Watching this film is one of those rare times I succumb to watching a movie I don’t know anything about. With the prices of tickets these days, I research the film’s synopsis beforehand so I’d be assuaged I’ll be spending good money for it. But since I won free passes at the recent Cinexpo, I thought what the hell, a movie for free, why not?
Besides, it’s not as if Vicky (let’s call it Vicky to save up on words) is lacking on film credit bankability. For one, it’s written and directed by Woody Allen. And seeing the movie’s poster in Megamall, I thought if Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson’s not enough to spur a film buff’s curiosity, then I don’t know what else.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is not a whole name of a person. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are best friends who decide to stay in Barcelona for the summer. At the start of the film, the narrator disclosed that both girls are complete opposites of each other. Serious, practical, finishing her masters on “Catalan identity” and engaged to be married to no-nonsense Doug, Vicky is bordering on being uptight and traditional. Cristina is your typical hopelessly lost girl. She is impulsive and spontaneous and currently recovering from a bad break-up and the embarrassment of writing, directing and starring in a 12-minute love story short film she hates.
But when they meet artistic and charming Antonio, rumored to have had a violent relationship with his ex-wife, the fun and seduction begins. And both girls find themselves in a most unlikely love triangle.
What follows are a series of twists and turns, guaranteed to tickle and to tease. With Juan Antonio, their lives change completely, whether for good or for bad.
The comedy takes a notch higher, when Juan Antonio receives a call from Maria Elena, his ex-wife, asking for help as she tried to commit suicide. Cristina, despite her hesitation, is forced to live with Juan Antonio and Maria Elena under the same roof. Penelope Cruz is a surprising revelation. Her role as a crazy, bordering on demented artist is both convincing and entertaining. In fact, even for a supporting role, her presence in the film is more powerful and memorable than Scarlett’s or Rebecca’s. Which is perhaps why she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, among other awards.
Vicky is a refreshing, memorable film worth to watch, simply because it’s a complete deviation from the usual rom-com flicks in Hollywood. In my opinion, these formula romantic comedies are getting tiresome and predictable.
For once, a love story revolves around the quirks and ironies of the characters in it, without the usual reactions and card-board portrayals Hollywood flicks give.
Besides, the sizzling scene between Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson is worth the time. Watch it and you’ll agree with me.
Papel, Pangarap at Panulat- part 2.
9 years old ako nung nagtangkang gumawa ng libro. Kumuha ng limang pirasong bond paper, hinati sa kalahati, at ini-stapler sa gitna. Nagsimula akong manggagaya. Sweet Valley din ang pamagat, pareho din ang mga tauhan, pero at least, iba naman ang kuwento. At huwag ka, may kasama pang illustration ‘yun. Ilang mini-books din ang ginawa ko. Grade 3 ako nu’n at bukod sa Nanay ko, isang tao lang ang pinakitaan ko nu’n—yung ate- atehan komg busmate sa St. Paul, si Ate Venus. Bagamat parang kinahig na manok ang sulat at mukhang scare crow na witches ang drowing ko sa Wakefield sisters, tuwang-tuwa si Ate Venus sa mumunting mga kuwento ko. Hanggang sa grumaduate siya ng St.Paul, wala na akong pinakitaan na iba ng mini-books. Hanggang sa tumigil na rin ako sa paggawa. Malamang, nagsawa na sa panggagaya.
Si Mommy, natutuwa lang sa hobby ko. Manunulat din kasi siya. Pero akala lang niya laro-laro lang ang panggagaya ko sa Sweet Valley. Napabilib lang siya nung minsang may pinakita akong kuwento sa kanya na sinulat ko sa yellow pad paper. Hindi na malinaw ngayon kung ano yung saktong isinulat ko. Naaalala ko lang, tungkol siya sa ulap, sa ulan at sa kidlat. Sa kuwentong ‘yun, may dialogue. Naguusap ang tatlo tungkol sa magiging panahon nung araw na ‘yun. Nung nabasa ni Mommy ‘yun, dun niya nasabing baka mana ako sa kanya. At siguro, some day, magiging writer ako. Naks naman, diba?
