Transformers

A few months ago, my boyfriend, Marco, made this Optimus Prime suit for my sister's friends! Only now did we see some pictures of the school event it was worn in. Bias aside hehe, I think he did a really neat job! :-)

Photo by Louie Yu.

Hangover

Underneath it all, above all things, first and foremost, and at the end of the day, I think we are all fans. We're fans of the music, of the videos that accompany them, of the people that pour their hearts and souls into making them. We're fans of the movies, fans of the shows, fans of the ways our idols have made, lit and written them. Fans of one another. Fans of what the other is able to think of and conjure in his or her mind.

Another thing I love (and will always!) about production: how everyone believes that what their doing matters, how everything pulls through, how everyone (well, the better half of whom I've met in it) loves what they do. Even if it's for a fleeting four minutes of just one song from a band whose had many other videos, it's still made with precision and with careful thought. After all, we are fans of the song, fans of the band, and fans of the craft.

Congratulations on the successful music video launch to Sugarfree and King!! :-)

Hangover by Sugarfree, directed by King Palisoc, assisted by Odin Fernandez. Shot by Pong Ignacio, production design by Marco Ortiga, art direction by Gino Nacianceno. Production managed by Mara Andres, and styling and make up by Christina Dy and me!

People I'll Miss

I only started to take pictures in one of my last shoots, when I realized it would be my last with these people!! These are the people I've probably worked with the most, and whose company makes a long, grueling shoot feel like playing with my friends. These, and many more people whom I wasn't able to take a picture of (like Marco! Hahaha!), or whom I wasn't able to see recently, are the reasons I'll really miss shoots, and probably why I've stayed in production for as long as I have.

HANGOVER TEASER from King Palisoc on Vimeo.

The video teaser which just came out a few minutes ago. :-)

Tomorrow, I start a somewhat new life; I'll start regular work hours at Fully Booked, the chain of bookstores here in Manila that I currently create window displays for. Visual merchandising has always been a field I've wanted to be a part of, and though there's really nothing like the passion one feels when part of a production, it's really about time for me move on to something new, professionally.

Wish me luck! :-)

Hangover by Sugarfree, directed by King Palisoc.

Yun Lang

I realized today that I really really miss shooting...

I miss being a part of a giant orchestration of elements. Toilet paper to the left! Band in, colorful outfits! Kids run around and clap! And the feeling of getting a great first shot of the day.

And getting a great last one, too!

I miss spontaneous on-set ideas that perfect even the most obscure of scenarios. Like adding a camwhoreing element to these already hipster grandparents. In a bathroom of vines, nonetheless!

I miss having a dress from the clothes I hoard from my sisters and mom perfectly fit one of the talents! It was meant to be! Hahaha! :-)

And when I actually get to shop for costumes and use them and have them just perfect for a certain scene? I miss that feeling of "being right" hahahaha! Like I made the right choice in that dress, despite all the other dresses I could have bought instead.

I miss using the most basic arts and crafts kind of way to come up with a costume... and have it work! Who would have thought that covering cloth jumpsuits with foil tape would actually pass for space suits? I know I was thinking of all the ways it would fail... but I taped and covered until the very last second! :-)

I miss (and LOVE!) seeing sets that inspire me. This set was made by Trinka Lat, one of the production designers I worked with much less that I would have liked to! What I love about working with her is that I learn a new way to use materials I've seen many other times before. Like hanging balloons upside down, instead of upright! We've all seen balloons in different scenarios, but never like this.

Though I don't know if I miss being coerced by my superiors to extra in scenes! Hahaha! Too many weird things have come from not being able to say no to the director!

I miss the collaboration!! :-) Of directors, their ideas, and my own. I miss reading concept papers and getting excited. I miss that feeling of asking the right questions and discussing the elements so everyone can get to the aesthetic scenario we are all working to create!

Some pictures of the last shoot I styled, way back in March! I can't believe it's been more than two months. What have I been up to since?!?

This video was for a band called True Faith, for their song, "Yun Lang." To introduce the concept to me, director Quark Henares gave me a list of scenarios to prepare for, all of which were very production and costume design heavy, as you can probably tell.

