Harlene on her MMFF entry: ‘Worth the wait’
HARLENE Bautista, who heads the film company, Heaven’s Best Entertainment, is so happy that their movie, “Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw”, made it as an official entry in the coming Metro Manila Filmfest that opens in theaters on Christmas Day.
“When we planned this movie, wala pa ‘yung virus,” she says during the film’s premiere night at Gateway. “Nag-meet lang kami ni Direk Louie Ignacio and Dennis Evangelista as line producer, at maganda ‘yung project nila. After that with Rita Daniela na and Ken Chan. Mabilis. Then nang magsisimula na ang shoot, biglang dumating ang virus at lockdown in March last year. So shelved siya bigla kahit ready na ang lahat.”
They were all waiting as to when the lockdown will be lifted. “E, wala, we realized magtatagal ang lockdown. Then my Kuya Herbert said, sige na, ituloy nyo na. Kawawa naman ‘yung workers na walang trabaho. Para matulungan natin sila. So ayun, itinuloy nga. “Naglakas-loob kami and we were the first movie to shoot during the pandemic. We went on location sa Pagsanjan, lock-in shooting, additional 30 percent sa budget kasi gagastusan mo ang swab tests ng lahat at ang iba pang health protocols.”
They shot for nine straight days. “Everything went on smoothly. Masaya kaming lahat sa set. Everyone is positive sa attitude nila so mabilis ang trabaho namin. Then ginawa ang post production, natapos, and then, paano natin ito ipapalabas, e walang mga sinehan? There were suggestions na ipalabas na lang online. Naku, sabi ko, ayoko. Na-experience ko na yang online last year sa ‘Isa Pang Bahaghari’ at hindi siya masaya. So wait, wait kami.”
And then theaters opened again and it was announced that there will be a Metro Manila Filmfest this year. “So sabi namin, isali natin sa filmfest. And we submitted it nga. At yun, it qualified as one of the official entries. Yun pala ang plano ni Lord para sa movie namin so thank you, Lord, sa blessing na ito.”
She’s very proud of the movie and the acting of its lead stars. “Ito ‘yung movie na patatawanin ka, then paiiyakin. Thanks sa husay nina Rita and Ken. Ibang-iba talaga ito sa lahat ng TV series na nagawa na nila before. Very mature pati ang love scene nila na ngayon lang nila ginawa sa buong careers nila. Ang hihintayin na lang natin, yung movie goers. Sana umappear sila sa mga sinehan para panoorin ito. I assure them na hindi naman sila magsisisi.”