Kilala niyo ba si Joseng Batute? Siya yung sikat na poet dati. Gumagawa siya ng mga tula tungkol sa pagibig for a fee. Ayos sa raket diba? Yung mga tiyopeng manliligaw na hindi maipadama sa mga irog nila ang kanilang damdamin, kay Joseng Batute humihingi ng saklolo. Singit lang – ang pagkaka-imagine ko kay Joseng Batute nung bata ako, isa siyang tindero ng balot at penoy. Bakit?! Ewan ko nga din eh. Basta ang imahe pumapasok sa utak ko, ‘pag gabi rumoronda siya sa kalye at sumisigaw, “Balooooooo! Penoooooy!” ‘Pag mahina ang benta, uupo siya sa isang sulok at sa ilalim ng ilaw ng lampara, magsusulat siya ng tula. Kumbaga, side line niya ang balot at penoy.
Nung Grade 6, naging Joseng Batute ako. Wala nga lang pera, ni balot o penoy na kasama. Naaalala ko marami akong kaklaseng nagpapagawa ng tula, para ibigay sa crush nila, o kaya sa Nanay nila. Yung iba dinidikit lang sa notebook. Bilang kapalit, binibigyan nila ako ng eraser o kaya chewing gum. Yung mga tula ko, mga simpleng berso in English, na may mga tugma. Mga patweetums. Pero walang kahirap-hirap, nakakasulat ako ng mga tula.
Grade 7 ako nang nagsulat ng maayos na tula tungkol kay Jose Rizal. Ipinasa ko sa History teacher bilang assignment. Isang linggo ang nakalipas, tinawag ako ng titser ko. Iwinasiwas yung tula mukha ko. Ang sabi ba naman, pinagawa mo ba ito? Sabi ko, hindi po, ako nagsulat niyan. Nakakainis, diba?
Mga teachers talaga! Imbes na i-encourage ka pa, at turuan kang ihulma ang natatanging galing, eh pababagsakin ka pa sa lupa. Hindi naman sila lahat ganun. May mga mabubuti ding mga guro. Pero yung mga masasama, hanggang ngayon, hindi ko sila makakalimutan. Gaya na lang ng English teacher ko nung Grade 7. May pa-contest ang RCBC, para sa maiikling kuwento tungkol sa kalikasan. Limang tao lang ang binigyan niya ng entrance forms. Siyempre, yung mga Top 5 sa class ang binigyan nya. Hindi ako kasama doon. Average student lang ako nung grade school. Makaraan ng dalawang linggo, nakaipon ako ng lakas ng loob. Nilapitan ko si Teacher, “Miss, meron pa ba nung form?” Sagot sa akin, “Ay tamang-tama, meron pang isa!” Tuwang-tuwa naman ako. Buong galak kong sinimulan ang aking kuwento. True story siya. Hindi siya tungkol sa global warming, o tungkol sa basura. Tungkol lang siya sa pusa naming si Muning, na naging baliw, na isang araw eh tumalon sa mukha ko at nagiwan ng peklat sa taas ng labi ko. Si Muning na ipinatapon ng Nanay ko. Si Muning na nakita ko at ni Ate na pinaglalaruan sa burak ng mga batang kalye sa Dalia St. Kinupkop namin siya ulit, pinaliguan, pinatawad. Nanatili siyang baliw hanggang sa kaniyang kamatayan.
Araw ng deadline, ipinasa ko ang aking kuwento na naka-seal sa isang short brown envelope. Ito ang catch. Umalis nga ang teacher ko papuntang RCBC, hawak ang mga envelopes ng mga maiikling kuwento.. Puwera sa akin.
(to be continued…)
Papel, Pangarap at Panulat
Nung 5 years old ako, gusto ko maging duktor. Kahit walang kapera-pera si Mami noon, binilhan niya ako ng Doctor’s Kit na mas mahal pa sa sumisirkong Barbie. Bah! Kung magiging duktor ang youngest at dearest daughter niya, kahit pa laruang ospital bibilhin niya!
Pustahan tayo, majority o karamihan sa mga bata ito ang unang nagiging pangarap. Bakit nga ba? Siguro kasi ang mga Pediatrician ang unang Propesyonal na nakikilala natin nung nagkakatrangkaso tayo, nagkakabulutong… O baka… para sa mga magulang nung henerasyon natin (well at least sa henerasyon ko), ang pagiging duktor ang pinaka-marangal na trabaho. Buhay nga naman ang sinasagip nila, kalusugan ng tao ang nakasalalay.
