MY LIFE AS ART

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BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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AS A WRITER, I first learned to accept criticisms before learning to accept the awards and recognitions.

It was not an easy journey, but now, look at where I am: a Palanca Hall of Fame Awardee with 18 career Palanca wins (and counting), a good reputation as an in-demand writer to give writing workshops and lectures, and holder of the singular honor as the first Filipino author ever invited to the Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates.

For my journey and career as a filmmaker, I do not expect the route to be easier. But I got to start somewhere. My first short film, Dabadaba: Dumangas 2010 (2010), was a one-man effort that I wrote, produced, designed, shot, edited, and directed. It became a YouTube sensation with at least 15,000 views.

After Dabadaba, I ventured into the full-length feature with my Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa (2012). I still think it’s my best filmwork, but well-intentioned critic-friends tell me that they like better my latest short, Ikapito nga Adlaw (2016).

Ikapito nga Adlaw is not perfect, and I will not waste my life defending the film. It may still turn out to be the best film in the film grants category (and we will know the result of the competition at the Awards Night on Sunday, Dec. 18 at SM Cinema 1) of the 4th Cinekasimanwa Film Festival, but I have moved on to newer and bigger projects.

One more time, I will say this: my intention in making Ikapito is to inject some elements of maturity in Ilonggo filmmaking, and if it means nudities and sex scenes, so be it. This I made sure: that the story be simple, but would reveal the masterful screenwriting art of Peter Solis Nery; that there is a story, and it is told in the best cinematic way it can be told; that it intelligently uses the techniques and medium of film.

I have no doubt the technicals will be criticized. My crew are first-time filmmakers. But to my mind, they have done a great job on my film. I think they even did way better than most other Ilonggo short films on YouTube. And I have great hopes for their next film projects. They are the filmmakers to watch.

Of course, the actors will be criticized. I do not have James Reid and Nadine Lustre, or Derek Ramsey and Angelica Panganiban, or Gina Parreño and Jaclyn Jose. Even my own acting, and my nudities, will be criticized. I’m not naïve. I expect all of that.

But what am I if I am going to listen to the voice of the critics before I could even make the film? And if I have already made the film, why should I even listen to haters who were never part of its funding and/or making?

My film screened three times: twice at the Cinematheque Iloilo, and once at SM Cinema 1. And to be very honest, I have only heard two negative criticisms, and only one of them is really worth listening to. The SM criticism came from a non-paying audience who came to support another competing film. Very obviously, that critic came with a bias. He pointed out my nudities as disgusting. Of course, I know he wanted to flaunt his nudity instead, but then, he is not Peter Solis Nery.

Now, tell me honestly, if a person is that prejudiced, and did not really come to see my film, what are the chances that he will like my movie even with my nudities taken out? If he did not pay to see my film, should I even listen to him? If he was not stupid, he could have walked out on my film. Hello?

The other critique from the second screening at the Cinematheque Iloilo is worth considering. After all, he was a paying audience; although I’m not sure if he just watched the film because his Filipina wife is a fan of mine. He left this message on Facebook: “The film was crap,” because, as I understand his cryptic Belgian or German English, “the film was not bold and daring enough.” I wish I can reach him because he was also pissed that I left during the screening of a restored classic (which I have a DVD copy at home) after my short film was screened. (Did he want my autograph? A selfie with me, maybe?) What he didn’t understand was that I was at the Cinematheque for six hours since 2:30 p.m. on that fateful day.

So there, one European getting disappointed because my nudities and sex scenes where not bold enough; and one Ilonggo gay man “disgusted” that I did it first, that I had the balls to actualize his own ambition to be a pornstar.

You can trash Ikapito nga Adlaw as much as you want. I don’t care. I’ve already gotten what I wanted from it. If you want me to be faggity about it, here’s my quote for the week: “I do not make movies to find a boyfriend. I make movies to get laid!”

Now, you can be stupid and believe that, or you can just believe it!/PN
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