Laurice Guillen
Actor-director Laurice Guillen, whose latest project “Maskara” opened the ongoing 7th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, expressed shock and disappointment over negative comments about her film—posted by a fellow Cinemalaya organizer on his Facebook account.
“I think, as a member of Cinemalaya, he should’ve just kept his opinion to himself,” said Guillen, a competition director of the annual indie fete. “Or maybe, he should’ve told me his opinion personally.”
Guillen was referring to Cinemalaya festival programmer Ed Cabagnot, who posted a lengthy piece on his FB account titled “Filmmaking as Public Self-abuse.”
Guillen said she herself refrains from making comments when asked by reporters to discuss the films of the festival finalists.
“I always say I can’t comment because I’m a competition director,” she pointed out. “I would never talk about my personal dealings with the filmmakers publicly. That’s why his comments really shocked me.”
Inquirer Entertainment tried to get Cabagnot’s side but he could not be reached.
Cabagnot, in his July 16 entry, said he found Guillen’s film to be “self-indulgent” and “over-scored.”
He added: “For me, the most damning bits are the deceased actor/character’s truisms/pontification on what Art is, and, for that matter, its Crafting, Truth, Authenticity, Talent, etc.—all the big, capitalized words you can shake your stick at (yup, the indie Circus Maxima’s truly begun.).”
Cabagnot then talked about the blackout that stalled the screening of “Maskara” on Friday night. He said he decided to “sit it out, postpone my climax, so to speak.”
“[This] places me in a blessed, blissful position to be in no authority to rave/bitch about our famed, controversy-hounded competition director’s Roman à clef, a.k.a. public washing of psychic laundry through Art,” he wrote.
‘Be still my cold, jaded heart’
The festival programmer then promised to finish the film “if only to understand why so many folks loved the way it made them weep… Oh, be still my cold, cold, jaded heart! It’s too early in the morning to bare one’s fangs in this yearly indie ‘Game of Thrones.’”
“Maskara” tells the story of actor Roberto Martin (Tirso Cruz III), which unfolds through letters discovered by his wife 40 days after he dies. It is a tribute to Laurice’s husband, actor Johnny Delgado, who died of cancer in 2009. Their daughter, actress Ina Feleo, wrote the screenplay.
Guillen also reacted to the comment of tabloid columnist Danny Vibas, who said she could be accused of “lacking delicadeza” because “Maskara” was chosen as opening film.
“I don’t think that comment is for me, but for the festival director,” Guillen explained. “I’m used to critiques. I’ve been directing films for more than 30 years. But the issue of delicadeza has nothing to do with his critique of my work. I think that’s already personal. I will not back down from accusations like that.”
Former CCP president Nestor Jardin on Tuesday said it’s part of his job as Cinemalaya festival director to choose the opening and closing films. He said there’s only one criteria—the films “should reflect the indie spirit.”
Jardin also said he saw no conflict in making Guillen’s movie the opening film since it was not part of the competition. “When I heard Laurice made an indie movie… having great confidence in her ability and track record… I said we finally found our opening film,” he explained.