Entries for July, 2008
July 2nd, 2008
July 12th, 2008
Brief update after Labfest. POSTED AT 10:09 PM After the first week of Labfest, I returned to school mode for a bit then returned the following weekend for our 2 remaining shows. Of course, I made sure to watch all the plays during the first week so I don't have to contend with paying audiences on the 2nd week. I was also working on our post-production requirements as well, so I can just submit everything that was needed for the production book after all shows closed. Didn't even get to go to the Labfest cast party at Penguin. My legs were ready to give way, so after watching Pamantasang Hirang during the evening, I headed straight home to my bed. Spent the following couple of days finalizing my production book (goodbye, yucky jar of "umbilical cords"), and Tartuffe mode began as well. After Tartuffe rehearsals this afternoon (where I didn't really do much because Jojo had focused more on the scenes with Dorine, Valere and Mariane; only came because there was free lunch, haha), Lara, Toby and I headed to CCP to watch Baby Angelo, an entry in this year's Cinemalaya. Apparently, Lara was in it, so we were dying to see it before she gets to show it to her family and boyfriend tomorrow, hahaha! Holy kamote, it was only the 2nd day and lines at the box office windows were already long. I was already regretting that I missed the opening yesterday. Anyway, thanks to being a student again, I took advantage of the 50% discount to a ticket to Baby Angelo, and also bought a ticket to tomorrow night's Hubad. I didn't really get to watch its premiere a couple of months ago at the Dream Theater because of Nemesis. Baby Angelo... Hmmm... interesting plot, and those 1-F girls (Lara included, hahaha!) gave quite a comic relief for us, hehe. When it came to the conclusion of who owned that baby fetus, it wasn't implied as much and turned out sort of anti-climatic. Or maybe I wasn't too focused on that? Maybe, maybe not. Sunday tomorrow, yay. A good day, I hope. I'm beginning to enjoy Sundays as much as Tuxqs does, hahaha. Minus the driving, of course, and even though CCP will still have tons of people milling about. |
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July 14th, 2008
Watching Hubad at Cinemalaya. POSTED AT 12:49 AM Found Peachy and Robbie in the lobby. As it turned out, there were a whole bunch of them who came to watch Rob in the film, hahaha! With those two were Sundee, Anna, Santi, Jonjon, Francis, Carlos, Stefan, Bench, and Harold. Oh, and Noel was also there, someone I haven't seen since he was shipped off to Hongkong Disney ages ago, hahaha. Joined them and we found a row and a half for us right smack in the middle of the theater. I liked how the film also integrated video clips from the actual play, when it was shown for Virgin Labfest 2 back in 2006. I really enjoyed watching all these actors I admire in this one film (yes, including you, Rob, hahaha!). Several familiar venues were used, from Batute theater, MKP (the Jade Emperor headpiece had a cameo, haha!) and LT backstage, Jorhe's gorgeous pad (chandelier included), and of course, Penguin cafe. My favorite part was the montage of the 2 couples on the mattresses. Props to Ms. Denisa on that one. When we heard the conversation about talents of Hongkong Disneyland being associated with prostitutes, our entire group cracked up, referring to Noel, hahaha! Chaos sort of ensued at the lobby after the show. Haha, I'm exaggerating. It was the regular Cinemalaya crowd that occurs in between film screenings. I honestly loathe crowds, but today, I guess I didn't really mind much. Found Bart in the lobby, and he mentioned that he owes us a cast party of our own. Yahoo, a pending Las Mentiras cast party! Hopefully before Tuxqs leaves for New Zealand, please. When I found Peachy again in the crowd, she was looking for Rob so she can take a photo of him with Peque Gallaga. Of course, because this is the Peque Gallaga, I couldn't help but follow, and once Rob had their photo taken, I immediately requested for a photo with the big guy. Hahaha, starstruck moment. Thanks for the photo op! Off to Rai-Rai Ken for dinner, where everyone went on talking about the film, raving mostly about Mr. Koh (Rob's character in the film), HAHAHA! |
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July 18th, 2008
Mission remakes with Eksena Manila. POSTED AT 09:09 AM Last Wednesday was the first time I joined one of Eksena Manila's missions. Well, two, actually. As it turned out, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho wanted to feature a couple of the group's previous missions. I jumped at this chance because it would be an opportunity to finally do the LRT chorale and the Slow-Mo, hahaha. |