The shooting day was very hectic! We had a lot to shoot, not a lot of time, and a lot of hurdles to get over (like a brown out! And my double-bodying as make-up at the beginning of the day!). I could barely keep tabs on what was going on, what was being shot now, and what would be shot next! I was literally running around the entire day. I was also very lucky to have a great team -- Sarie, Therese, Karen, Gracie... I can't believe I even thought I could style this on my own! Too many baskets and suitcases of clothes to organize and keep neat! I even misplaced my camera for a huge chunk of the day; it was in one of the baskets of clothes.

I'm getting stressed just thinking about the day itself! Hahaha! But I really do miss shooting. It's really a different experience to go through, and I'm very lucky to be able to go through it with people I not only respect and admire, but also some of whom are my closest friends. :-)

I miss you guys! You know who you are!! :-)

"Yung Lang" by True Faith featuring Armi Millare. Directed by Quark Henares. DOP Pong Ignacio. Production Design by Trinka Lat. Styling by Victoria Velasco. Production Managed by Mara Andres. And we would not have gotten through the day without the most charming assistant director ever, Harold Soon! Hahahaha! :-)

All photos from this entry, save for the first, second, and second to the last, were taken by Dom Dycaico. :-) Thanks for letting me use your pictures, Dom!!

Alive Out There

There's nothing like the experience of watching music played live. No matter who the band is, I find myself always inspired and in awe of performances when backed up by the most complementary lights and a perfect pitch sound system.

Just two or three weeks ago, I was part of a crew that taped a concert, the first of a series for online viewing called Alive Out There. At the end of the shoot, we were nothing short of amazed. The band, Urbandub, already a favorite among us crew members, even prepared to play their songs with a string quartet, dj and other guest performers (as can be seen from the teaser above).

Now that the program has been released and the website launched, everyone else can see what an awesome show it was as well. After all, there's nothing like the experience of watching music played live.

To watch the concert (I definitely recommend it!!), click this next link:
http://pelicola.tv/channels/index_gg.asp?msg=Passkey%20Required#watch, and for more information on Urbandub, visit their website http://urbandub.bembang.com/. :-)

Hopefully more of these soon! And HAPPY WEEKEND everyone!!

Wag Kang Magtanong

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As a designer who enjoys the arts-and-crafts-making side of the job, I truly appreciate it when a colleagues' work brings new ideas and use of materials to the plate. For a steampunk-inspired project I had awhile back, I sat comfortably with my styling hat on as the production design team scrambled days before to put together prop pieces from that fictional period in time. From dressing up a car to making completely new guitars and instruments, the team composed of Paolo Apagalang and Monica Sebial definitely impressed the entire crew with how they turned commonplace materials into a whole new look.

With the whole video in black and white, it was easier than usual to make

materials and surfaces look like metal works. This dashboard is my personal favorite!

Made of illustration board and some trinkets.

My own contribution to the set! A knapsack (and some embellished clothes).

More instruments, and the artist, Yeng Constantino

And finally, the video!

"Wag Kang Magtanong" by Yeng Constantino. Directed by Avid Liongren. Cinematography by Mackie Galvez. Production Design by Paolo Apagalang and Monica Sebial. Styling and Make-Up by Victoria Velasco. The whole video was shot on green screen and could not have been completed without the amazing CGI talents of Enzo Valdez, Edzon Rapisora and Robby Brillantes.

It Feels Like Love Tonight

About a month ago, one of my friends from production asked me to style for a music video he was going to direct. Wincy, the friend-director, had made a lot of music videos when I was still studying, and since I started in production, had worked in another job. This was his first music video in a long time, and my first time working with him.

I'm always nervous working for the first time with a director, but Wincy made it a comfortable environment by saying he wanted us all to have fun and be creative in our own ways! He even handled the props and sets himself. As much as he gave me a lot of ideas about the characters in his story (he really characterized them and thought of their personalities and what kind of outfits they would wear very specifically!), he also asked me a lot about what I thought would be exciting to create on screen. A really fun collaboration, I have to say! It was stressful also -- I spent almost a whole week prepping for everything. But at the same time, like he wanted - fun!

