FILMMAKER + COMPOSER
Mangatyanan depicts story of a woman with a tragic past
by Mell Navarro
Si Director Jerrold Tarog ay isang baguhan ngunit mahusay at sensitibong filmmaker na siyang nagdidirek, nagsusulat ng script, siya ring musical scorer, at sound engineer ng kanyang sariling pelikula.
Mine-maintain niya rin ang kanyang career bilang isang freelance professional musical scorer. Siya ang nag-score ng critically-acclaimed films such as Kaleldo at Foster Child ni Direk Dante Mendoza at ang Kubrador ni Direk Jeffrey Jeturian. Kauna-unahang pelikula pa lamang ni Direk Jerrold ang Confessional (Cinema One Originals entry in 2007), pero umani na ito ng napakaraming papuri mula sa mga respetadong kritiko, at humakot ng awards hindi lang dito sa bansa kung hindi pati na rin sa mga international dilm festivals.
Ngayong 2009, nagbabalik-film festival ang husay at kalibre ng isang Jerrold Tarog. This time, pasok ang second film ni Direk sa isa pang independent Pinoy filmfest, ang Cinemalaya Cinco, with his full-length film titled Mangatyanan. Ilang days bago pa man nagpa-presscon ang Cinemalaya 2009 sa CCP noong May 21, nakapanyam na ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Direk Jerrold, via email. Ano nga ba ang kuwento ng Mangatyanan? Mangatyanan is a sequel to Confessional," sabi ni Direk. "It's part of a trilogy about people with cameras. There's more drama this time than commentary."
Ano nga ba ang dahilan kung bakit mahilig si Direk Jerrold na gumawa ng pelikulang tungkol sa mga taong may mga camera, at plano pa niyang gumawa ng "trilogy"? Una nga kasi, sa Confessional, bida ang isang lalaking videographer, and this time sa Mangatyanan, bida ang isang babaeng photographer naman.
"Wala talagang profound reason. It's just that, meron na akong two scripts that featured professional camera-people. "So, I figured I might as well write a third one, call it a trilogy, then forever BAN myself from writing characters with that profession again. I have plans for a Music trilogy as well," pahayag ni Direk.
Bida si Che Ramos sa nasabing indie film. Si Che ay isang print and commercial model na marami-rami na rin ang nagawang commercials, at nakalabas na (in supporting roles) sa mga indie movies. Kabilang sa past films ni Che Ramos ay ang Ataul For Rent (with Joel Torre and Jaclyn Jose), Pain Things (with Christian Vazquez and Michael de Mesa), at Prinsesa (starring Romnick Sarmenta and Shamaine Buencamino). "Isa rin siyang trained dancer. This is her first lead role in a feature film.
The lead part was written specifically for her," pagbibigay-impormasyon pa ni Direk.
Kabilang rin sa cast ang critically-acclaimed stage and film actress na si Irma Adlawan, ang character actor na si Neil Ryan Sese, at si Publio Briones III (na gumanap bilang Mayor sa Confessional).
Ano ang message na nais niyang iparating sa kanyang audience sa Mangatyanan?
"I don't know," aniya. "It's not a message film. But, like Confessional, it tells a simple story but it also has several symbolic layers that may be interpreted in different ways. Bahala na ang audience."
Masasabing "bongga" rin si Direk, dahil in a period of three years, na-penetrate niya ang dalawa sa pinaka-popular na independent film festival sa bansa: ang Cinema One Orginals noong 2007 at ang Cinemalaya 2009. Paano niya maikukumpara ang kanyang working experience sa Cinema One with that of Cinemalaya?
"I've been fortunate enough to have smooth working relationships with my producers. In Cinema One, they allowed me to do whatever I wanted and it's the same with Cinemalaya.
"It's a great thing because, without corporate constraints, the filmmaker focuses on craft. When the producer completely trusts the filmmaker and the script, all you need to do is make the best film you can possibly make.
"No energy is wasted on politics and wrangling egos," makahulugang pagtatapos ni Direk.
(source)