Director Theodore Boborol talks about working with Ruby Ruiz and Soliman Cruz on ‘Iska’

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<p>"[We're having a small talk]. <em>Kinamusta ko lang siya for the sake na may chikahan portion habang nagla-lunch kami. Eh bigla niyang siniwalat 'yung buong buhay niya at umiyak siya. Nung narinig ko 'yung kuwento niya, ang dami kong realization, una, as a person na nagtatrabaho sa media. Na-realize ko lang na napaka-jaded ko. I'm supposed to be watching the teleserye of totoong buhay, which is the reality show (PBB), and yet something is happening around me, sa mga characters na nakakasalamuha ko and yet wala akong alam and wala akong pakialam. Feeling ko lang, nag-resonate siya sa akin. Napaka-interesting ng kuwento</em>," he added.<p>In teasers released ahead of its official launch, it isn't hard to notice the apparent references made to his alma mater, the University of the Philippines-Diliman. "<em>Siyempre, nung sinabi kong loosely based 'to sa story ng house cleaner ko, yes, totoo 'yun. Nagxe-xerox talaga siya UP dati. Lahat ng mga nangyari sa kuwento, nangyari rin talaga around the campus. So, in a way, hindi naman 'yun sinadya na doon namin gagawin just for the sake of lahat ng mga pelikula gusto sa UP [mag-shoot]. Inherent [talaga siya],</em>" he said, adding that the story features a lot of metaphors and symbolisms throughout the film.<p> <blockquote class='instagram-media' data-instgrm-captioned='' data-instgrm-permalink='https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl3b6xBdxk/' data-instgrm-version='12' style=' background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);'><div style='padding:16px;'><div style=' display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;'><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;'> </div></div></div><div style='padding: 19% 0;'> </div><div style='display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl3b6xBdxk/' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'><svg height='50px' version='1.1' viewbox='0 0 60 60' width='50px' xmlns='https://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'><g fill='none' fill-rule='evenodd' stroke='none' stroke-width='1'><g fill='#000000' transform='translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)'><g><path d='M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631'></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style='padding-top: 8px;'><div style=' color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl3b6xBdxk/' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'>View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style='padding: 12.5% 0;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;'><div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: 8px;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: auto;'><div style=' width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);'> </div></div></div><p style=' margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Byl3b6xBdxk/' style=' color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;' target='_blank'>‪I humbly present to you the trailer of my most personal film to date. Hope you watch our small film “Iska” this August 2 to 13, at the CCP & select cinemas nationwide!‬ ‪Mabuhay ang sineng malaya! Salamat Cinemalaya! ♥️ @cinemalayaofficial #Cinemalaya2019 #IndependenceDay‬</a><p style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;'>A post shared by <a href='https://www.instagram.com/theodoreboborol/' style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;' target='_blank'> Theodore Boborol</a> (@theodoreboborol) on <time datetime='2019-06-12T01:59:55+00:00' style=' font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;'>Jun 11, 2019 at 6:59pm PDT</time></div></blockquote><script async src='~//www.instagram.com/embed.js' type='text/javascript'></script><p> <p>Direk Ted was proud to say that he went all out in creating his first independent film, maximizing his freedom in creating and visualizing Iska—from camera movement to the structure of his storytelling down to the casting. But this was all not without going through certain adjustments as a director. "I'm directing movies here in ABS-CBN and Star Cinema, so <em>alam ko na 'yung expectation. Alam ko kung ano 'yung hinahanap ng audience, ng marketing, ng management. In a way, alam ko kung ano 'yung 'formula'</em>.<em> Ito kasi, nanibago ako kasi</em> I have freedom. Meaning ifa-follow <em>ko lang kung ano 'yung instinct ko. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba 'yung ginagawa ko, basta puso lang talaga. I'm hoping na lumabas 'yun sa pelikula,</em>" he shared.<p>He's also very grateful to actors Ruby Ruiz and Soliman Cruz for not only bringing his vision to life, but for being easy to work with throughout the project. "<em>May eksena doon na na-appreciate ko si tita Ruby. May pinakita siya na kung tutuusin, malaking issue 'yun, pero nung sinabi namin 'yun sa kanya nung first pitch, go siya.</em><p>"A<em>sawa niya rito ay si</em> Soliman Cruz, which is, thankfully, magaling din at kaibigan na rin niya. Marami na silang beses na magkasama sa teatro, sa ibang independent movies. Si Soliman, magaling siya. Wala akong problema sa kanila. 'Yun 'yung nami-miss ko ngayon, 'yung mga artistang professional, mga artistang nag-aaral ng mga characters nila, mga artistang iniisip nila 'yung istorya, 'yung plot, 'yung authorization more than their image, more than their fans. 'Yun 'yung na-appreciate ko sa kanilang dalawa, and 'yung fact that they respect me even if they're already veterans," he added.<p>On the message he wanted to convey through Iska, Theodore said that he wants to leave it to the viewers to come up with their own interpretation of the story. He told, "<em>Ayoko silang pangunahan</em>. <em>Gusto ko na sila 'yung magbabasa, sila 'yung maghahanap ng meaning. But, of course, it's really about the unconditional love of a person. Ano nga ba ang isang ina? Unconditional love siya ng isang nanay, na kahit na labas na ng kanyang responsibilidad at ng kanyang kakayahan, binibigay pa rin niya 'yung unconditional love dahil mahal niya ang taong ito."</em><p> <blockquote class='instagram-media' data-instgrm-captioned='' data-instgrm-permalink='https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3w-T5BVVs/' data-instgrm-version='12' style=' background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);'><div style='padding:16px;'><div style=' display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;'><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;'> </div></div></div><div style='padding: 19% 0;'> </div><div style='display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3w-T5BVVs/' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'><svg height='50px' version='1.1' viewbox='0 0 60 60' width='50px' xmlns='https://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'><g fill='none' fill-rule='evenodd' stroke='none' stroke-width='1'><g fill='#000000' transform='translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)'><g><path d='M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631'></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div><div style='padding-top: 8px;'><div style=' color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3w-T5BVVs/' style=' background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;' target='_blank'>View this post on Instagram</a></div></div><div style='padding: 12.5% 0;'> </div><div style='display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;'><div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;'> </div><div style='background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: 8px;'><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)'> </div></div><div style='margin-left: auto;'><div style=' width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);'> </div><div style=' background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);'> </div><div style=' width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);'> </div></div></div><p style=' margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;'><a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx3w-T5BVVs/' style=' color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;' target='_blank'>The official poster of “Iska”, our official entry to the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival this August. See you there! 🎞 @iskacinemalaya @cinemalayaofficial</a><p style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;'>A post shared by <a href='https://www.instagram.com/theodoreboborol/' style=' color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;' target='_blank'> Theodore Boborol</a> (@theodoreboborol) on <time datetime='2019-05-25T04:00:43+00:00' style=' font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;'>May 24, 2019 at 9:00pm PDT</time></div></blockquote><script async src='~//www.instagram.com/embed.js' type='text/javascript'></script><p>/ <p> <p>"At the same time, <em>sana rin</em> after this movie, <em>mao-open na rin 'yung mga tao sa issue ng mental health dito sa Philippines. Kapag napanood niyo 'yung pelikula, kahit hindi naman ito tungkol sa autism, makikita niyong marami pang puwedeng i-educate sa mga tao about mental health issues.</em> We're very blessed na connected <em>kami ngayon sa </em>Autism Society Philippines. K<em>inwento namin sa kanila 'yung istorya. Ayaw ko kasing gumawa ng istorya about autism na wala kaming c</em>redibility. So, lahat ng autism scenes, we researched about it, nag-immerse <em>kami sa isang</em> center, <em>nakipag-usap kami sa </em>Autism Society members.<p>"But beyond that, I'd like to believe<em> na ang daming puwedeng sabihin ng pelikula. Ayokong i-demand na 'Ito 'yung kailangan niyong mabasa o ma-feel'. Gusto ko lang silang sumakay sa buhay ni Iska, matuto, ma-</em>entertain."<p>Other full-length features which will compete in Cinemalaya this year include <em>Ani</em> (The Harvest),<em> Annak ti Karayan (</em>Children of the River), <em>Fucc Bois, John Denver Trending, Belle Douleur </em>(A Beautiful Pain), <em>Malamaya, Pandanggo Sa Hukay, Tabon, and Edward.</em><p>The film festival is scheduled to kick off on August 2 and will run until the 11th. 

