Direk Dante Garcia revisits his childhood

Ploning, the latest Judy Ann Santos starrer, is “not a love story, but a story about love.” Thus says the film’s director, Dante Nico Garcia, a production designer who makes his directorial debut with the film that had its principal photography in Cuyo Island in Palawan.

At the onset, the script of Ploning had two important factors which could not be changed — Judy Ann and Cuyo according to Dante. “The concept had been with me for seven or eight years already,” he grants. “Every time I would get drunk, my friends said I would talk about the film. I could visualize it every time.”

The setting is not surprising for the choice of the director who grew up in Cuyo. He knows the place by heart. Through the film, Dante pays homage to the beautiful island he came to love and the rich culture that colors his artistic palette. Majority of the characters are also based on people he knows in real life.

The story, in fact, revisits Dante’s childhood and is loosely based on his experiences in Cuyo as a young boy. Ploning is also inspired by the most important women in his life — his mother, his grandmother and his surrogate mother in the island. Dante wrote the story and screenplay with BJ Lingan, who also acts as one of the film’s producers with Jourdan Sebastian and Guia Gonzales.

Judy Ann, Dante’s best friend, was also a foremost inspiration for Ploning. Thus, she is the most logical choice to play the title character who is a spinster waiting for her beloved to return to the island. The film is a birthday presentation for the actress who turns 30 next month.

“The story is tailor-made for her (Judy Ann) from the point of view of her bestfriend,” Dante says. “I cannot think of any other actress to play Ploning if it’s not Juday. This is my birthday gift to her. I’ve known her for 17 years. I want people to see Juday like she was way back in her Mara Clara or Esperanza days.”

Interestingly, while most of Judy Ann’s past movies paired her with the country’s top leading men, Ploning will see the 30-year-old actress without a male partner on the big screen. “The plot will reveal a story about a lover, but it does not require an actor,” Dante explains. “I wanted to know how a Juday movie will fare without a male lead. She is a big actress who can carry a film on her own. She is also joined by an award-winning ensemble. The best of the best is starring with her in the film.”

Ploning boasts a powerhouse supporting cast that includes Gina Pareño, Tessie Tomas, Tony Mabesa, Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Ces Quesada, Mylene Dizon, Meryll Soriano, Eugene Domingo, Ketchup Eusebio, Beth Tamayo, Jojit Lorenzo, Crispin Pineda and Spanky Manikan. The film also introduces acting support from inherent Cuyonan Island talents —  Cedric Amit, Lucas Agustin, Boodge Fernandez and Ogoy Agustin.

Ploning gave rise to Panoramanila Pictures, which releases its maiden offering with the Judy Ann  starrer. The actress even waived part of her talent fee and shelled out her own money to act as co-producer of the film. She will simply settle for the profit share once the film has been shown, as the young producers developed an equity-sharing scheme.

Ploning is taken from a Cuyonan folk song which will be used in the opening and closing credits of the film. It was rendered by a local group in Cuyo called Sinika, according to Dante.

The film uses 60 percent Tagalog and 40 percent Cuyonan dialect. Even Judy Ann had to learn the Cuyonan dialect. The rest of the powerhouse supporting cast likewise had to speak Cuyonan, that’s why there was a need to hire dialect coaches on the set. “It’s the first time for a major actress to learn a dialect for a movie,” Dante offers.

Mike Idioma provided the live sound, while the underwater scenes which were integral to the movie, were filmed by Marissa Floirendo. Charlie Peralta worked on the cinematography, capturing the idyllic beauty of Cuyo Island. The film was shot with live sound and in the traditional 35-mm film format. Judy Ann’s boyfriend, documented the filming process with digital photos which he will use for a coffeetable book on the movie.

It is impressive enough how the producers took great pains to ensure the authenticity of a period film like Ploning, set in Cuyo during the ‘80s. Unique practices of Cuyo will be depicted in the movie, like making cashew nut brittle, a delicacy of the province. Judy Ann and Gina will also harvest salt from an asinan. Ati-atihan groups will perform in celebration of the town fiesta, held annually on Aug. 27.

The unfinished pier on the island serves as the waiting place of Ploning (Juday). Intigban beach is where Ploning and Rodrigo (played by first-time actor Amit) walk hand in hand. The basketball court of Igabas served as the place where Rodrigo and Celeste (played by Mylene Dizon) meet for the first time.

In the area called Republic of Cuyo, the producers even built a cemetery from scratch to serve as the setting for a key scene in the movie. After the shoot, they decided to keep the cemetery intact so that tourists can visit the place and locals can narrate how Judy Ann once shot her scenes there.

Ploning is the realization of Dante’s dream project. He cannot be happier that the film is now ready to be shown in local theaters tomorrow, April 30, with scheduled international screenings in New York, London, Dubai and Singapore.

“You’re never too old to receive a new gift from God,” Dante maintains. “I’m just enjoying that gift now.”