Here are some of the costumes from the shoot:

The video is about a couple meeting and getting together, a simple enough love story.

The girl, played by Dawn Balagot, is a comic-loving free spirit, dressing in brightly-colored

clothing, while the boy, played by Gio Gahol, is shy and keeps to himself,

one that dresses in grandpa-inspired sweaters and neutral-colored prints.

They flirt with each other by passing messages,

and sharing smiles and stolen glaces.

He dreams of her joining his taxidermy hobbies, and dressing as old school as he does.

She dreams of him as Batman, coming to her Catwoman rescue.

(I do not have a picture of Gio as Batman!! Well, I have one, but it's SO blurry! Ugh.

Anyway, you'll see it in the video!)

What an amazing set by Wincy Ong. :-)

Somewhere in his concept, Wincy also fit the idea of "Post It People." I totally forgot how

this made sense to me in preprod... but it fits!

And in the end, as you might have guessed, they both feel the love. :-)

So finally, here's the video! By the way, the band the video is for is Sugarfree. :-)

Wala Kang Katulad

I remember hearing about this video's concept for the first time, and being excited. And then planning the outfits, and being completely terrified! And now when I watch it, I remember when we finished, and being very satisfied after! Here it is so you can understand why:

Sponge Cola - Wala Kang Katulad Music Video from King Palisoc on Vimeo.

Wala Kang Katulad - Spongecola
Directed by King Palisoc, DOP: Mackie Galvez, PD: Marco Ortiga, Art Director: Gino Nacianceno
PM: Mara Andres, Stylist: Victoria Velasco AND THE GREAT STYLING TEAM OF Mon Sebial, Kabbie Rodriguez, Nicole Ang, Karen Ramos and Anna Lou Lagman! =D

This project was probably one of the harder of my styling jobs, but in the end, the team did really well. =D Not just the styling team, but everyone, of course! Life in reverse looks beautiful, and being locked in that circular set for some time was worth it. =D

Styling team! <3>

Don't be a Halloweenie!

Happy Halloween!!! I think we can all agree that Halloween is a lot more fun when you have a great costume idea, and when all your friends are just as excited as you are about dressing up. This year, my friends and I kept talking about our costumes, and even helped each other get ready! For mine, I found this very old looking red dress among my props and costume stocks:

I added these:

and got this!:

Woohoo! My Queen of Hearts Costume! =)
I had the time of my life shouting, "Off with her head!"
the entire night! Hahaha! =)

Here are two of my other friends in their own DIY costumes:

Melsy as a Milk Carton
The most RANDOM costume ever! I have no idea
how she even thought of it! She even stuck Nutrition Facts
and a Missing Person ad at the sides of her box!


Mia as a Kissing Booth
Another RANDOM costume! Mia came over two nights ago,
and we worked on her costume together! We made the box smaller,
and painted her box red, and even added the lip prints!
The red pumps were a perfect final touch!

Again, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
With more of our friends: Gege as Spiderman (I'm sure, a hit with the geeks!),
Christel as a Hooters Girl, and Ida as a Penguin! =)

Can't wait for next year!! =D

'Kada Kwento Shoot Day 2

Whenever I'm in charge of costumes for a shoot, I'm usually a lot more relaxed than when I'm handling props and sets. I handle smaller items when I style - clothes, accessories, maybe a bag, sewing kit, pins. But for 'Kada Kwento Day 2, I couldn't escape dealing with bigger things - spray paint, rubber, tin sheets, rugby. We had to make a Tin Man - the next character from the Wizard of Oz that Jackie imagines appearing to her at a party. With a LOT of help from Marco (he practically took charge!), we were able to come up with the costume using rubber fthat shoes and slipper parts are made of.

This is Gino, modeling the first phase of the costume
for us. It's still black at this point. It seems to fit! Yay!


Using a LOT of spray paint (and I mean a LOT! I think
I used almost 10 cans!), we were able to turn it into this!
This is Marco having fun and imagining himself as Iron Man.


