By Mell T. Navarro
KASALUKYANG nagsu-shooting ang award-winning master director na si Elwood Perez ng bago nitong pelikula – ang biofilm niya.
Pinamagatang “Mnemonics” (Webster meaning: “intended to assist memory”), bida si Direk Elwood sa sarili niyang pelikulang nagpo-focus sa buhay nito bilang isang natatanging direktor ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
Pero since may flashback scenes sa makulay na buhay ng 72-year-old director, si Lance Raymundo ang napili niyang gumanap bilang “young Elwood”.
Ani Lance, “It’s a big honor for me to be given the opportunity to portray one of the of our country’s living legends of Cinema,” sabi ni Lance.
Ayon sa singer-actor, hindi siya nahirapan sa kanyang portrayal dahil hindi na raw iba si Direk Elwood sa kanyang pamilya.
“It wasn’t hard for me to imbibe Direk Elwood’s larger than life persona because I have been around him long enough to know his unique ways.
“My mom Nina Zaldua was a movie actress in the 1960’s, and it was usual in our showbiz culture for colleagues to greet each other when they met in public even if they have not worked together.
“When I was 12 years old, my mom and I were shopping in Megamall when Direk Elwood bumped into mom and greeted her. He saw me and said ‘Hijo, when you grow up, I’d like you to star in my movie!’”
At ilang taon nga ang lumipas, naidirek ni Direk Elwood si Lance nang dalawang shooting days sa first indie film nitong “Fidel”.
“We completed two shooting days, but due to certain circumstances, the directing job shifted from Direk Elwood to Shandii Bacolod, who is now my manager.”
Dagdag ni Lance, “Being an actor, I have a natural talent for mimicking people’s voices and movements, so the years around Direk Elwood made it easy for me to portray him.”
Bakit daw gusto ni Direk Elwood na gumawa ng biopic film niya?
“According to Direk, “Mnemonics” is the final installment in his trilogy – beginning with “Otso”, followed by “Esoterika: Maynila.”
“Direk told me that the lead roles in both films are representations of himself.
“The first two films are cinematic representations of chapters of his life.
“This film will be the summation of his entire career. Hence, Elwood himself is playing the lead role of Elwood.
“I’m the romanticized version of Elwood in the film. I can’t give out more info on the significance of my character as young Elwood because it might be a spoiler, but it truly reaffirms Direk’s genius and creativity in conveying stories thru moving images.
“I hope it’s not true, but Direk also told me that this will be his final movie before he retires,” say ni Lance.
Nasa pelikula rin ang matalik na kaibigan ni Direk Elwood na si Ms Amalia Fuentes na ayon sa isang source ay nakapag-shoot na ng kanyang mga eksena bago ito magkasakit.
Also in the cast are Althea Vega, Mc Kevin Velasquez, Timmy Kiggins (son of Chuck Perez), Japo Parcero, Ronnie Liang, among others.
Ito ay mula sa Luminosa Productions.