A Short Film | Sangang Daan (Intersection)

This is a short narrative film called Sangang Daan (Intersection). I wrote, produced, edited and directed this 24-minute film with one of my closest friends — Jerwin Espiritu. About 90% of this movie is shot on 16-mm celluloid film. We made this in 2006 and it’s not quite finished yet — the sound editing to be specific. It stars a fellow blogger Bikoy Villanueva.

SYNOPSIS: A day in a life of two brothers, Mario and Luigi, two years after an accident that killed their father and put their mother in a coma. Torn by guilt and hatred, the brothers are struggling to make ends meet as a lot has changed since the accident — their finances, their dreams and even their relationship seem to go down the drain. But it is on this day, of all days, that one decision will change everything… hopefully for the better.

Again, as early as now I’d like to apologize for the poor quality of the sound. We already fixed it before but we kinda lost the final cut of this film so this is the last saved file. Not that sloth got the better of us but damn, fixing it again would be too tedious so here, just watch it with your earphones on if you wanna understand. No, seriously, you’ll need earphones. LOL.

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Unusual Breakfast

Note: Blogger’s original work. This is fiction. Please see legal and ethical reminders on the sidebar. Thanks very much.

Here we are again. In the usual corner. Usual table. Usual diner. Usual time. And most probably, usual meal. I’m getting tired of this really. Everything’s a routine. And for what it’s worth, you’re the only same old thing that I’m not tired of. But I’m tired of this. Having the same food for breakfast before we go to work.

“What are we really?” I speak first.

You give me a puzzled look.

I speak again. “You said we’re friends. But the things we do — the things I do with you — the thing’s I’ve done FOR you — and the things I’m so willing to do. They are things I don’t usually do with or for my friends.”

You reach for the menu and browse through it like you’re not hearing a thing.

“And the things you’ve done. They are things no other friend has done for me…. Are we really friends? Is that all we have? Friendship?”

You refuse to talk. You just sit there.

“Just friendship? That’s all we have?”

But I seem to be talking with myself. You give no decent reaction to the question I’ve long wanted to ask you. The question I think I’m wasting all my energy asking.

Disappointed, I release a deep sigh. You continue to pretend trying hard to decide what to have for breakfast when we both know you’ll be having the same old thing. You’re just avoiding the topic. So I just let go of it and try not to spoil this morning like it hasn’t been yet.

I change the topic. “You ready to order?”

“Sure. I’m starving.” Finally, your first words for today. It’s so clear how much you hate talking about that topic. Talking about us.

I call on the waitress, the one who’s always served us our meal. In fact, she knows our name and we chat when she’s not busy. We are regular customers. She approaches our table.

“What are you two having?” Her tone sounds like she never really has to ask for she knows exactly what food we are gonna order.

You put down the menu, look at the waitress, smile, then turn to me. And say, “Something more than friendship.”

(I swear I heard the waitress say “I know, ‘right.”)

picture courtesy of associatedcontent.com

“Julia/Juliana” Random Scene 1

This is lifted from a screenplay I wrote with Tonet for a Hawaiian film. We were commissioned by a Filipino-American producer. It’s a romantic sci-fi musical tentatively titled “Julia/Juliana.” It is yet to be shot.

A little background. Michael is a white soldier. Juliana is his ex-wife who abandoned him. Julia is his new wife who looks, speaks, and acts almost exactly like Juliana. When Juliana decides to return and win back Michael’s heart, things get ugly. Julia leaves Michael and doesn’t want to be found. Anyway, this is just one scene.

82   EXT   BEACH,   NIGHT – LATER

At this time of the night with these crowds, it seems impossible to find JULIA. MICHAEL is acting desperately, asking anyone he comes across with.

JULIANA is doing the same.

MICHAEL breaks away from the crowd and approaches the shore. JULIANA comes running after him.

JULIANA:
Mike! Mike!

MICHAEL does not budge. He stops walking. JULIANA finally catches up.

JULIANA:
I’ve done everything but I really can’t find her.

MICHAEL:
That’s okay. Thank you.

JULIANA notices how this event saddens MICHAEL. For almost a minute, amidst the distant noise from the crowd, silence covers the shore.

JULIANA:
You really love her, don’t you?

MICHAEL just looks at JULIANA and smiles.

JULIANA:
I’m happy for you. But…

JULIANA seems to be very reluctant to complete her sentence.

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’7-Night Stand’ Random Scene 1

This is lifted from a screenplay I wrote for one of my college organizations. We were so prepared to shoot it but we had some problems. And by “problems,” I mean budget. It’s a romantic comedy tentatively called “7-Night Stand.” Anyway, this is just one scene.