We stuck some nuts (with no bolts) as buttons, and gave him a bowtie,
and on shooting day, we had all the parts ready!


We had every kind of adhesive with us - double-sided mounting tape, blu tac, mighty bond, rugby -- everything that we thought we would need to keep the costume together!
In picture: Marco putting the costume on Gee, the talent, and Nicole, a PA who helped us spray paint and put it all together!


Yay!
I also had to add the silver mask, funnel, silver gloves, pants and
long-sleeved top to complete the look.


And now putting the legs part...


Jackie meets the Tin Man!
I think this is our most complete whole body picture of the Tin Man costume.
We totally forgot to take him with the entire thing!

After around 30 minutes of waiting, the Tin Man could finally do his scene. Gee, the talent who stepped into the role, was a great sport! He was patient with us as we put the costume on him piece by piece, and didn't freak out when I explained that the spray paint would inevitably leave traces on his skin. We even painted his face (again, a great job by Carmie, the make up artist!), and he wore the silver mask and hat the whole time, but he was still in high spirits as we ended his segment. The 15 or so minutes that he was on set were some of the most tense I've ever been as stylist. Looks like even when I'm handling clothes, I still can't escape art dept. activities!

Watch the 'Kada Kwento episode where the Tin Man makes his appearance here. =D

You Surely Can Eat a Shuriken!!

Nobody believed in Mihk when we were shooting this. Mackie tried to shut down production by saying there would be no time in the first day of shooting to squeeze this in. We didn't have a tape to shoot with. Pong was getting frustrated. I wasn't even on set when they were shooting it; I just dressed up Gutch and Bea. But here they are! Three wonderful, genius virals about Shuriken Bars - something you'll see in Episode 2 of 'Kada Kwento. =)

'Kada Kwento Shoot Day 1

The project that's been keeping my busy in recent weeks is a series of short films, called 'Kada Kwento. It's produced by Pelicola.tv and Globe Telecom, and its first episode and trailer came out last week (click to watch!). We just wrapped the second day of shooting as well, but since only the first shooting day results are out, I can only show pictures of what happened then.

This is Jen Chuaunsu; she plays a character named Dani. Episode 1
is her story, and we shot in Divisoria for the entire morning of the shoot.

Since it's a very congested marketplace, we endured the heat,
and a lot of human traffic to get certain shots. By the end

of that location, we were all exhausted and it was only noon!

There are seven characters in the series, all with distinct personalities that come together at the night of their friend's birthday. I'm styling it, and the job seems pretty easy since it's just one outfit per character for the entire duration of the shorts. One of them, however, Jackie, has an imagination that runs so wild that she sees the characters from the book she is reading come into her real life, and we had to include one of those imaginary friends in the trailer. The book was the Wizard of Oz, and the character was the Scarecrow.

Jackie, played by Gaille Reyes,
and the Scarecrow, played by Keith Tan (who is also our editor!).

With the help of Carmie, the make-up artist of the shoot, I think we were able to come up with something to be proud of. Keith doesn't look like a real REAL Scarecrow, but it works! I love the eyebrows as well, I think the make-up was such a crucial part, and that Carmie did a great job with it. That, along with some canvass, brown spray paint, dead leaves from my garden, thick rope, and thick dark blue upholstery material, brought life to the Scarecrow that was no longer just in Jackie's imagination.

With Carmie and Keith, who was really patient with us as we
dictated to him what he could and couldn't do -- like scratch his face. =)


Just had to include -- me trying to be a DOP again hehe =)

The trailer is attached to Transformers 2 showings at Rockwell Cinemas, but due to a boo-boo by Rockwell on the first day (which just so happened to be when 91 of us cast and crew members, friends, and colleagues watched together), we didn't get to see it on the big screen. =( Problem fixed now though, and it should still be showing! =) Check out the website: http://www.globe.com.ph/kadakwento weekly for the next episodes, and for who else is behind them! =)

And lastly, a clue for 'Kada Kwento Shoot Day 2:

Wizard of Oz + My chrome fingers = Which character next?!?! =)