Only in Hollywood Amazing journey By Ruben V. Nepales Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 19:32:00 02/22/2008
LOS ANGELES, California—“We never expected to win,” admitted Arleen Cuevas, the Filipina producer of “The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela,” which was crowned Best Feature Film at the recent Queer Film Awards of the Berlin Film Festival.
Arleen, the rising producer of Filipino indie films, related via e-mail that when she flew to Berlin with Cebu-based actress Raquela Rios and production manager Beverly Tañedo, she was simply looking forward to having “a mini-reunion with our director, Olaf de Fleur, who was a pleasure to work with when we shot the film two years ago.” The movie was shot in the Philippines and in Olaf’s native Iceland.
Sold-out screenings
The four sold-out screenings and lively Q and A sessions afterward should have tipped off Arleen, Olaf, Raquela and Beverly that their film, about a lady-boy in Cebu who dreams of a better life, was going to win the plum award, which came with a 3,000 Euro cash prize.
“We were getting a bit bored during the awards program, because it was all in German,” quipped Arleen, a 27-year-old Manila native. But, hearing their film’s title win the Best Feature award perked them up considerably. “We had a great party!,” she shared.
Excerpts of our email interview with Arleen:
How did this project come about?
At the time, I was working in Cebu when I got an e-mail from Olaf saying he was interested in doing a docu in the Philippines. He got my e-mail address from the Berlinale Talent Campus database. We corresponded for six months, talked about storylines, budget and logistics, until we finally set a date for his first trip here.
He came to do research, location hunting, and to meet possible actors for the film. Olaf settled for Raquela, and came back to Cebu after two months. We then shot the film for three weeks here. Afterward, we took care of the paperwork to enable Raquela to go to Europe for the rest of the filming. It was her first time to travel outside the country, so this film was indeed an experience for her!
Far-fetched idea
As a producer, can you talk about how far-fetched the idea seemed to be: A film about a transsexual in Cebu, shot in Iceland and the Philippines, and written and directed by somebody from Iceland?
Three years ago, I applied for the Berlinale Talent campus, which selects filmmakers from around the world to attend workshops and establish connections for collaboration in future projects. I didn’t think the idea was far-fetched. As I attended film festivals, I met filmmakers from around the world, and it didn’t matter what country they came from. Filmmakers are always looking for a story to tell, and working with like-minded people is a natural progression.
These days, international co-productions are the way to go, because it’s difficult to find funding for independent films here. Indeed, this reflects the international reach of Filipino filmmaking.
Please share some interesting questions asked during the Q and A following the Berlinale screenings.
We were always asked about how much of the film was based on real life, and how Olaf and Raquela first met.
What has been the reaction of the film’s mostly Cebu-based cast and crew about its win at the Berlinale?
We had a small crew—Olaf, cinematographer Butch Maddul, production manager Beverly Tañedo, production designer Alexis Yap, the actors and me. We already screened the final cut in Cebu last year with the cast and crew, and they were pleased with the outcome. I’m looking toward screening the movie here this year.
Queen Raquela’s character gets a job as a webcam host on a popular lady-boy website in the Philippines. Do they really exist?
The film is based on Raquela’s life story, as well as interviews done by Olaf with different transsexuals in Bangkok and the Philippines, and with real website operators in other countries.
Criticism
How do you react to criticism that queer films like “Queen Raquela” reinforce the notion that in international festivals and markets, queer films set in the Philippines are the norm, not the exception?
In the beginning, it was true that many festival entries from our country tackled gay themes. But, now, there are a number of Filipino films that are not just queer-cinema material. For example, out of the six Filipino films featured in Berlin, ours was the only one with a gay theme.
The directors that I frequently work with are Adolfo Alix Jr. and Raya Martin. Alix directed “Donsol,” “Kadin,” “Batanes” and “Tambolista,” which recently premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival. He generally makes films that use a certain province or city as the film’s main “character.”
Raya directed “Short Film About Indio Nacional” and “Autohystoria.” He specializes in historical and period films set in the Philippines. And, filmmakers such as Lav Diaz, Khavn dela Cruz, John Torres and Mes de Guzman make movies about the different aspects of Filipino life. I’m looking forward to the premiere of “The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela” here!
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com, and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
To
subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines,
call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the
Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk.
Believe this article violates journalistic ethics?
Contact the
Inquirer's Reader's Advocate.
Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Chino RocesAvenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/entertainment/entertainment/images/pic-02230536090917.jpg", 410, 565))
Zoom
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/showbizandstyle/entertainment/entertainment/images/pic-02230536310210.jpg", 640, 480))
Zoom
