AWARD-WINNING Dabawenyo filmmaker, Earl Bontuyan is working on a film entitled Pepe which was shot in the beautiful and inviting beaches of Mati City, Davao Oriental.
This romantic-comedy existentialist movie talks about love and desire, and the liberation of human need from the human want.
“It is a film set in a beautiful island where group of people will be stranded,” Bontuyan said.
The soon-to-be-screened film is starred Renz Fernandez, Mara Lopez Yokohama, Dianna Meneses, Mon Confiado, Andrew Wolfe, John James Uy, and Alvin Anson.
Bontuyan shared that the film will be an applicant of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) under the finished film category.
In a press conference last August 15 at Destino Dahican Beach Resort, the casts shared their roles and how they play a part in the film.
Renz Fernandez as Pepe - A very ambitious person that fights a battle between his wants and needs. His “wants” will eventually lead him to his imprisonment. He will be narrating the whole story in the film.
Mara Lopez Yokohama as Lyn - Her character is very relatable to a lot of people, especially to those who love to love. She is the no. 1 supporter of Pepe and his best friend. The dynamic will change when both will be stranded in an island.
Dianna Meneses as Shayne - She is a gold digger, ambitious woman who desperately does anything just to climb her way up. She dreams of becoming a supermodel.
John James Uy as George – He is the best friend and stylist of Shane. He is very fashion forward. He prefers style over comfort. In the story he will develop a romance towards his same sex.
Andrew Wolfe as Bruce - He is the pilot of the plane. He is, somehow, the reason why the group is stuck in an island.
The lead actor, Fernandez shared that this will be his first film as a professional actor.
“I had a film before but I was still a child then, it was a film with my father (Rudy Fernandez). I hope everyone could watch the film, we have been talking about the script for almost five years,” he said.
He added that the film talks about freedom.
“Well, in the film, it will post a recurring question of: Paano ka nakulong? But the main message would be, Paano ka nakalaya?” he added.
When asked about how they feel about shooting in the island amid Martial Law in Mindanao, the stars were quick to respond that they feel even secured.
“It feels normal, hindi naming na feel,” Wolfe said.
Meanwhile, Lopez Yokohama lauded the City Government of Mati for keeping the shores clean and almost trash-free.
“Actually, the first thing I did when we got here is swim. In all fairness, when we swim, it was very clean, I think trash management in coastal areas here is commendable,” she said adding that she will come back soon in October to surf in Dahican Beach.
The director, Bontuyan, was recognized in his works as a visual effects supervisor and director of the film “Sa ilalin ng tulay” which garnered recognitions from PMPC Star Awards and CinemaOne Originals. For this film, he is with Dodge Ledesma, who is also an award-winning Dabawenyo filmmaker, who serves as this film’s cinematographer.