34 EXT  ROOFTOP  -  Later that night

Marco and Nicole are on the rooftop. Lying on a mat on the floor. Next to each other. But with a foot distance between them. It’s almost midnight. The moon, their only light source. They have not said anything since the moment they reached the rooftop.

For the past few minutes, Nicole has been staring at Marco, who is staring at the moon. Her smile is uncertain.

Marco faces Nicole. Nicole turns her gaze to the moon.

Marco looks at Nicole intently. Marco smiles. It’s a genuine smile. Not even an ounce of bitterness to it.

Nicole  faces Marco. Marco turns his gaze to the moon.

Again, Nicole looks at Marco intently.

MARCO:
(eyes fixed on the moon; jokingly)
Tinititigan mo ako, ‘no?

NICOLE:
(embarrased)
Hindi ah. Baka ikaw.

MARCO:
Lalo namang hindi ako. Bakit naman kita tititigan?

Silence.

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7 Missed Calls

Note: Blogger’s original work. Don’t plagiarise. To those who would dare, as Ayn says it, may the wrath of heaven and earth fall upon you. This is fiction. Please see legal and ethical reminders on the sidebar. Thanks very much.

7 missed calls.

When I saw this flashed on my cellphone screen this morning, I knew my day would end this way. In a walk along this road connecting the college to Commonwealth Avenue. With you.

It’d been a while.

“How have you been?” Your voice was a bit shaky. If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were nervous.

“Great,” I answered with a slice across my lower face. “And you? How’s London?”

“Well, it’s still London.” A slight laughter went through your lips.

And then, silence. I tried to come up with something to say to keep the conversation flowing but I couldn’t. I just felt I didn’t know you anymore. After two years of being away, I felt like nothing was ever the same with you.

You rebooted the conversation. “I want to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

You paused. Seemed hesitant to say it. “I’m leaving again. Next week. For good.”

“For Brisbane, I know. For what it’s worth, Australia is nearer than UK.”

“Yeah.”

And then, there was silence again. We were walking much more slowly than usual. I felt like I didn’t want to reach the end of this road.

“I want to tell you something.”

“You already told me.”

We reached the end of the road.

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I Would Watch a Movie.

I would watch a movie.
As I stood there at the bus stop
14 buses came and went
11 Drivers asked me to hop in
I refused.
Told them I would watch a movie.

8 pretty women passed by
6 of them smiled at me
1 talked to me
I said I would watch a movie
Trying to catch the 2:15 screening
2 jet planes flew overhead
Their shadows, an image of 2 Jesuses making love
I imagined God cringe at me
But I would just watch a movie
It wasn’t as horrible as the 4 times I forged my prof’s signature
And that 1 steamy moment I had with my bestfriend’s partner
And the 4 days I spent in the office just watching porn.
I would just watch a wholesome movie.

Not like this R-18 flick
The poster behind me
And 17 other ads posted on this board, 4 ft x 3
A Korean needing a English tutor
A man selling a Nokia 3210
A 20% off promo on motel accommodations,
No time for motels.
Today, I would watch a movie.

2.45 ft below it are 6 bread crumbs
371 ants falling in line for lunch.
At exactly 2:15.42, rain pours
288 rain drops initially
A miniature great flood
370 ants drowned in God’s urine, 60 mL
Only 1 pulled off a Noah
I picked it up
And crushed it.
It would bite me; I was sure.
Besides, it couldn’t survive alone.
It wouldn’t last the day counting crumbs and raindrops.
Ants can’t watch movies.
I’d seen so many movies; I lost count.

I would watch another movie.

…

Note: Blogger’s original work. Don’t plagiarise. To those who would dare, as Ayn said it, may the wrath of heaven and earth fall upon you. Please see legal and ethical reminders on the sidebar. Thanks very much.

Paper Planes

a what-to-do-in-case-of-fire pamphlet
one, two, into the cabinet

my birth certificate
one, two, into my closet

my winning lotto ticket
one, two, into the garbage basket

a scratch paper with your name on it
one, two
one, two
one, two

it will never land.
it will never leave my hand.

Note: I already posted this on my previous blog, click here. I just had to move it here so I could file my literary works under one category. Anyway, usual reminder, blogger’s original work. Please see legal and ethical reminders on the sidebar. Thanks very much.
image courtesy of jamboree.freedom-in-education.co.uk

Do What?!

Note: Uhm, no disclaimer this time. This is not fiction. Uh, does it matter? Everytime I say something is fiction, you don’t believe me anyway. So what the heck? Here it goes.