Pero dahil sa isang sikat at kinaa-adikan na libro…naisalba ako mula sa simple at prediktableng buhay ng isang duktor. Anong book ito? Wish ko lang masabi kong Charles Dickens o kaya John Steinbeck para naman mapa-“wooow! Ang deep, pareeeee!” ka. Ang totoo niyan eh…..eh…..urrr…..”The Wakefield sisters were completely identical on the outside, with the same blue green eyes, the same long, sun-streaked air…” Yes…lumaki ako sa isang eskwelahan sa California, kasama sina Amy Sutton, Lila Fowler, Todd Wilkins…sa Sweet Valley High. Mula Twins hanggang sa Junior High, Unicorn Club hanggang sa Sweet Valley University. Hanggang tuluyan ng maging patapon buhay ni Jessica, hanggang sa muntikan nang mamatatay si Elizabeth. Mula horror series to crime detective series.
Nakakahiya man sa kababawan ang librong ‘to (ehem ang binabasa ko na ngayon sina Neil Gaiman, Anne Tyler, Stephen King- mapapawoowparedeep ka na sa’kin), dito ako natuto ng syntax at grammar nang hindi sinasadya. Dito rin nahulma ang imahinasyon ko. At bagamat wala akong gaanong kalaro noon, du’n ko natutunan sa sarili kong paraan na “no one is ever lonely with a book”.
(to be continued….)
- It took letting office mates watch an old, low budget, sexually- themed film to realize why I am HERE in the first place. That exclamation of shock, the burst of laughter-- when you feel that you got someone to feel something that you wanted him/her to feel-- THIS TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. My heart beat. I am hooked. I want more people to feel that way, through something that I'll make.
- I have to remind myself it's difficult not only for us in Production, but also for the Account Managers as well. One of the AEs I am more acquainted with shared she almost cried when the Media Planner talked to her as if she was a "longkatuts" and was so rude to her. I mean, sometimes, I do find AEs irritable and makulit, but I realized they're just caught in the middle. So I have to remind myself these AEs are just doing their jobs, and some of them are really great and talented people.
- Makapal pala talaga ang mukha ko. And though I am self-conscious about my weight lately and my lack of height, well...I think I'm 90 % confident most of the time. I've proven it from attending countless 'sosyal' gatherings and interviewing top executives and celebrities while wearing jeans, sneakers and a plain shirt. ;-)
- Anger, impatience and hotheadedness are THE enemy. And I've got to have anger management lessons soon. For the meantime, it's drinking water and taking deep breaths as subsitutes for the lessons.
- And yeah, if I remain on this job for another year, my blood pressure will go up and suffer heart ailments.
- I love my mom, despite all our differences. We really clash, in all aspects. And she does have the knack for irritating me. BUT I know she loves me. She's a bright woman and I'm proud of her. I wouldn't ask for any mom in the world, not even Angelina Jolie, or an Ayala matriarch (or Vickie Bello! hahhahhahhaha!!!!)
That's it, pansit. (well, for now)
Of hot potatoes, and lazy siestas and a good, fulfilling DVD shopping. I might say I even had more fun that last weekend at the beach.
I hope my good weekend rest will be enough for a tough week ahead. (hayyy... sana hindi na sumakit batok ko, I do believe I have a high blood as early as 25 years of age)
I plan to try to be in touch with Tiudy and my college friends again. I miss them so much.
Oh, and did I forget I finished off Gossip Girl Season 1 in one night and uhmm..'til the morning after. Xo Xo, you know you love me. Hehehehe! Paborito ko si Seren and Dan :-)
Well, this is an exaggeration, I suppose.
It's funny that this kind of incident made me feel like I'm a real media practitioner. Though I'm not in a company as news-worthy and as public service-oriented network like GMA or ABS.
I admit that when I was first presented with the project, I felt a little...well, uneasy. The client, Gran Matador Brandy saw a plug airing on Solar Sports featuring former Olympians like Akiko Thompson, Walter Torres, Onyok, etc and they wanted the same materials to be used for the interstitial.
It was the height of the Olympic-mania in our team. And presented with the project, I shook away all my hesitations and plunged headlong. Sige na, ng matapos na-- this was all in my head.
So, there I rushed the project and came up with a decent one, I guess. I simply tied up the Olympians by saying Gran Matador brandy supports every Filpino's dream. I just had a single revision and it was approved for airing.
Three days after the Olympics started, one of my superiors called me, "Alina, please pull the Gran Ma Interstitial out."
"Why?," I asked.
"Walter Torres is suing us for moral damages!"
I just felt my body freeze. Oh no! Oh no! I breathed deep and I was able to say calmly, "All right, Sir."
