MANILA, Philippines?Filmmaker Paul Alexander Morales was on the verge of quitting. Then ?Concerto? got an ?A? grade from the Cinema Evaluation Board and ?put wind in our sails again.?

Morales, who trained as a dancer in theater and has choreographed for the movies (?Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,? ?Pisay,? ?Bikini Open?), believes the ?discipline of the performing arts? primed him well for indie filmmaking.

He regards the accolades of ?Concerto,? which opens in cinemas today, as both ?a gift and an invitation to make more movies.?

His other dream movies? ?A Bonifacio-Aguinaldo pic, a Josephine Bracken movie, and a superhero musical entitled ?Manhid? (a college project with the Eraserheads, Vince de Jesus and Auraeus Solito). It?s a gay movie on the communist purges as well as a dance film.?

What was your goal in making ?Concerto??

I wanted to go back to basics: The complex truth of what is right and wrong and the strength of the love and faith of the Filipino family. I wanted to share with modern Filipinos a part of our history as a metaphor for the ethical questions of today. I wanted to make a film that will help us remember.

What were the challenges in making your film?

It was a great lesson in temperance. While location-hunting, our vehicle got stuck in a balahaw (mud pool) for an hour! We were blessed with a passionate cast and crew and, true to our movie?s theme, at times it really felt like surviving a war.

What was it like working with the cast?

It was wonderful! Shamaine (Buencamino) and Nonoy (Froilan) served as models for the younger actors. Jay (Aquitania) matured during the shoot. Yna (Asistio) was a real find. As is the ate (big sister) Meryll?s (Soriano) energy and passion fueled the movie. We worked with a lot of Japanese actors so there was a dynamic, global atmosphere on the set.

What are your hopes for the film?

I hope that people will be able to enjoy it at the cinemas. We?ve been invited to open the Mindanao Film Festival in Davao next month. We hope to play in schools, other cities and in festivals abroad.

How did your family react when they saw the film?

I fictionalized my family?s story for economic and artistic reasons. That was why I was quite nervous when my lolas and lolos watched it.

They were ecstatic, though. My Lola Fe Medialdea, on whom Yna?s character is based, said she never expected that I could make something like ?Concerto.?

I grew up listening to them play the piano and recounting the war years. Little did I know all that would lead to this film.

How did it strengthen your family?s bond?

My sister Susan and her husband Manny are major investors. We used my Lola Norma Campo Espileta?s composition (?Meryll?s Theme?) in the movie. My Lola Nena Gutana (Meryll?s character) keeps abreast with the latest news on Facebook.

It made me realize my family will always be around to support me. Making this film galvanized us. We?re closer now.

E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com