<p>Despite his experience in creating stories, award-winning filmmaker Theodore Boborol had a lot to learn for his first experience in creating an independent film.<p>The director behind hit films "<em>Vince and Kath and James</em>" and "<em>Finally Found Someone</em>" is set to compete in this year's Cinemalaya film festival with his entry, Iska, which tells the story of a doting but impoverished grandmother who wants to take her 10-year-old autistic grandson to a special needs orphanage, but is deemed an unfit guardian by the media and the government.<p>The Cinemalaya entry, which was written by Mary Rose Colindres, is loosely based on the story of his house cleaner. "<em>Nangyari talaga ito sa totoong buhay.</em> Basically, I've been working for ABS-CBN since the year 2000, and I've done many stories as a writer, director, creative manager, and a story editor.<em> Itong story ni Iska, feeling ko kailangan siyang ikuwento. Nangyari ito nung 2010. Narinig ko 'tong kwentong 'to,</em> I was still working as a story editor of <a href='https://entertainment.abs-cbn.com/tv/shows/pbbotso/main'><u><em><strong>Pinoy Big Brother</strong></em></u></a>," he said.

Despite his experience in creating stories, award-winning filmmaker Theodore Boborol had a lot to learn for his first experience in creating an independent film.

Director Theodore Boborol talks about working with Ruby Ruiz and Soliman Cruz on ‘Iska’ | PUSH.COM.PH