All about magic, and then some

In an industry where scripts are often written on foils of cigarette packs, it was such a blessing that the now-defunct Film Development Foundation sponsored a few years ago a scriptwriting contest (spearheaded then by Marichu Maceda). It yielded a lot of gems eventually made into full-length films. Among these were Lav Diaz’s Serafin Geronimo: Kriminal ng Bo. Concepcion (starring Raymond Bagatsing) and Carlos Siguion Reyna’s Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata (with Carlo Aquino and Jennifer Sevilla).

Magnifico Magikero, written by Filipino-Japanese writer Michiko Yamamoto, also won the first prize in this screening contest. Now, it is a full-length film in its post-production stage and is geared for a possible Jan. 22, 2003 playdate.

Directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes, Magnifico Magikero (the title may be shortened to just Magnifico) is produced by Madame Violet Sevilla’s Violett Films.

No, Magnifico is not all about magic – although it is in a sense because the lead character here (played by Jiro Manio) seems to have a magical influence on the people around him. Because of his innate goodness, he is able to change – for the better – the lives of family members, friends and neighbors.

Aside from Jiro, the movie also stars Lorna Tolentino as Jiro’s harassed mother who has her hands full attending to the problems around her. Her mother-in-law (Gloria Romero), for instance, is bedridden and dying of cancer. Her daughter (Isabella de Leon) is afflicted with cerebral palsy. Son Danilo Barrios does well in his studies in the beginning (he is a scholar, in fact), but for some reason gets kicked out of school. Even Jiro becomes a problem at times because – for all his good traits – he isn’t academically bright. Playing Lorna’s husband and father of her brood is Albert Martinez.

The other characters in the film are portrayed by top-caliber actors: Celia Rodriguez is a cranky old woman who lives by her lonesome self in a cemetery. She is mad at the world because she loses her family in a conflagration.

Mark Gil, a bus driver, is also grumpy because, he, too, loses a loved one.

Tonton Gutierrez, on the other hand, is paranoid of other people. As the top barong maker in their place, he is well-off compared to his neighbors and suspects that his daughter (played by newcomer Girlie Sevilla) is being courted by Danilo Barrios because of his money.

Adding more color to the story are Amy Austria as the village prostitute and Cherry Pie Picache as the town gossip. Susan Africa and child stars Joseph Robles and Dindin Henares complete the cast of Magnifico.

With its principal shots done in Lumban, Laguna, Magnifico started filming last August. Originally, shooting was supposed to last for only 27 days. But in their effort to perfect the film, those 27 days extended to three months.

Director Maryo de los Reyes, you see, is a perfectionist when it comes to details. (You see this in most of his films – from High School Circa, My Other Women, Sa Paraiso ni Efren, etc). In one scene shot at the Lumban Catholic Cemetery, Celia Rodriguez was supposed to be shown entering the gate. However, he ordered the entire cemetery to be lit – just for that brief scene which would only take a few seconds of screen time. That may have made a dent in the production budget, but the effect – swears Celia Rodriguez – is magical. "Ang crane na ginamit ni direk Maryo – hanggang langit," volunteers the actress. Even producer Madame Violet Sevilla is not complaining. "If it’s for the good of the film, then that’s okay with me," says Madame Violet who is never known to scrimp on production costs.

To make the cast and crew feel comfortable during the three-month shoot, Madame Violet booked the entire Tropical Inn resort in Pagsanjan exclusively for them. Meals are also much-awaited by everyone involved in the movie.

In most productions, the cast and crew are served rice and only two viands (vegetables and a meat dish) for lunch and dinner. But in Violett Films, they have six viands – aside from the endless baskets of fruits (mostly lanzones), chocolates and junk food sent in by Madame Violet.

No wonder production cost has risen to P15-million. But again, Madame Violet is not complaining. After all, she went into film production to help an ailing industry.

With Magnifico, she didn’t only make the cast and crew very happy by treating them well (and paying them well!), she’s also bound to contribute another cinematic gem to the local motion picture industry.