Movie shot in Bohol making waves in US
By ROY C. MABASA
September 12, 2011
MANILA, Philippines — A Hollywood movie shot entirely in the Philippines and featuring a number of Filipino actors is currently making waves in the United States.
“Amigo,” which was shot entirely in Bohol, is currently playing in Washington, DC, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland.
It will also be shown this month in Albuquerque, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Denver.
Two theaters in West End Cinema showed “Amigo” last September 2 and tickets in both theaters were sold out.
The New York Times described “Amigo” as “entertaining and relevant” while the NY Daily News called “Amigo” as the best work of Oscar-nominated writer-director John Sayles “in a decade.” For its part, Rolling Stone Magazine said the film is “a cause for celebration.”
“Amigo” features Filipino actors Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Ronnie Lazaro, and Bembol Roco. It also stars Academy award winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Garret Dillahunt (“No Country for Old Men,” “Deadwood”) and Tony award winner Yul Vasquez.
Set in the 1900s, “Amigo” depicts the circumstances surrounding the early days of the American occupation of the Philippines.
It tells the struggle faced by a town mayor, played by Torre, when he comes under pressure to collaborate with American troops and to remain loyal to his people, including his brother who heads the local guerilla movement.
The movie is one of only a handful of films directed by an American to address the war.
Other Filipinos in the team included writer and journalist Pete Lacaba, who did the translation, and cinematographer Lee Briones-Meily. The film’s post production was also done in the Philippines.
Sayles hailed the Philippines as a great place where one can make “beautiful films” even though many US-based producers are not aware of this.
Sayles made the statement when he and “Amigo” producer Maggie Renzi visited the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and called on Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
During the call, Renzi and Sayles said they “loved working in Bohol” and they had “great actors and wonderful crew.”
Renzi said in the Philippines, “in every other area, work is exemplary.”
Sayles also informed Cuisia that some scenes in the fourth installment of “The Bourne Identity (The Bourne Legacy)” starring Academy Award winner Matt Damon will be filmed on location in the Philippines in January next year.
The critically-acclaimed director expressed the wish that more films about the history of the Philippines, in particular, the establishment of the Philippine Republic, will be made.
Sayles said he also made an extensive research of the historical relations between the Philippines and the United States, including traveling to the Philippines, to visit significant sites of the Philippine-American War.
“Amigo,” which was shot entirely in Bohol, is currently playing in Washington, DC, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland.
Two theaters in West End Cinema showed “Amigo” last September 2 and tickets in both theaters were sold out.
The New York Times described “Amigo” as “entertaining and relevant” while the NY Daily News called “Amigo” as the best work of Oscar-nominated writer-director John Sayles “in a decade.” For its part, Rolling Stone Magazine said the film is “a cause for celebration.”
“Amigo” features Filipino actors Joel Torre, Rio Locsin, Ronnie Lazaro, and Bembol Roco. It also stars Academy award winner Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Garret Dillahunt (“No Country for Old Men,” “Deadwood”) and Tony award winner Yul Vasquez.
Set in the 1900s, “Amigo” depicts the circumstances surrounding the early days of the American occupation of the Philippines.
It tells the struggle faced by a town mayor, played by Torre, when he comes under pressure to collaborate with American troops and to remain loyal to his people, including his brother who heads the local guerilla movement.
The movie is one of only a handful of films directed by an American to address the war.
Other Filipinos in the team included writer and journalist Pete Lacaba, who did the translation, and cinematographer Lee Briones-Meily. The film’s post production was also done in the Philippines.
Sayles hailed the Philippines as a great place where one can make “beautiful films” even though many US-based producers are not aware of this.
Sayles made the statement when he and “Amigo” producer Maggie Renzi visited the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. and called on Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
During the call, Renzi and Sayles said they “loved working in Bohol” and they had “great actors and wonderful crew.”
Renzi said in the Philippines, “in every other area, work is exemplary.”
Sayles also informed Cuisia that some scenes in the fourth installment of “The Bourne Identity (The Bourne Legacy)” starring Academy Award winner Matt Damon will be filmed on location in the Philippines in January next year.
The critically-acclaimed director expressed the wish that more films about the history of the Philippines, in particular, the establishment of the Philippine Republic, will be made.
Sayles said he also made an extensive research of the historical relations between the Philippines and the United States, including traveling to the Philippines, to visit significant sites of the Philippine-American War.
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