All killer, ‘No Filter’

We get to know the cast and crew of The Sandbox Collective’s No Filter and learn how to keep it real.

MANILA, Philippines - Millennials have been reduced to a stereotype: all VSCO filters and no substance; all entitlement and no hard work to show for it. But it’s no question that millennials have been unfairly judged and sorely misunderstood. If we’ve learned anything at all from High School Musical, it’s that people are always more than their stereotypes. So if the arrogant, shallow, social media junkie stereotype of a millennial turns out to be a bust — what then is a millennial? And what does it really mean to be one?

The Sandbox Collective might not have all the answers, but they might just have the ones you’ve been looking for. The Sandbox Collective brings to the stage No Filter, an original production that claims to be by millennials, for millennials, and about millennials. Young STAR gets the lowdown from director Toff De Venecia, cast members Saab Magalona-Bacarro and Lauren Young about the idea that started it all, filtering what you say online, and Justin Bieber’s ass picture.

How it all started

All six shows will be at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

Toff: I had this question in mind that I wanted to develop into a play: “Is your social network your social net worth?” It was mostly social media-related. Then we started asking the bigger questions: social media is related to what? Oh — the millennial. At first we wanted to demystify the millennial, dispel all of the labels and judgments that are thrown upon us. But then eventually, we realized that we’re actually celebrating the millennial. 

Getting sold

Lauren: I like doing things that have purpose. Although occasionally I do some things just because it’s my job — ‘cause I’m not gonna lie, I have to work. I like doing things that people can learn from and I think this is it. It’s nothing fancy — no dancing, or singing, none of that glitz and glam. It’s just simply us talking.

“Youth means seeking enough experience to not be young anymore. The nature of youth is to escape itself.” (From No Filter)

Millennials are human, too

Toff: Millennials have been very misunderstood. You read about millennials everywhere. It always becomes about a dissection, but with an angle in mind. What about the other side of being a millennial? Which is just being human? The technology is specific, the language is specific, but what they go through is something that’s universal.

“I don’t see what you don’t post.” (From No Filter)

Delete that tweet

Lauren: I feel like we’ve been judged so much that we filter everything we say. We tend not to speak our mind. Or we tend to speak our mind too much. Our honesty is mistaken for us being mayabang. I’d rather hurt someone now with my honesty than hurt them 10 days later because I didn’t tell them the truth.

Saab: Yeah, you always hurt me.

Lauren: But we’re still best friends!

Saab: I got the worst comment on my blog: “You were so clever before, but now you’re just a boring housewife.” It really hurt my feelings. But what if I choose not to put negative stuff out there just for shock value or for followers? What if I’m really just a nicer person now? Am I boring? I don’t think so. Because I have a lot to say, but I don’t have to tweet everything.

“It’s the most un-millennial thing, pleasing the previous generation, living their dream, and yet that’s what I want to do.” (From No Filter)

What you take away from no filter

Lauren: These monologues are a way of saying things you wanna say but never had the courage to say. For the parents, hopefully they’ll see it as a sneak peek into their child’s head. Then maybe they can make more of an effort to sit down with their kids and help them get through their stuff instead of ignoring them and saying, “You’re just acting out again.”

On Justin Bieber’s ass picture

Saab: You can’t please everyone. Like with Justin Bieber’s ass picture, I wasn’t offended by that. When he deleted the picture, he said “I deleted the picture not because I thought it was wrong, but because my niece saw it and said it made her feel uncomfortable. I didn’t think of the little ones who were following me. I apologize for that.” You have to think things through before posting something. I don’t think that’s a bad filter.

Lauren: Yeah, I think he used a good filter on his ass.

The cast and crew of No Filter are a full-fledged millennial team, captained by director Toff De Venecia. The show will feature the writing of Wanggo Gallaga and Young STAR contributors Jam Pascual, Marga Buenaventura, Don Jaucian, Regina Belmonte, Audrey Carpio, Jonty Cruz, Sam Lee, Anna Canlas, Gabbie Tatad, Petra Magno, Paolo Lorenzana, Luigi Gonzales, Anna Oposa, Jace Espino, and BP Valenzuela and will feature the talents of Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Cai Cortez, Lauren Young, Sarah Facuri, Saab Magalona-Bacarro, Khalil Kaimo, Micah Munoz, and Mikael Daez.

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Follow The Sandbox Collective on Twitter and Instagram @thesandboxco. For inquiries and ticket orders, call 0917-8996680 or TICKETWORLD at 891-9999.