"Nawala na ito sa isip ko ito," said producer Imee Marcos about her film Pintakasi, which got included in the New Wave category of the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival.
"Di namin alam, e, na pasok kami. Nakalimutan na kasi namin...
"Yung mga artista namin nung mga panahon na yun, ang sikat lang sina Tita Boots [Anson Roa], si William Martinez, si Giselle [Sanchez]...sila lang ang sikat nun."
She could no longer tell the exact date when they started working on the film. "Mga three and a half years?
"It's been going on forever, not only in time but also in space," the governor of Ilocos Norte quipped during the movie's press con held last December 14 at Mario's restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.
But fast forward to 2011, Pintakasi stars Erich Gonzalez and JM De Guzman have come a long way.
Some people asked, "Bakit hindi kayo nag-mainstream?"
But Imee's simple target then was to create a movie out of hip hop, which--according to her--is the "lenggwahe ng kalsada."
Moving on, she resumed, "Pero hindi naman namin akalaing na yung kinakalampag ko sa Dulaang UP na si JM, si Erich, na isang diyosang taga-Davao na binibiro-biro lang namin, nagsikatan na sila..."
Both are now under Star Magic. Erich is presently the female lead of Maria la del Barrio, while JM topbills Angelito: Batang Ama.
Imee recounted how she discovered JM, "Nanood lang ako [ng play], naghanap ng mukha na kamukha nung drawing. Dahil kung artista, ang gaganda, e, hindi sila squatter. He was struggling actor in U.P."
As for Erich, "She was still a very, very new star [back then]...Ngayon, well established na siya at leading lady.
"Everybody was totally in love with Erich dahil nagbi-beat box. Ang tapang ng budhi. Kayang-kayang mag-beat box kasama ng mga lalake."
ABOUT THE FILM. The title took its inspiration from three things.
The first is "sabong."
Imee explained, "Dalawang tropa 'to—yung mga masasama at yung mababait."
Then there's the "hiphop battle ng ating mga dancer, na siyempre mga All-Stars..."
It was also patterned after "Jose Rizal, na isang pintor din. Pinta kasi..."
Other characters were Apol, from Apolinario Mabini; Andoy, from Andres Bonifacio; and Josephine, from Josephine Bracken.
Ms. Boots Anson-Roa, as described by Imee, is "napakalupit at masamang lola na nagbebenta ng droga."
It's all about "break dancing, rock, at kung anu-anong hiphop na totoo."
Why did they choose it as the theme?
Imee answered, "Dahil nakita namin, kasi nag-research rin kami sa...ang lenggwahe ng kalsada, e, talagang hiphop.
"Kapag nagpunta ka sa Tondo, sa Isla Pulo, sa Puting Bato, lahat ng mga lugar sa Isla Puti, talagang makikita mo, pati mga bata nagba-battle sila.
"Nakailang generation na rin ng hiphop sa Pilipinas. Dati, dala-dala lamang ng mga balikbayan na Amboy. Ngayon, localized na, e, Tagalized na..."
She commended the support of College of St. Benilde, St. Scholastica College, University of Asia and the Pacific students, who joined "kahit minsan hindi sila napakain."
Imee also thanked "lots of computer geeks and "game developers."
The former helped in putting out the graphic novel, full-blown art. "Kasabay niyang [film] ilalabas, pero hindi eksaktong pareho yung pelikula at novel," she said.
The latter will turn the project into a computer game. "I want this to be multi-platform," the producer said with a smile.
Lastly, how much did this animated film with lots of special effects cost?
A pause before replying, "I don't really know because we've been going at it for a really, really long time.
"Over time, between the donations and everything...siguro, value...I dunno it's probably P15-20 million.
"We've never actually put the whole budget together.
"The kids, pumayag sila [sa] payak na talent fee. Pero lumobo nang lumobo sa post-production."
(CLICK HERE to view the screening schedules of Pintakasi and other New Wave entries in this year's MMFF)