Imee joins 2011 MMFF New Wave section with Pinta*Kasi

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN’s Angelito: Batang Ama lead actor JM de Guzman and Maria La Del Barrio star Erich Gonzales team up with fellow Kapamilya actor John Wayne Sace for the first time in Creative Media and Film Society of the Philippines’ (CreaM) indie entry, Pinta*Kasi, for the Metro Manila Film Festival’s (MMFF) New Wave-Independent section which will have its gala premiere from Dec. 17 to 21 at Robinsons Galleria.

CreaM production has at its helm, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos who is not new to showbiz having been a successful film and TV producer in the ’70s and ’80s. With Pinta*Kasi, Gov. Imee goes back to her artistic roots and lifelong passion to upgrade the quality of Philippine cinema. Collaborating with her as co-producer is Nelson Caliguia.

Imee related that it took the production outfit three years to film Pinta*Kasi because of the very tedious process it had to go through. After nearly three decades since she produced the critically-acclaimed Nora Aunor-starrer, Himala, Gov. Imee continues to promote the arts especially in the Ilocos region and is proud of a graphic novel of the Ilocano epic poem Biag ni Lam-Ang (The Life of Lam-Ang) which is now in production. Pinta*Kasi tells the story of DJ (played by John), a young, passionate painter who arrives at an island which has become a dumping ground of garbage. With the island and its poverty-striken people as his canvas, DJ struggles to protect the shanty town island and teach its people to dream and hope. He eventually wins the heart of Josie (Erich), inarguably the most beautiful woman on the island whom Tikboy (JM) considers his “queen.” A small-time gang leader and uncrowned king of the island, Tikboy reacts violently against their budding romance which then leads to DJ’s taking vengeance. The movie’s title holds two different meanings: pintakasi means sabong; pinta*kasi (love to paint), two elements that are crucial in the film.

Pinta*Kasi breaks new ground in moviemaking as it sets to become the first mixed-media film in Philippine cinema as it combines elements of 2D animation and a special kind of hybrid animation with live action. Helmed by Lee Meily, a multi-awarded director and screenwriter behind Crying Ladies, La Vida Loca, Baler and Donor, Pinta*Kasi also casts Boots Anson-Roa, William Martinez and Giselle Sanchez.

The MMFF this year introduces the New Breed section to recognize the importance of indie films — which of late have been winning awards and accolades here and abroad — in taking the Filipino film industry to new heights. With Pinta*Kasi, viewers are sure to see a further flowering of the indie film spirit in the showcase of new media technology and human ingenuity.