Tagaytay City is more or less 30 minutes away from my mum’s house in Batangas so I’m always there. (Lucky me!) I was in Tagaytay again last Saturday night with a good friend. We were in his car parked somewhere near Starbucks, music-trippin’. I was enjoying my cup of hot white choco, and he, white choco mocha. My friend bears the same name as the performer of the song that was playing that time. Of course, I was singing in the car. (More like a mini-concert, really.)

It was “When I Get You Alone” by Robin Thicke.

“…When I get you alone (‘lone)
When I get you you’ll know baby (know)
When I get you alone (‘lone)
When I get you alone now (it’s all mine)….”

I was just singing when he suddenly threw me a look so sexy and displayed a mischievous grin. I turned down the volume, almost inaudible, and said, “What?!”

“What would you do if you got me alone?” He asked.

“Well, right now I got you alone and I’m not doing anything. So I guess, uh, nothing?”

“Why don’t you do something?”

“What? You’re Britney Spears now?”

“Come on. Do something. Do it.”

“Do what?”

“You know. It.”

“Oh I can’t do that. You have an effin’ girlfriend. My parents raised me well.”

“But you’ve done it once before with someone who was in a relationship. Still, you did it. Why not do it again now?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Oooh. I know, someone here is just afraid.”

“I’m afraid that you’re afraid that I might really do it.”

“No, I’m not. I dare you. Do it.”

“Do what?”

“It. Do it.”

“What is it?”

“What it is that you want to do! Do it.”

“And what do you think it is that I want to do?”

“It. Just do it!”

“Do what?!”

“Oh for Christ’s sake. Don’t do this. Do it!”

“Now I’m confused. You want me to do it or not?”

“I want you to do it.”

“Do what?”

“IT!!!”

“What is it? Why can’t you say it?”

“Why do I have to say it when you can just do it?”

“Do what?” My smile was the biggest I’ve ever had. Ever.

“Alright. I get it. Fine. I give up. That’s what you want, fine. Well then, as long as you’re in this car, DON’T YOU DARE DO ANYTHING.”

“Hmmkey. I won’t do anything.”

No one said anything for a while. We just sat there. After minutes of uncomfortable silence and unbearable awkwardness, (I was just flashing a wide smile the whole time) I asked, “Can I sing?”

He nodded. I turned the volume up, and played another song. It was Nelly Furtado‘s “Do It.”

“…Do it like you do it to me (I’m burning up)
Do it like you do it to me (it’s not enough)
Do it like you do it to me (just open up)
Don’t you know how much I want you….”

He gave me a nasty look, and a cute embarassed grin.

I snickered. “WHAT?!”

pictures courtesy of zingmagazine.com and jupiterimages.com

Just Did

Note: I already posted this on my previous blog, click here. I just had to move it here so I could file my short stories under one category. Anyway, usual reminder: blogger’s original work. Please see legal and ethical reminders on the sidebar. Thanks very much. Again, this is fiction.

When one of my bestfriends and I were at a resort somewhere in the south three years ago for his despedida party (he would be flying to London in less than two days), we decided to leave the crowd for a moment and stay on the beach. We were lying on the sand. I was staring at the moon and I was quite sure that he was staring at me.

He was the first to speak. “Have you given it a thought?”

“Not much,” I replied.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t. Why does it always have to have a reason?”

He didn’t utter a single word. And then he sat up and felt the grains on his palms.

Then he spoke again. “We’re bestfriends.”

“Yeah.”

“And it’s all we could ever be. We’re bestfriends. And we’re both guys.”

I just looked at him while he stared blankly at the sea. Then he somewhat rubbed his palms against his knees, and said, “So you really don’t feel anything for me? Anything more than friendship?”

“I don’t.”

Silence fell.

“You’re too honest, it hurts. You never lie. Never.”

Then the moon caught my attention again. I just stared at it for God knows how many seconds.

“I just did,” I said.

By the time I could even finish that sentence, he was already standing, about to leave. He didn’t even hear what I just said. I watched him as he walked away.

“I just did.” I whispered.

We’ve never seen each other again since.

picture stolen from jakehowlett.com

Everything Comes in Threes

The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost;
The Wise Men who visited Jesus;
Hades, Poseidon, Zeus;
the heads of Cerberus;
The Godfather series;
The Lord of the Rings;
Harry, Ron, Hermione;
Tito, Vic, Joey;
Randy, Paula, Simon;
Hanson;
Destiny’s Child, TLC, Dixie Chicks;
the musketeers, the blind mice, the little pigs;
papa bear, mama bear, baby bear;
I came, I saw, I conquered;
core, mantle, crust;
solid, liquid, gas;
protons, neutrons, electrons;
the King, the Queen, and Jack;
the number of strikes before a player is out;
I, love, you;

It was just my second chance I blew.