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July 20th, 2008
Sick. But still updating. POSTED AT 08:09 PM I had a feeling that I was going to be sick last Friday, that I was afraid of acting cranky during class and rehearsals. Thank goodness my sore throat only evolved into cold when I got home. But when I tried to sleep, I suddenly developed a cough, arg. In class yesterday morning, I wasn't really feeling up to doing anything, so I was really glad we didn't break into groups for any discussion whatsoever. I was feeling really sick by the time I got to rehearsal at noon, and I really felt that I was also having a fever. But because we were told that we had to be there that day to be measured for costumes, I figured I'd stay a while, get measured, then ask if I could go home and get some rest. After a quick lunch so I could take the medicine I brought with me, I literally fell asleep on the floor while waiting for everything to start. When I woke up, most of the cast were already there, and Jojo and Joey were reading lines with our two Valeres, Darwin and Toby. I was still lying on the floor, listened to them for a few minutes before I finally stood up. Because I finally got some rest, even though I was still feeling lightheaded, I decided to help Jojo with Toby's lines. Afterwards, we ran through the first two acts and blocked the scenes that wasn't blocked yet. It was 5 in the afternoon when we reached the beginning of the 4th act, and I had noticed that there was no sign of anyone who will measure the actors for costumes. When Jojo was about to start the 2nd scene of Act 4, that's when I asked when we will be measured for the costumes. She stopped and looked at me, and that's when we all found out that Cam didn't text us the night before that the one who will measure us wouldn't be coming in that day. Arg. That was the prime reason I came to the rehearsal even though I was sick and was already having chills. I thought our thesis had screw-ups. But I guess there are most groups that still have these. No offense. So after a quick goodbye, I headed out the door and caught the first bus I saw. Went straight to bed and woke up to catch Eksena Manila on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. Okay, so I was amused that Eksena Manila got their fifteen minutes of fame (and gave publicity to our site and forum). The shot of the senior members running inside the MRT was classic, haha. But I felt a little off after they had shown a bit of me when I had said that I got to use part of my acting skills for the slow-mo mission. They then showed some psych expert claiming that these people were frustrated actors, "kulang sa pansin" and "sira ulo". Why did they have to say that? I consider myself an actor. Heck, everyone's an actor in their own right. Just because they got a full interview with Pao who had admitted that he did plays in grade school/high school doesn't mean he's a frustrated actor, and we're all the same as well. Oh well, to each his own. Still wasn't feeling well today, so the ticket I bought in advance to a film in Cinemalaya that was to be shown today had gone to waste. Tad came for a visit, though, so that made up for it, yay. Thanks, lovey! |
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July 25th, 2008
Of popular live shows... and yes, more randomness. POSTED AT 12:10 AM I remember way back in 2001, when Miss Saigon came to Manila, I declined all offers of watching the production. OK, so you may ask, why would I do that? Hahaha, it was in silent protest because it had seemed that the masses wanted to watch the show just for Lea. So yes, I was also a fan back then, but how about we give credit to all the other Filipinos in the show? Oh well, hahaha. Even with that, I got to go backstage with my STAGCRI class and saw how everything was put together, sans the cast. I think I even left a fingerprint on that pretty pink Cadillac, ahehe. So whenever people keep ask me if I was planning to watch Cinderella, I reply with a brief no. Because I wasn't really counting on watching. But, as it had turned out, I guess I'll still be watching anyway, hahaha!
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In line with this, I can't help but mention the entire Eraserheads craze. I was a fan of this group because my brother was a fan. We both grew up listening to the same kind of music. Whatever he listened to, I listened to it as well. When our cousin got a video camera and my brother learned how to play the guitar, they made home music videos using the songs of the Eraserheads. I was their groupie. But when the band had a concert near our place, only my brother got to go because I was still too young. So I do believe that it's appropriate that I should be at the reunion concert, since my brother won't be able to go, HAHAHA!
