First-time film producers Judy Ann Santos and Panoramanila Pictures Co., cast and crew, friends from local show business, and fans are going all out for the film Ploning. From contributing personal investments to committing time to promote the film on two major TV networks, in the malls, and on the Internet, the support from these people seems extra-special.

Ploning is beyond the common undertaking for this is Judy Ann’s thirtieth birthday film project. The movie brings many firsts for its lead actress, making things even more special for the birthday girl. This is the first time for Judy Ann not to have a leading man. This is her first attempt to shoot using live sound, because in all her other film projects, she would normally dub in post-production. This is Judy Ann’s first time to release a film with a tie-in coffee table book, among others.

Perhaps the most interesting “first” for Judy Ann, though, is learning a new dialect. Since the whole film is shot in Cuyo, Palawan, and it’s inspired by the popular Cuyonon folk song, “Ploning,” Judy Ann was asked to learn Cuyonon.

“When we were learning Cuyonon,” she shares, “we had to understand what we were talking about because we needed to convey the right emotions of the characters. We had to learn the intonation and how [the locals] deliver the lines if they were to say the dialogues.”

Judy Ann was given a CD to listen to for the accent and intonation familiarization, but she says, “I even got more confused listening to it, because Cuyonon sounds like German. But when I reached Cuyo to start shooting, I got immersed in the environment and got to interact with the local people. It made learning Cuyonon a lot easier.”

Ploning is 40 percent in Cuyonon , and 60 percent in Tagalog.

Ploning is a beautiful woman who patiently waits and holds on to the promise of her beloved’s return. Ploning is a story of loving and waiting, of healing and forgiving.Playing the role of Ploning also didn’t come easy for Judy Ann. The character requires her to be timid, and not to smile and talk too much. She must be able to communicate her emotions and reactions through her eyes and actions only.

“This is very far from the real Judy Ann,” she says laughing. “There was even a scene that I had to postpone shooting because I felt that I couldn’t deliver it that day. It’s the esposada (bridal shower) scene, which is the most important scene in Ploning. I had to study it for a day. But when I finished shooting all the sequences after three nights, I wanted to cry because I was able to deliver what the director wanted in one of the most difficult scenes in the movie.”

Ploning is directed by Dante Nico Garcia, a production designer in ABS-CBN, who is also one of Judy Ann’s best friends. While Judy Ann feels comfortable and happy with the idea that she’ll be working with her best pal, Direk Ga (as he is often called), she also feels nervous.

“I really thought it would be easy working with people I’m very close to, but it’s difficult to become Ploning when you are surrounded by your friends. The ‘real you’ tries to outshine the role you are portraying, especially since Ploning and I are really opposites.”

Despite what Judy Ann says about the polar differences between Ploning and her, she actually had a hand in the characterization of her role. Even if Ploning is based on real-life people, she was still able to provide her own insights and creative input in the filming process.

“The character of Ploning is actually based on three special women closest to Ga’s heart,” Judy Ann reveals, “his grandmother, surrogate mother, and real (biological) mother. I already know Ga’s real mother so I just met with his surrogate mother when I got to Cuyo.”

Judy Ann was also able to meet the real Nanay Juaning who is played by comedienne Eugene Domingo. “And the character of Digo is the young lad Ga in real life,” she discloses with a smile.

While Judy Ann was filming Ploning, her very supportive boyfriend, Ryan Agoncillo, was also shooting behind the scenes as part of the Ploning coffee table book that he is doing. This could also be considered a first in Philippine cinema that a film is accompanied by a book. Real-life friend Ogie Alcasid also composed a love ditty for Ploning.

Ploning is more than just an inspiration of the folk song. It’s a collective story of personal recollections of heartaches, memories, and friendships.

“It’s a film coming from the heart,” adds Judy Ann. “When I was reading the whole script, I was laughing hard, because most of the scenes actually happened to us some years back. But ironically, after other people have read the script, they said that it made them cry. The selfless contribution of every person involved in the film is born out of genuine friendship.”

Ploning is one project that she really wants to do. “I think it’s about time that I choose films that I want and don’t want to do,” she shares. “It’s not really about being a diva or star, but it’s about developing my craft as an artist.” This is also why she has agreed to co-produce the film through an equity-sharing scheme.

“For now, Ms. Santos and our key production staff are enjoying this kind of arrangement,” says Jourdan Sebastian, executive creative producer. When the film earns, the investors also earn based on the shares allotted to them.

Judy Ann shares the billing with a powerhouse cast and real-life friends in Ploning. Gina Pareno, Mylene Dizon, Meryll Soriano, Ces Quesada, Tony Mabesa, Crispin Pineda, Eugene Domingo, Tessie Tomas, Ketchup Eusebio, Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, Beth Tamayo, Jojit Lorenzo, Spanky Manikan, and local actors Cedric Amit, Lucas Agustin, Ogoy Agustin, Boodge Fernandez make up this dream project of Judy Ann and Panoramanila.

Catch Ploning in your favorite theaters as it opens on April 30, 2008. See the beauty of Philippines beyond its third-world poverty, and experience a “labor of love” in a different light through the eyes of Ploning.

Visit the official site

Related stories:
Discovering Cuyo, Palawan
Ploning Opens This Month
Juday to Star in Panoramanila’s First Film

For queries:
Oliver Oliveros
Senior Public Relations Officer/Consultant
Stages
+63 2 818 1111 loc. 225
+63 928 772 5254
stages_pr@i-manila.com.ph
http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com