HOW would one react when he finds out that a close friend or a family member is addicted to drugs? What would he do? In the case of renowned director Carlo J. Caparas, he made a movie: “Kamandag ng Droga.”
In the movie, four teenagers get themselves entangled with drugs. As a result, their world crumbles and their dreams are shattered.
Doing away with rumors that he has retired from the entertainment business, proclaimed national artist Carlo Caparas, with Lions IV and Viva Films, is set to release “Kamandag ng Droga” this November.
The film, which has a budget of P100 million, is around two hours and 10 minutes long and uses both the English and Tagalog languages. There will be an English subtitle.
At least 30 big names are involved in the film. Among the stars are Sarah Lahbati, Meg Imperial, Mark Newman, Christopher De Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Mocha Uson, Koko Pimentel and Caparas’ children CJ and Peach, who also co-directed the film.
President Rodrigo Duterte also makes an appearance. The fight against illegal drugs is the President’s main agenda in his administration.
But Caparas clarified that the movie is not a propaganda for Duterte’s war on drugs. He welcomes any negative feedback on “Kamandag ng Droga.”
“Anyway, positive and negative comments on the movie still count as publicity,” Caparas told a SunStar Cebu news team during an exclusive get-together.
Caparas admits he is a Duterte supporter.
“Our sentiment here is that we’ve seen our relatives fall because of drugs. The misery it puts everyone through. My wife told me ‘Carlo, I want you to make this movie for me and for you too because the drug situation is really rampant.’ This is what inspired me to make this movie. This movie is dedicated to her,” Caparas said of “Kamandag ng Droga.”
The director also said that the film aims to have a very entertaining approach to an otherwise sensitive topic.
Caparas plans to cooperate with the Department of Education so that the film can reach students since the main characters of the movie are students. He also plans to have a premiere night in Cebu upon the official release of the film.