MANILA, Philippines?A million pesos was allotted for the production of the digital romance-thriller, ?Cul de sac (Dead End)? of first-time feature director Juan Miguel Sevilla, according to the producer, actor Albert Martinez.

?Cul de sac? was chosen from over a hundred entries submitted to Cinemabuhay, the film production arm of PLDT-Smart Foundation, of which Martinez is film committee chair.

?His pitch was the most impressive. He presented ideas that were never done before,? Martinez said of Sevilla, 23, a communications graduate of Ateneo de Manila University.

Martinez said Sevilla and his material matched Cinemabuhay?s requirements ?for ideas for mainstream cinema. We also aim to help new filmmakers, those who have not made any feature film in the past,? Martinez explained.

Sevilla, who has done videos for musical acts like MYMP and Chicosci, said he first thought of the story as a possible short film project in college.

Adjusting

?We?ve finished 60 percent of the film. Things are going as planned,? Sevilla told Inquirer Entertainment during our visit to the ?Cul de sac? set in Cubao, Quezon City last week. ?I?m still adjusting to working with superstars. Sam (Milby) came straight here from the set of ?Dyosa? and has not had any sleep.?

Sevilla said he personally picked Milby for the lead role. The film also stars Chin-Chin Gutierrez and Jodi Sta. Maria. ?I make sure that the actors are involved in the development of their characters,? the director said.

A suspense-thriller about people in the call center community, the movie tells of a nameless hero with a mysterious past that he desperately wants to escape. He encounters a woman named Lyra and a menacing Tall Man, and gets dragged into a complex web of mystery and deception.

Milby said he prepared for the project by closely watching characters of films with a similar theme. He also hinted at ?an interesting twist in the end.?

?I liked it the first time I read it,? he said of his first project outside Star Cinema, the film outfit of ABS-CBN where he is a contract artist. ?It kept me on the edge of my seat. It?s a lot different from other films I?ve done.?

?Cul de sac? will premiere on PLDT?s 88th anniversary celebration in November. There are also plans for the movie to compete in film festivals abroad, said Martinez.

Cinemabuhay produced ?Numbalikdiwa? (2007), also a thriller-love story, which featured Maricel Soriano, Martinez, Pen Medina and Meryll Soriano. Its director, young Ateneo film student Bobby Bonifacio, is now working in an advertising company in Guam as a director, Martinez said.

Good push

Martinez teamed up with the PLDT-Smart Foundation and created Cinemabuhay three years ago. PLDT?s Manny Pangilinan is foundation chair, Butch Meily is president and Martinez is film fund executive director.

?Cinemabuhay is here to give new filmmakers with great ideas a break,? said Martinez. ?I think all they need is a good push. That push will come from us. On top of this, we also want the mainstream movie industry to recover. It?s great that the indie scene is thriving right now. That?s a good sign.?

Martinez added that Cinemabuhay will also produce ?Bakal Boys (Metal Divers),? the first film of Ralston Jover, writer of the award-winning Jeffrey Jeturian film ?Kubrador.?

?It would be our social responsibility project,? Martinez declared.

Email mcruz@inquirer.com.ph