The Palawan National School (PNS) main campus was the location of the re-purposed film “TGIF (Thank’s God I’m Free)” that written and directed by director Errol Ropero for Camera Roll last October.
25 students are cast and crew of the film that was shot last week of October on the campus, it tells a story about anti-bullying.
Ropero, in an exclusive interview with Palawan Daily News, said that the original plan was only to conduct a seminar-workshop for the students of PNS.
This would have only included acting, filmmaking and post-processing. He and his 16 crew arrived in Puerto Princesa last October 1 and started training 100 students, who were selected from the almost 300 students who auditioned for the training.
The workshop lasted until Oct 4, and they returned for another intensive training from Oct 12 to 15.
“Nag-offer ako ng audition, kasi sabi ko may ginagawa kasi akong pelikula sa Manila na puede nating dalhin yung mga bata, magpapa-audition kami. Sabi naman ng mga teachers sige maganda yan baka may makuha, alam naman namin na karamihan sa mga beauty Queens nanggagaling sa Puerto Princesa. Hanggang sa dumating na bakit hindi na lang tayo mag-conduct ng acting workshop at film making, at editing, kasi nabanggit nila na may mga Special Program for the Arts dito, at ini-offer namin yun for free,” Ropero recalled the birth of the project.
After 8 days of training, a recital program was unanimously requested by the school administration and the students as well.
Ropero decided to shoot a short film with the crew and the actors who attended his workshop served as artists and production teams, but the short film was shelved due to the appeal of the school to create a full-length feature film instead.
It was the reason Ropero decided to re-purpose his old film “TGIF”. He had to shoot some scenes with new cast. It was shot in PNS with actor Christian Vasquez and Rod Dy part of the original film, and they were here recently to shoot some scenes. The said film will be re-edited with old and new scenes combined to make it a brand new one.
“Since sinuportahan naman ni Sir Ed (PNS Principal Santos) yung pelikula, bakit hindi natin i-incorporate? Pwede akong mag re-shoot ng ilang eksena from TGIF, na involved yung mga estudyante, magulang para yung papanoorin nila andun sila mismo sa movie, at ina-allowed naman nila.”
Ropero is originally from Palawan’s southern Municipality of Bataraza, who made his debut as an indie filmmaker via “Kariton Classroom” in 2012 that was shown only in many schools throughout the country.
He started as a film editor in 2009 and his main business is bringing films of other directors to any school for screening. TGIF is his 25th film as of this date, with his past works “Tolits,” “Dance steps,” “Bestfriend” and so many other.
“Hindi ako nag-aral ng filmmaking, kahit sino naman puedeng maging director, hindi naman kailangan nakatapos ka ng ganito. Kumbaga naging director ako not by the book, kung anu lang yung nalalaman ko, yun lang kaya kong gawin, yung tinuro ko sa kanila exclusive yun by my own experience, hindi ko sila tinuruan by the book.”
Screening Fee, DEPED letter and stardom issues
“TGIF” is scheduled to be screen in Robinsons Mall Palawan or SM Puerto Princesa in the coming days exclusively for the students of PNS, but some parents of the students is expressing their disapproval regarding the price of the tickets, to which it will be mandatory in some subject of the school.
The ticket cost is P300 for two, and P200 for one only, according to the information received by PDN, and parents are highly adviced to watch the screening too, thus making hard for some who have 2 or three students, some believe that the school administration is getting a kickback on the amount per ticket.
Ropero denied the said “cut” by the school, saying that with the amount of the ticket it is impossible for them to give commission to the school.
He assured those parents that nobody from the school administration and teachers are benefiting from the film showing. For those who will buy the ticket, they will get free screening of another Ropero’s film “Juan Happy Family”, that will be screened at PNS Gym soon after the TGIF screening in cinemas. There is no truth also that PNS is requiring their students to watch.
“Wala silang share dito, alam natin ang presyohan sa sinehan, kung magiging P150 ang bawat isa alam natin nasa P400 ang usual showing, kaya panu pa kami makakabigay pa sa mga schools sa ganyang rate talagang ang mahal na, awareness campaign etu,” Ropero added.
There is no endorsement letter yet from the Department of Education Division office, Ropero admitted, since he trusts the leadership of Principal Santos that offered help to handle it. It is being processed as of this writing.
“Sanay kasi ako na ako yung humihingi ng letter from DEPED Division office, ako yung nagre-request, eh sabi ni Sir Ed kahit sya na lang daw yung susulat sa division office. So yun ang nangyari sya ang sumulat, nagkaroon ng kunting problem, hindi naman totally major problem kasi sinuportahan naman etu ng general PTA (Parent Teachers Association) ng PNS,” Ropero explain.
Ropero also cleared another issue regarding some students that they promised and offered to be brought to Manila for another acting workshop and to star to some of his upcoming projects.
He already brought 2 of his cast to Manila recently, however, the shoot didn’t materialize. He said he is in close contact with the parents of those students that he selected to be part of his future films.
“Hindi naman lahat, yang mga yan gumanap na yan dito sa PNS, pinipili ko lang kung sino yung puede, at hindi ako pumipili ng mga mayayaman, ang pinipili ko lang yung alam ko na kailangan-kailangan talaga nila, kasi once andun na sila sa Manila may mga talent fees yung mga yan.”
In closing, Ropero said that his film is a good one to watch and will enlighten everyone regarding the alarming issue on bullying, it will also present the PNS as a safe campus for students.