It was then that I realized how irresponsible I and my superiors were. Even though it was not a direct endorsement, the product was an alcoholic brand after all!
Also, who gave us the right to use these materials, the names and faces of former and present Olympians to promote these products?
Suddenly, Ms Marichu Lambino's face loomed in front of me. And I remember the film The People vs. Larry Flint.
Lately, I've been having trouble sleeping.
Not even rewinding fantasies and imagining movies can lullaby me to sleep.
--
A week ago, Tuesday morning, I was walking in Ayala Avenue when I passed by this funky girl in native skirt and white thin blouse. She was wearing a pair of sneakers and sporting a backpack. She was walking aimlessly, a smile on her face. I just thought she looked so free-- and i said to myself, "This was the girl I was supposed to be."
Then I looked on a mirror thru a building's glass door and I found my reflection caged inside four lines. I told this girl I was looking at, "Is there something wrong?"
Recently, I grabbed one of my mom's books at random-- Anne Tyler's Back When We Were Grownups. To my surprise, the story's premise is the same as "Dalaga", one of my short film concepts. The premise is simple. The protagonist is Rebecca, a fifty something woman, who one day suddenly tells herself, "I turned into a wrong kind of person." She was a widow, with three stepdaughters. All her life she was devoted to the kids and to the family's business- organizing parties at their sprawling majestic mansion. Until there was nothing left for herself anymore. She didn't even enjoy parties! She journeys to reconstruct her old self, and finds something else, something more in the end. Dalaga's protagonist Lillia is suddenly alive and breathing. She had been in a comma for two and a half years. Now, she's recuperating and if luck is on my side, she'd soon be alive and kicking to continue "her" story.
--
I used to look in the mirror and see this chubby, happy face. Now all I see are streaks of white hair gleaming, pores and worry lines. Must be getting old because of work. But if I cease to worry, I'll cease to care and when I don't care, then there's no point in doing anything, right?
--
I pray for a less lonely life, a freer life. Alina....ilang months na lang...then you can make another one of your Y-shaped or 'fork' choices...and you'll feel better.
--
I bumped into Lovely Day people last Sunday in the Toy Convention in Mega Mall. I just said a quick hi, quick hugs and waved away. I didn't want to hear anything i already knew.
It's the 1st of June. I can hardly believe I survived the past 3 months-- cannot believe it's just been a mere 3 months. Chaos has a way of stretching time. Between crazy work hours, and a haggard workload, adjusting with work mates and being a boss, missing friends, missing important dates, forgetting Sundays, amidst love aches and heart burns-- there wasn't much time to count hours and contemplate time.
But i am very HAPPY to say... it's over. It's finished. The indecision has ceased. I have chosen and re-found my love. And despite the many "tumblings" at work, I am happy now with whatever I am doing. Though things are still very demanding (clients are THE ENEMY, I'm telling you), I am now able to distinguish what is priority from what is not. I learned to close my eyes and ears to the unnecessary and focus my attention and efforts to what is significant. I now know the strengths and weaknesses of work mates, how to help them, when not to help them, how to motivate them (well, I still don't claim to be an expert, but it's a far cry from what I knew since my first day). I no longer dwell on my mistakes, I am now able to stop my tears and know the right time and place to cry. I now know how to smile amidst an aching body and a throbbing head. I find joy in solving problems, in running a smooth Production, in meeting people in shoots, in new and exciting projects, in seeing a job well done from my Producer.
At last, I can say, I am feeling fulfillment in my job.
On June 29, Pacquiao blues strikes again. Though I feel a bit jittery, at least I don't dread it anymore. I know it's going to be easier, albeit more fun. For all the blessings, I thank my Lord. For He is with me every step of the way. I wish to still be a better person-- a better sister, daughter, EP, employee, friend, girlfriend-- a better woman.
Ending up working in a television network is not at all a surprise for me. I think I've voiced out this plan often in college (though my target was in I-Winess) and yeah, college days, I already visualized myself in one.
And after almost 3 years (well, 2 and a half actually) on TV, I can muster up the courage to say, yes, I think I am born a Producer or at least I am well-endowed with the skills to be one.
Producer-- whenever I tell this job to friends who are not in the industry (usually high school friends), they go "Wow!". Because of the word itself, they think it's a big shot job. I just smile, keep quiet, content on not elaborating.
