CineFilipino: ‘Ang Taba Ko Kasi’ spotlights tubby folks

By: Arvin Mendoza - 9 years ago

There had already been many films that featured famous stars in fat suit in an attempt to truly represent plump people. However, it is not the case for Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Ang Taba Ko Kasi,” an entry to the CineFilipino Film Festival this March.

“In this film, we didn’t put prosthetics to our actors to make them look heavy. It’s not like an “Ugly Betty” who will eventually become sexy,” Laxamana told INQUIRER.net.

“Ang Taba Ko Kasi” tells the story of a fat woman named Olga (Cai Cortez) who gets further motivation to lose weight because of her hot swimming instructor Noah (Mark Neumann). She will jog every afternoon until she meets Benji (Ryan Yllana), her weight loss buddy and a friend who will teach her life lessons.

“It is much grounded on reality. It’s about emotional journey of a fat person who tries to find romantic relationship and at the same time coming into terms with self-acceptance,” the director said.

Laxamana said a part of him is fused into the story and he made sure that it will be relatable to everyone. “I integrated stories of other people, my friends, what I see online and on TV.”

He also shared that real-life, plus-size celebrities Cortez and Yllana are his first choices for the lead characters.

READ: Mainstream, indie stars in CineFilipino 2016

Yllana felt really flattered. “I am very proud of this movie not because I was [cast in the role] but because [I] get to represent plus-size people like us in a movie that [no one] gets thinner in the ending.”

“My role is very natural. I’m just being myself. The only struggle is that it is my first leading role and I had to take the lines by heart,” he added.

As of posting time, the film’s trailer has already garnered more than 2.5 million views in less than two months after it was uploaded on Facebook.

“It is my first time to be active in social media. I guess relatability is a very important director,” said Laxamana who is still fresh from the success of his romantic-comedy movie “Love Is Blind.”

Though he has been previously lauded for award-winning independent films with serious undertone such as “Babagwa (Cinemalaya 2013)” and “Magkakabaung (MMFF New Wave 2014),” the director said he starts to enjoy different movie genres.

“If given the chance, I would even love to do sci-fi. Perhaps that’s the geek in me wanting to do a lot of things. But lately, I am into comedy, especially when ‘Love is Blind’ became a hit,” he said.

“With the passing of director Wenn (Deramas)…I am being pushed to make comedy films. I am nervous because in real life, I don’t see myself as a naturally funny person,” he shared.

For its second edition this March 16 to 22, CineFilipino will showcase other finalists in the feature-length competition: Carla Marie Baful’s “A Lotto Like Love;” Randolph Longjas’ “Van Damme Stallone;” Frank David Fabros’ “Straight to the Heart;” Lemuel Lorca’s “Ned’s Project;” Ice Idanan’s “Sakaling Hindi Makarating;” Alvin Yapan’s “Ang Tulay ng San Sebastian;” Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibañez’s “1st Sem;” and Paolo Alessandro Herras’ “Buhay Habangbuhay.”

READ: CineFilipino fest showcases uniquely Filipino stories

Presented by PLDT-Smart, MediaQuest and Unitel, the film festival will run at Gateway Cineplex, Edsa Shangri-la Cineplex, Greenhills Theater Mall Cinema, New Port Cinemas, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Metro East and Eastwood Mall. RAM

SCREENING SCHEDULES

March 16 (Wed)
4:15 – FESTIVAL MALL
6:00 – GATEWAY A (Gala Premiere)
8:30PM – EASTWOOD

March 17 (Thu)
1:30 – GATEWAY B
2:30 – SHANGRI-LA
8:30 – METROEAST

March 18 (Fri)
2:05 – GALLERIA
4:40 – NEWPORT
6:30 – GREENHILLS

March 19 (Sat)
2:30 – EASTWOOD
4:45 – GALLERIA
6:30 – GATEWAY B
8:30 – NEWPORT

March 20 (Sun)
1:55 – GREENHILLS
4:15 – SHANGRI-LA
8:30 – METROEAST

March 21 (Mon)
2:15 – FESTIVAL MALL
4:10 – GATEWAY A
6:30 – FESTIVAL MALL
8:30 – GREENHILLS

March 22 (Tue)
12:00 – GATEWAY B
2:00 – GALLERIA
4:20 – EASTWOOD

https://youtu.be/emBURM26aho