IT’S Famas (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards) day and four Bisdaks are hopeful they can bring home a trophy—or two.
Chai Fonacier, Fatrick Tabada, Achinette Villamor and Max Surban—all Bisaya—are nominated in different Famas categories. Awarding is tonight at the Theater at Solaire.
A familiar name and face to fans, “Patay Na si Hesus” actress Chai Fonacier gained two nominations: best supporting actress for “Respeto” and best original song for “Kabuwisit Pa,” one of two songs nominated for best original song for “Respeto.”
Fonacier stars as Betchai in Treb Montares’ hip-hop drama that revolves around Hendrix (rapper Abra), who dreams of earning respect in the underground rap battle scene of the slums. He meets Doc (Dido dela Paz), an old poet who is trying to bury his own horrors of the Martial Law.
In a Messenger interview with SunStar Cebu, Fonacier shared how she got the role: “I think the producer, Coreen Jimenez, and director Treb Monteras saw my work for ‘Patay na si Hesus’ and thought I may be able to play the role. So last year, when they were casting, the production team called me up and asked me to send an audition video (I was based in Cebu at the time).”
For Fonacier, Betchai’s character development was a collaboration of his co-actors, the director and the production team.
She was caught off guard with her Famas nominations. She learned about it when a friend congratulated her. Famas is the Philippines’ version of the Oscars in Hollywood.
Fonacier said her tweet after learning about the nomination totally captured her surprise and gratitude: “Luh na shookt ko, mehn. Nominated kuno ko’s Famas 2018 for best supporting actress ...Salamat (I was shocked. I heard that I got a Famas nomination for best supporting actress. Thank you.)”
Fonacier’s first feature film was Remton Zuasola’s “Swap.”
She considers listening to stories and telling stories very important.
“Some valuable messages, and learning, can be reinforced better through art. It helps shape the way we view and treat ourselves, our lives and other people. It so happens that my medium at the moment is through acting. Other days, I write,” said Fonacier.
The talented Bisdak just finished filming the “Die Beautiful” spinoff “Born Beautiful.” She is currently filming two movies due in August and a series.
As her acting career jolts forward, could she see herself acting for the rest of her life?
“A good friend gave me a reminder that I always tell myself: Stranger things have happened,” said Fonacier.
For aspiring actors, Fonacier has this advice: “Brace yourself. Also, do your homework all the time.”
“Respeto” earned multiple nominations including best picture, best director, best actor for Abra, best supporting actress, best supporting actor for dela Paz and best original screenplay.
Two Cebuanos will duke it out in the best screenplay category: Villamor for “Balangiga: Howling Wilderness” and Tabada for “Si Chedeng at Si Apple.”
Villamor plotted the story for “Balangiga,” along with Jerry Gracio and the film’s director, Khavn De La Cruz. All three of them received the nomination.
In writing the screenplay, Villamor said she was inspired by Philippine history. During the Philippine-American War, Gen. Jacob H. Smith ordered a retaliatory attack on the Filipinos, saying: “Kill everyone over the age of 10,” and make the island “a howling wilderness.”
Villamor said she could not forget her anger over those words.
“Balangiga” is an intimate epic film set in the Philippine-American War. Amid Smith’s massacre order, eight-year-old Kulas ( Justine Samson), along with his grandfather and their carabao, set off for Balangiga, a town in Eastern Samar. The movie basically conveys the evil in colonialism.
“Balangiga” was conceptualized as early as 2012. But Villamor said the story development was too ambitious then. They had to make the film’s perspective simpler, and focused on just two sources: “Hang the Dogs” by Bob Couttie and “Balangiga Conflict Revisited” by Rolando Borrinaga.
Villamor’s first writing credit was “Alipato: The Very Brief Life of an Ember” (2016), which she also produced. “Alipato” received two Famas nominations.
“Confused,” Villamor said of her reaction at getting a Famas nomination. “Famas nominations for the punks that we are?”
She hopes that the US return the Balangiga church bells, which the American army confiscated following the massacre in the town, to the Philippines.
“It’s petty and childish to refuse to return them. Worse, continued refusal is a continued reminder of that horrible US policy called benevolent assimilation,” said Villamor.
She is currently busy planning future films that range from science fiction to horror and dance.
“Balangiga” also received numerous nominations in this year’s Famas including best picture, best director, best actor, best cinematography, best production design, best editing and best original screenplay.
As mentioned, Villamor will be competing for the screenplay trophy against fellow Cebuano Tabada, whom fans know as the writer of the comedy “Patay na si Hesus.” His Famas nomination is for “Si Chedeng at si Apple,” a comedy about two older women: Chedeng (Gloria Diaz), who just came out of the closet, and Apple (Elizabeth Oropesa), who murdered her live-in partner and bagged his head in a luxurious Louis Vuitton bag.
Tabada, together with his co-director Rae Red, envisions this movie for all women who have been oppressed by the patriarchal society.
Tabada, who was once a journalist in one of Cebu’s newspapers, said he has always written screenplays on the side.
The 26-year-old filmmaker said that at the early age of 17, he was already making films.
He started writing and directing short films back in college in Cebu. And now, he is getting acclaim from national and international audiences.
“Si Chedeng at Si Apple” received praises from the 20th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy.
“I loved their reaction,” said Tabada of the Italian audience. “They were laughing and clapping at the end.”
Apart from Italy, the film will also be screened at the Seattle International Film Festival and the San Francisco Frameline Film Festival in the US.
“Crossing my fingers that we’ll take home an award,” said Tabada.
Aside from Tabada, Diaz also received a Famas best actress nomination.
Another Cebuano, Max Surban, who sang “Gitik-Gitik,” a song composed by director Khavn for “Balangiga,” is also up for best original song.
Both Fonacier and Villamor are attending tonight’s Famas Awards while Tabada will be in San Francisco for his film’s screening.