RACHEL Weisz at Naia. photo:rodel rotoni
“The Bourne Legacy” lead actor Jeremy Renner, who turned 41 on Jan. 7, may not know it yet, but he is about to get bibingka and puto bumbong as belated birthday gifts.
The traditional Filipino delicacies will be from Lope “Jun” V. Juban Jr. of Philippine Film Studios Inc., local producer of the Tony Gilroy spy-thriller film currently shooting in the country.
Renner, an American, arrived in Manila last week, while his costar, British actress Rachel Weisz, planed in Sunday night. Juban said another actor playing a major role, Edward Norton, is expected to arrive any day now.
“They’re adjusting well,” said Juban of Renner and Weisz’s first few days here. “It looks to me like they already feel at home. Paikot-ikot lang sila sa Metro Manila. Like them, the entire production team is just settling down, trying to acclimatize.”
Manila will serve as the setting for the film’s climax—specifically the last 20 to 25 minutes. Juban said two other cities were considered—Jakarta in Indonesia and Ho Chin Minh in Vietnam.
“Manila’s selling point was its people,” stressed Juban, denying talk that the city was picked for its squalor. “While [the producers] were scouting for a location, we showed them pictures of Manila, with people smiling despite obvious hardships. And when they got here, they said they immediately felt welcome.”
Filming began Wednesday on San Andres and Remedios streets in Malate. Some parts will be shot in scenic spots in El Nido, Palawan, Juban said.
Unique work week
In a previous interview, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Briccio Santos said most of the movie’s action scenes were to be filmed here. He reported that Weisz was to have some shots inside a spinning jeepney, and that a chase scene would take place along the Metro Rail Transit line.
Santos emphasized that Manila would be filmed as Manila, and not as a stand-in for another city. Juban added, “There’s a negative impression about Manila that we hope to dispel with this project. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that no producer would bring clients to a place that he knows is dangerous.”
Manila is part of the story, said Santos. He elaborated, “What I know is that Bourne’s group comes here in search of a rare medication and some forces try to stop them.”
“The first scenes to be filmed are all general, establishing shots— mostly day scenes,” Juban told Inquirer said on Tuesday, but did not confirm whether the lead actors would be working yesterday. “I hope people understand why we’re being very secretive. We don’t want to disrupt filming.” Shooting in the Philippines will last for 40 to 45 days.
In a report, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino said the production team will be working only Wednesdays to Sundays. The first shooting location was the Remedios Circle in Malate.
Juban, who had been working with the “Bourne” production team for over a year now, said he still felt “tense and stressed.” He explained: “Anything can happen. Every project poses problems. Manila is supposed to have clear skies in January. Let’s hope typhoons will steer clear of us for the duration of the shoot.”
Track record
The PFSI has been co-producing Hollywood film productions since the 1970s, among them: “Year of Living Dangerously,” starring Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver (1982); “Platoon,” with Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe (1986); and “Born on the 4th of July,” with Tom Cruise (1989). It has also been bringing various franchises of the reality show “Survivor” to the Philippines since 2007.
Juban also co-produced the historical movie on the fall of the Marcos dictatorship titled “A Dangerous Life,” featuring Tessie Tomas, Ruben Rustia, Dina Bonnevie and Garey Busey, for the cable channel Home Box Office (HBO).
“I’ve done this for 30 years; you’d think I already know everything,” Juban said. “The secret to successful projects is to treat each one as if it were your first. It helps if you could work with people you trust. We’re all very nervous but excited about [‘Bourne’]. Compared to all the productions I’ve been part of previously, this is the closest to my heart because we’re promoting Manila.”
E-mail: mcruz@inquirer.com.ph