Tuesday, June 26, 2012

THE SUPERSTAR TALKS ABOUT TWO BRILLIANT FILMMAKERS






Feeling invigorated after lunch, Ate Guy started talking Mario O'Hara, one of her favorite filmmakers. She mentioned a reunion project with the director entitled Sakay Tayo Sa Buwan awaiting her return to the Philippines. Ate Guy was also looking for a clear copy of Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, her first film with O'Hara. She asked me if I had one and told her I do have a clear copy of the movie which I gave the following day. The Superstar said that there was a little competition between O'Hara and Lino Brocka when it comes to winning awards. Ate Guy said Kapag nanalo ako ng award kay Mario, kailangan manalo din ako sa movie ni Lino! Come to think of it, she won her first major acting award in 1976 and in between those years, Ate Guy didn't make a movie with O'Hara until Kastilyong Buhangin in 1980. On the other hand Brocka's first collaboration with the Superstar was in 1979's Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo. She was probably talking about winning the Urian for Bona and being chosen Best Actress by the Catholic Mass Media Awards the following year for Bakit Bughaw Ang Langit? It's interesting to note that Mario O'Hara started his career with Lino Brocka as an actor in 1971's Tubog Sa Ginto but most memorable of their work as actor and screenwriter would be Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974). According to film critic Noel Vera, Ate Guy first offered Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos to Brocka and the director's response was I don't want to have anything to do with that Superstar! His refusal to take on the project was the beginning of Philippine Cinema's greatest collaborations.

Here's a breakdown of the acting awards the Superstar won for these two brilliant filmmakers:

For Mario O'Hara
Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976) - Urian, Famas
Bakit Bughaw Ang Langit? (1981) - Catholic Mass Media Awards
Bulaklak Sa City Jail (1984) - Metro Manila Film Festival, Famas, Catholic Mass Media Awards

For Lino Brocka
Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo (1979) - Metro Manila Film Festival, Famas
Bona (1980) - Urian

In Memory of Mario O'Hara April 20, 1946-June 26, 2012

5 comments:

MICHAEL U. OBENIETA said...

Hi, Brod Jo:

Everytime I read about a Nora Aunor-Mario O'Hara article, there's always this spine-tingling sensation of longing to see yet another collaboration again. Did Ms. Nora tell you if the script for "Sakay Tayo sa Buwan" is finished already? Has she read it? Oh, how I wish she'd come back to the country soon so she can begin shooting this long-awaited masterpiece-in-the-making. Then again, not yet until she can wrap up you-know-what. Which, by the way, I'm dying to hear again in your next e-mail. I'm sure you'll have something exciting again to dish out(wink, wink).

Take care, and God bless.

Myke

Jojo Devera said...

Same here Myke... Ate Guy read the sequence treatment to Sakay Tayo Sa Buwan and she mentioned that O'Hara won't do the film if she's not playing the lead. Ate Guy promised Mario O'Hara that she'll make the movie once she gets back home. She's still flooded with commitments here. Marami pa akong kuwento sa 'yo. This October we'll be screening Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos in a new subtitled 35mm print and Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo at the ImaginAsian Cinemas. Ate Guy will grace the occassion kaya excited na kaming lahat! I'll write about it more sa e-mail. God Bless!

MICHAEL U. OBENIETA said...

Brod Jo, that's great news. Those two classic films of hers deserve to be seen by today's viewers and generations to come, proving her works are truly timeless.

Hopefully, SAKAY TAYO SA BUWAN will take the same route to posterity. I heard she's playing a mad woman here, right? Something to look forward to, indeed.

Myke

Jojo Devera said...

I believe any film project with Ate Guy & Mario O'Hara is really something to look forward to. One time sinabi ni General na gusto sana niyang kuninhg si direk Mario para gumawa ng movie dito kaya lang hindi talaga sumasakay sa eroplano si direk and Ate Guy knows this. I think her character is a mad woman. Sana nga matuloy pag nakauwi na si Ate Guy diyan.

Jojo Devera said...

I was told that Sakay Tayo Sa Buwan was supposed to be produced by Entertainment Warehouse who did Babae Sa Breakwater, I hope it pusehes through once Ate Guy comes back home. As for Bituin, Buwan At Araw, Elwood perez never mentioned the project again. The script went from one writer to another so Atty. Manalo scratched the idea and produced Naglalayag instead.