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And then there's how some stuff become way overrated once it reaches mainstream, or whatever you call it. Remember the times when Rent was truly appreciated? Hahaha, when it became a film, everyone wanted to be "Rentheads," quoting stuff like "No day but today" until it got totally worn out. It also happened with Dreamgirls. Haha, I've been listening to Dreamgirls since I worked on a production on it 5 years ago. When the movie came out, everyone started listening to several renditions of "And I'm Telling You." Hahaha. Oh well.
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Haven't gotten around to posting these particular snippets. From Labfest: "May blocking ba yung mga stage readings?" "Depende sa doktor." Uhm, gutom pa yata si Opa when she answered that, hahaha.
In the elevator, 2 girls were talking. One was thinking of running for student council. One of the girls said, "Think about it, if you do something good for them, will they do something good for you?" Uhm, isn't that a little selfish?
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The crochet project I started last May lay forgotten when I started juggling with school and Virgin Labfest. I only got to pick it up again last week. Well, I'm almost finished with it,yay. By tomorrow morning, it's going to be done. It took 5 balls of blue and black yarn and calloused fingers, hahaha. But it's worth it. It's supposed to be a present for Tad a couple of months ago, but I guess I put it off for a while. But as I look at it now, I wish I wrote down the pattern (even though I really hardly follow patterns) for the first 9-12 rounds. Because I want to make another one, this time for myself, hahaha! |
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July 27th, 2008
Briefly looking back with Rosa... segue to a meme snagged from Martha and Olive. POSTED AT 11:13 PM After yesterday's rehearsal, I met up with Rosa at Glorietta before we had to go to Assumption to watch Romeo and Juliet. Found her with her officemate Ate Ng at Bo's Coffee, where Rosa gave up on her drink and less-sinful cheesecake for me to eat. It was my first time to meet her Ate Ng, and after Rosa had said that we've been best friends (along with Iam) since 5th grade, Ate Ng then asked if I had been interested in theater since time began, upon noticing that all 3 of us have pretty different interests. Haha, Rosa and I then recalled that before we had met each other, it was she who was interested in the performing arts. She was in the dramatics club for 2 years, while I took up Girl Scouting and was in the library club. She was actually the one who had talked me into trying out for my first school production in 7th grade by means of (literally) dragging me all the way to the music room for the auditions. After we had both passed the audition, during one of our first meetings, Rosa had slipped out of the music room (with Iam in tow) most probably because we had learned about Sir Tony (Espejo), our director. I stayed, and that's how I fell in love with theater. How amusing it is to look back. Which segues to this meme I found in Olive and Martha's blogs. Olive did it as an unbirthday activity and Martha followed suit for her own reasons. I remember doing this twice already, as I had grabbed it off Reggie's blog some years ago. But it would be nice to do it again. Maybe it would shed some light into things I always put off thinking about. Fifteen years ago I... Next year I... |
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July 29th, 2008
Random thoughts since yesterday. POSTED AT 09:41 PM I've been thinking about these stuff since yesterday, so I figured I'd blog and let it out now before I blog about anything else.
Iba-iba pa rin talaga ang pananaw ng iba't ibang tao, maski sa teatro. To each his own pa rin talaga, pagdating sa taste. Haha, I remember Bart speaking about taste in the arts during his script analysis lecture two summers ago. And then there was last year as well, when Jerald and I compared how different people can still be from different companies. You can tell who are there because they truly have the passion. And then there are the ones who indulge in it as a mere hobby. There are even some who aren't even that open-minded. They come with a closed mind already so in the end, all they'll just have to say is that they don't understand it at all. But come on, isn't that part of being an artist? Keeping and open mind? So what are you guys doing? You're boxing yourselves in. It's like that guy who once said, "Come on, am I the type who would watch a play like ***************?" Hey, don't knock it until you've tried it.
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I think there are some things that are pretty irrelevant and unnecessary. Sometimes it seems that they're playing it off for more laughs instead of giving it any purpose or even realism.
