, Friday the 13th, lalabas na raw ang (re)appointment ng FDCP chair at FAP secretary general.
Inisip kaya ni Paul na puwede rin siyang maging industry leader?
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GORGY RULA
Makabubuti bang sa streaming platforms na lang ipalabas ang mga pelikulang Pilipino dahil dying industry na ang ating mga pelikula?
“I guess you can say that but it’s also evolving. That’s where everything is going,” sabi ni Paul Soriano.
“I mean, you watch a concert now, you see the band and one thousand cellphones.
“I don’t wanna say it’s wrong or right, but that’s just how it’s evolving. Streaming has helped my company very positively.
“I have many Netflix films. Outside was a worldwide Netflix hit last year. So I’m very thankful to Netflix. I mean, they’re in a way also supporting cinema.”
PHILIPPINE CINEMA
Isinasama ni Paul ang panganay nila ni Toni Gonzaga na si Seve sa panonood ng pelikula sa sinehan.
Pag lumaki-laki ang daughter nilang si Polly ay isasama rin nila sa panonood.
“Me and my wife, we still love to do cinema dates,” pagmumuwestra ni Paul.
“But as we grow, I guess like right now, di ba, I mean, this iPhone — when my son is 30 — baka obsolete na itong mga smartphone, e, di ba?
“That’s just how the world works. We just have to embrace it. But as a producer, all I can do is try my best to continue to tell good stories.
“And tell the cinema owners not to give up. As long as we have cinemas, it’s still there. We just have to embrace and find ways to fill it up.
“And that’s why I guess Metro Manila Film Fest, even though it’s once a year, kahit paano it’s still a great celebration of Philippine cinema.
“Yeah, it’s difficult but we keep trying.”
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