He’s now back helming a movie for the big screen in the Cinemalaya entry Directors Showcase category, “Asintado (Between the Eyes)”. It will star Aiko Melendez, Gabby Eigenmann, Jake Vargas, Rochelle Pangilinan, Rita de Guzman, Jak Roberto and child actor Migz Cuaderno. This will be shot on location at Bibiclat, Nueva Ecija with its annual Taong Festival as the story’s background, written by three-time Palanca winner Socorro Villanueva. “Asintado” is the first Cinemalaya entry to have its presscon, held at Uncle Cheffy at Promenade.
“Most of my work are comedies and musicals so bago ko mag-retire (which is matagal pa), I want to do an indie film na makabuluhang drama,” says Louie, who’s also producing the movie for his Ignacio Films and directing it and acting as DOP using his full name, Luisito Lagdameo Ignacio. “Nabanggit ko kay Socorro na I want to do a movie centering on the Taong Putik festival and she said her father was born in Bibiclat, where the festival happens every year, so alam niya yun. So bumuo siya ng story at isinali namin sa Cinemalaya and luckily, it qualified. I personally handpicked the stars. I told Aiko I want her to play the mother who’s fighting for her two kids against a drug pusher and I sent her the script. Hindi siya sumagot, buong magdamag. I thought hindi niya nagustuhan. Yun pala, binasa niya nang buo and when she called me, sabi niya, direk, pag hindi ako ang kinuha mo diyan, lagot ka sa akin. Her first born will be played by Jake Vargas at ang bunso, yung title roler na autistic pero asintado at laging bullseye anything he aims to hit, is Migz Cuaderno.”
Shooting starts tomorrow, Monday, in Pagsanjan, Laguna, then they will shoot at the actual Taong Putik festival in June to be incorporated in the movie.
