Long lines fetch 12 more screens for ‘Zombadings’

LAUREN Young, Kerbie Zamora and Martin Escudero in “Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington”

Director Jade Castro was both thrilled and tense, in an almost bipolar way, as “Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington” went on a commercial run.

“I was excited to show our film nationwide, but I was nervous, too,” he told Inquirer. “I knew we had to make money on the first day or we’re dead.”

Fortunately, the film did well in Metro Manila, drawing long queues, so much so that 12 theaters were added over the weekend, for a total of 69 now screening it nationwide.

Castro, who was down with the flu on opening day, said the good news definitely made him feel better: As a struggling indie, he was prepared for the inevitability that his film wouldn’t “get the same leeway that big-studio films enjoyed, getting extended even if they perform poorly.” He said, “I am thankful to all the people who supported the film; we owe this success to them.”

Castro understood that it was a “make-or-break” situation for “Zombadings,” which mixes genres—comedy, horror, science fiction, musical, gay coming-of-age drama, pure unadulterated camp.

“I was hoping to beat the odds,” he noted. So now does he think it possible for more indies to cross over—in light of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” and “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” which broke new grounds?

Big players

“It wouldn’t be possible without support from the big players,” Castro said. “Smaller films need help from government, the press, TV networks, talent centers, theater owners, bookers … to reach the audience.”

Castro asserted that TV networks could help by lowering “exorbitant” advertising rates, and talent centers (also run by TV giants) could cooperate by sharing their actors for promo activities.

Theaters could also do their share, Castro pointed out. “Pulling out a movie on its first day essentially kills it. Smaller films, with no budget for ads, rely on word of mouth.”

Actually, getting to the theater was a hurdle in itself. “The big challenge was finding the right tone for the movie,” Castro recalled. “We had a very funny script (cowritten with “Maximo” writers Michiko Yamamoto and Raymond Lee) and I agonized over the execution. If it was too strong or too weak, it might end up corny, too old, artful, oblique and absurd.”

It was a “delicate” balancing act, he admitted. “It had to be somewhere between tasteless and impressive, commercially appealing and extraordinary.”

Breaking loose

After an earnest debut in the award-winning Cinemalaya drama “Endo” in 2007, Castro had felt it was time to break loose.

“Local movies need a dose of political incorrectness,” he said. “There ought to be less impositions of propriety, in life as in cinema.”

Castro and the Origin8 team envisioned “Zombadings” as a “Chaning Carlos movie for the new generation.” He explained, “I’m a Chaning Carlos fan. His movies are almost magical … supernatural. I reviewed a few Roderick Paulate films (directed by Carlos) like ‘Petrang Kabayo at ang Pilyang Kuting.’”

As such, working with actor Paulate on this film was something like a karmic bonus. Castro said he also “looks to late director Joey Gosiengfiao for the camp factor.”

Castro continued, “I told the team: We have to approach this as if we were making a serious horror film, especially visually.”

Casting matinee idol Martin Escudero, who auditioned for the lead role, was “winning half the battle” for Castro. “He simply had the right instincts and attitude for the role. That he looks like a grown-up Maximo Oliveros was just coincidental,” the filmmaker said.