Being a Producer not only means being creative and having visual skills. If you're just creative...period, then you can't last three months. Being a Producer means being a multi-tasker. From shooting with the crew, to supervising graphics and offline and online editing. Being a producer means you are responsible for the material that is being aired. You are what you produce. When graphics is plain or too goth, or when editing is not snappy and catchy enough, it will reflect on the Producer. When a plug or a segment does not beat a deadline, it's your ass that's on the line.
Also, one cannot be Producer without "diskarte" or being street-smart. Kelangan kaya mong magin corporate-like with clients in one second, then down-to-earth and astig with the crew the next. If you don't have a plan B for things, you cannot be a good Producer. Lastly, a good Producer has to love his or her material, otherwise, hindi mo aalagaan ang material mo.
Bilib ako sa mga mahuhusay na Prodyuser. It's hard being one. And sabi nga ng friend ko na nagpasok sa'kin sa Solar, a Producer has a promising career ahead of him/her keysa sa Editor or Graphic Artist. Because being a good Producer shows how well-rounded you are. At mahahasa ka talagang maging problem-solver.
So sa lahat ng mga Producers, saludo ako sa kanilang lahat. Sana may award-giving body rin sa kanila/sa'min. Let there be a Producers' Guild. Harharhar!!!
Stolen from Memoy, who stole this from Emel. Hehehhe...
Hahaha! Next question please...! Let's just say, irreconcilable differences. ;-)
2. Are you usually the heart breaker or the heart broken?
definitely heart-broken...but recently, seems i can be the former
3. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
my favorite junk food- OKEJI tempura snack! Madaming laman :)
4. Name a quote from the song you are listening to?
No music right now, just noise--- ~%^!&!*!(!(!*!&*!
5. How is life going for you right now?
Oh my, not good. Not good. It's chaotic.
6. Are you keeping a secret from someone who needs to know the truth?
Nope! I'm too honest and I react easily, which are some of my weaknesses, I think.
7. Who was the last person to comment on you?
Rory, who sent me hugs....<HUUUUUUGGGG>
8. Regret(s)?
I regret some of the wrong moves I've done sa office. I pray it's not too late to fix.
10. What was the first thing you said when you woke up today?
(TO MY PAMANGKIN ANDENG): "Hello baby!!!"
11. Do you have a best friend?
Yes I do. Si Tiudy! We're complete opposites, as in no other thing in common...other than we live, like, two villages away....somehow, we're still good friends...one of the things I still cannot explain...
12. Have you ever hated someone, but ended up being friends with them?
Meron! Madami! Example na lang yung dati kong team mates sa prime shift....
13. What do you think of people who have sex before marriage?
Hmm...normal...
14. Do you own a pair of green pants?
Yup! Nabili ko sa ukay sa Tagaytay, kaya lang nasira yung botones....:(
15. Ever had the preferred sex over when no one was home?
Uhm...di ko gets....englighten me, anyone?? :) Hehe!
16. Do you believe that what comes around goes around?
Yes I do. Ako ang taong mabilis ang karma....as in....
17. What is your favorite fruit?
Bananas :)
18. What is the last song to make you cry?
Yung kanta ng Beatles...."Till there was You" Nata-touch ako...
19. Is your best friend pretty?
Yes of course! Birds of the same feather....hehehhehe!!!!
20. Have you ever passed out?
Surprisingly, no.
21. Do you trust people easily?
No.
22. When was the last time you puked?
Hmm...nung naginuman kami ng C/S team sa Meat Shop...tinira namin Empoy at Beer! Ang weird dun, next day pa ako sumuka! On the way to work! Tinabi ng Kuya ko yung kotse sa talahiban...wahahhahah
23. What's the thing that always gets you through the day?
the thing? hmm...i guess yung makapagdasal ako, makausap ko si Lord, and kahet a smile or two from a stranger
24. Who do you miss?
I miss my friends in Solar Antipolo
25. Do you give out second chances too easily?
I do. kasi i'm the type who always need one.
26. Where was your last car ride to and from?
From Makati to pasig
27. Where is one place you want to visit?
baguio ;-)
28. Do you like hugs or do you freak when people hug you?
I love hugs....sobra...i'm a hug person hehe
29. Had plans and broke them?
A lot! I tend to bend and twist left and right easily.
30. Do you eat steak?
Yup! But it's not my fave food. I like mashed potatoes better
31. How are you feeling?
Worried, sad...down...:((
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.7)
the_sleek_geek- the_sleek_geek
Syndicate
