Albert Martinez

After five years, may bagong pelikula si Diether Ocampo, ang indie film na Slow Fade. It is produced by PLDT-Smart Foundation at Cinemabuhay International, headed by actor Albert Martinez.  Sa direksyon ito ng isa sa mga bagong filmmakers ngayon, si Rommel Sales, who is also the film's cinematographer. Ang sumulat ng script ay si Paul Sta. Ana na siya namang director ng indie films na Marino at Huling Pasada.  

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) learned from Diether na iniyakan niya ang teaser na hiningi niya kina kay Direk Rommel and scriptwriter Paul Sta. Ana. Bakit siya naiyak dahil sa teaser ng pelikula?

"Nang i-offer sa akin ang movie, hindi ko agad na-visualize, may nagpa-flash back kasi sa akin, kaya humingi muna ako ng kahit teaser ng movie," kuwento ni Diet.  "Nang mapanood ko ito, at nabasa ko ang script na tungkol kay Darius, isang video editor by profession na ini-record niya everything, tungkol sa kanyang sarili, ang mga tao, ang kanyang community, na he would like to impart to his child na hindi niya alam kung makikita pa niya dahil may brain cancer siya, naiyak ako. 

"Parang bumalik sa akin ang tunay na nangyari sa buhay ko.  My father died when I was only six years old dahil may colon cancer siya.  May naiwan din siyang cassette tape tungkol sa amin na nai-record niya bago siya nawala.  Narinig ko lamang ang boses ng daddy ko sa cassette tape na nasa pag-iingat pa rin ni Mommy hanggang sa ngayon.  Kaya naka-relate talaga ako sa story at sa character na ginampanan ko."

Ganoon din ba ang magiging ending ng story?

"No, iba ang ending ng story ni Paul, hindi ito sad ending, dahil punong-puno ito ng hope, lalo na sa mga cancer victims," sagot ni Diether.

Thankful din si Diether sa leading lady niya, 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman, who plays his wife in the film.

"Maganda ang role ko, sympathetic ako sa character ni Diether," kuwento ni Lara. "And as his wfie, I need to be strong for my husband, na kailangan kong tanggapin ang harsh realities of life, maging compassionate sa kanya kahit alam kong mawawala siya at magiging single mother ako. Hindi rin ako nahirapang umiyak sa mga eksena dahil mapi-feel mo talaga ang sakit na mawawalan ka ng asawa. 

"I'm thankful sa Cinemabuhay na ibinigay sa akin ang indie film na ito. Second ko na ito, nauna kong ginawa noon ang Umuulan, Umaaraw with Ryan Agoncillo.

Direk Rommel's Slow Fade was chosen as the recipient of a P1 million grant from Cinemabuhay—a program of the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) that provides seed money for first-time filmmakers to turn their dream stories into actual movies.  It is the vision of Rommel Sales (story/direction) and Paul Sta. Ana (screenplay), produced in association with Brainchild Studios.

Third film ito to receive the grant from Cinemabuhay (founded in 2005, led by Albert Martinez, executive director).  Previous film awardees were Numbalikdiwa (2007) directed by Bobby Bonifacio, starring Maricel Soriano and Albert Martinez, and Cul De Sac (2008) directed by Juan Miguel Sevilla, starring Sam Milby, Jodi Santamaria and Chin Chin Gutierrez.

PSF Vice President, Atty. Rogelio V. Quevedo, pointed out, "As the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the PLDT Group, PSF is proud to support a talented and young filmmaker like Rommel Sales. 


Cinemabuhay/PLDT-Smart Foundation P1 million grant is now accepting entries.  Deadline of submission is on May 30, 2010.  Interested parties must submit the following: synopsis, cast, resume of writer, resume of producer and email to: Cinemabuhay@gmail.com

Wala pang playdate ang Slow Fade dito sa Pilipinas dahil ang target muna nila, maisali ito sa mga international film festival abroad.  They are planning to join the upcoming Paris International Film Festival.  Sayang nga raw na hindi na sila umabot sa Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan at ang Pusan International Film Festival in Korea dahil hindi pa tapos noon ang film.