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Remember Clue/Cluedo, that old board game? Where were Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock and Miss Scarlet when Mr. Boddy was murdered? Saw Clue the movie yesterday afternoon, after years of not seeing it. This is another film favorite of mine, along with the film adaptation of Michael Frayn's Noises Off. Tim Curry as Wadsworth just cracks me up. I just love the witty dialogue, along with the clever twists and turns in the story. And of course, because it was based on a mystery board game where you can come up with several possible combinations of the result, the film had 3 possible endings, all equally crazy and funny as the entire film. |
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Watching Cinderella's first matinee. POSTED AT 11:04 PM Got to watch Cinderella this afternoon with the Atlantis staff (an "unofficial" matinee before this evening's opening show?). By the time I arrived at the office for lunch, Lawyn immediately asked if Tad was doing anything that afternoon, because we suddenly had an extra ticket. Rang Tad, but as it turned out, he couldn't skip their 3pm acting class. Darn it. But because Riki was getting out of class early due to the fact that he's sick, we both agreed that he take Tad's place so he can kill time before he can drive home. Hahaha, picked up some interesting news from Mae while I was hanging around in the office before we had to go to CCP. Anyway, Lawyn, Mae and I went ahead to the theater with Claire a little earlier because Claire had to be there an hour before the show started. Ate Sally and Ate Janine stayed behind as they were waiting for Ate Sally's cousin and nieces. Because Riki still had to show up in class, I met up with him in the lobby before the house opened to hand him his ticket, then he could just catch up once he got out of the conference room. Each of our seats were in different but consecutive rows, but I ended up sitting on the other end of my row, while Ate Sal and the rest were on the other end. Hahaha, to my surprise, Mrs Garcia and Deedee, along with two other ladies suddenly appear and sit right in front of me. I haven't seen both mother and daughter in ages, and it was actually great to see them again, specially with Mrs. Garcia looking pretty well. On with the show. Once the curtain rose, I was awestruck by the set designs. But I couldn't help but suddenly laugh out loud when I saw the town square in the opening number. There was this huge fountain right in the middle, so it looked like the opening of Beauty and the Beast, hahahaha! Those stepsisters were a funny tandem. That creaking knee was hilarious! And those rat siblings were so adorable. The ensemble was such a treat to watch, from their colorful costumes and of course, their tremendous presence. I wonder how much of today's Filipino performers can match that. Loy and Sheila Martinez, who were part of the cast, did so. Of course, no surprise about Lea. Her voice was crisp and clear and made it as effortless as mere breathing. The special effects were pretty seamless if you don't think much about it like I did (like I always do, HAHAHA). The Fairy Godmother's teleportation from outside the door and into the house amused me for a while, then I suddenly started figuring out how everything would be transformed. How will that huge pumpkin on the table turn into a glorious carriage? Ah, the secret of the scrim. Once I got distracted by the tranformation of the two rats, everything else was already happening. The carriage was suddenly in the middle of the stage, and out comes Lea in a sparkling gown (haha, of course, this stage secret of dressing was my favorite). Huge applause from the crowd. Hahaha, Lea's expression as the carriage began to move was so cute! It looked as if it really was Cinderella's first time to ride in a carriage. Riki didn't get to go in until after intermission (20-minute intermission!) but I filled him in on what he had missed in the 1st act. On with the ball. Hahaha, the prince (I forgot his name, as I was only looking over people's shoulders into their souvenir programs, ahehe) was pretty tall for Lea, but okay, he has the aura of the prince down pat. Plus he's cute, ahehe. Even though I couldn't hear some words, I still am a sucker for that certain "Prince Charming singing voice." And there we go with the transformation again, from the gown to rags, hahaha! The magic of the pillars! I really can't help but be amused with all the designs and special effects all throughout the show. Hahaha, after the show, I almost immediately ran into Bobby and Chari at the doors. Congratulated and thanked them, and nodded to Bobby smiling like a kid who enjoyed a good cartoon movie. Congratulations to Lea and everyone involved in the production! Didn't really stick around long after the show, as Tad was already waiting for me at the entrance for an early evening out. Darn, didn't manage to get a souvenir program. Maybe one of these days, I can just drop by CCP and buy one from Kiwi at the lobby. |
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