Joel Ruiz On A Roll
posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 in Festivals, Indie Films
Story inspirations could practically come from anywhere. In direk Joel Ruiz's case, it came from an elevator.
"Please pray for baby Angelo," was what the note posted in the elevator of his office said. Apparently, a dead fetus was found in the dumpster of the very building he works in. From there, he created Baby Angelo.Much like the real experience, 'Baby Angelo' is a feature length film about an aborted baby found in the garbage of a run down apartment complex. An investigation ensues as to whose baby it was, but the film more importantly revolves around the apartment's inhabitants and how each of their diverse lives are after all, correlated.
A scene from the film Baby Angelo
Archie Alemanya and Alchris Galura
Produced by Arkeofilms and EBB Pictures, the film written by Abi Aquino and Joel Ruiz, stars Jojit Lorenzo, Katherine Luna, Ces Quesada, Archie Alemanya, Cedrick Lamberte and Mark Gil.
"It is a different look at how lives intersect. How each of us unconsciously affects one another," Joel explains. A resident director and one of the founders of Arkeomedia, Joel has proven prowess both in writing and directing. Mansyon, the Best Short Film recipient of 2005's Cinemalaya is just one among his roster which includes Ang Kapatid kong si Elvis, Putot, and Big Time. Each had garnered awards and nominations from competitions here and abroad. Despite more than enough experience in the industry, he admits that 'Baby Angelo' still caused him jitters as this is the first time he directed a full length feature. In his words, "It was very difficult, exhilarating, and depressing.'
Joel Ruiz
Joel Ruiz (far right) discusses a scene with his actors
According to co-producer Tracy Sarte, the biggest challenge of Baby Angelo's production is finding the location. As the other finalists were already in production, they were still hunting the perfect location. "The story calls for a beautiful location as it is also a character of the film; but after that, the rest went smoothly. We had great actors and professional people in the team. So, all went well," Tracy relates.
As for the look of the film, Joel and Alma dela Peña, the director of photography, have agreed on making it dark right from the very start. "It's very dark, as most scenes happen at night when the residents are at home."
Ramon Bautista and Eric Matti cameo in the film
You should also expect it to be very quiet as Joel prefer his films that way. "I don't like people talking all the time," he shares, laughing. According to him, nothing much happens in the plot throughout the movie because the story is character-driven, not plot-driven. "Mahilig si Joel sa tahimik na pelikula. It is a good way to enjoy a film in its silence... deliberateness, kaya watch it," Monster Jimenez, the co- producer, remarks.
For this year's Cinemalaya, Baby Angelo is not the only film in Arkeo's bag. Ang Ibang Mga Pamilya,starring Lui Manansala, Paulken Bustillo, Randy Punzal, and Sigrid Bernardo, is Joel's entry for the short films category.
The "Ang Ibang Pamilya" shoot.
"I worked with the same people. The film is fourteen minutes long, about a woman who tries to overcome the death of his only son," Joel explains. According to Joel, it is one of the two films he adapted from Butch Dalisay's short story: 'Some Families Very Large'. "It is much darker than Baby Angelo. More quiet," says Joel. The film was shot mostly in a funeral parlor and just like the feature length entry, it is a character piece where very little happens in the plot.The topic of death has long been overused in the silver screen but Joel's entries prove that there are much more things to tell... ergo, much more for us to listen to. To quote Monster, "It's not structured like your basic movie...I would say, bago siyang experience."
Watch how Joel creatively plays with the clichéd idea as 'Baby Angelo' and 'Ang Ibang mga Pamilya' screen at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 11 to 20.
Is your film a Cinemalaya 2008 entry? Have it featured in ClickTheCity! E-mail features@clickthecity.com for details. Press Releases may also be submitted through pr@clickthecity.com
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Baby Angelo
Ang Ibang mga Pamilya
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