A Controversial Film About Transgenders In The Red Light District Of Makati, 'Those Long Haired Nights', Is An Entry In Various International Film Festivals, Starting With Busan Filmfest On October 12

A CONTROVERSIAL FILM, about transgenders who ply the Burgos Ave. red light district in Makati as cross-dressing prosties, is slated to be shown in several international filmfests. This is “Mga Gabing Kasing Haba ng Hair Ko”, whose English title for the international market is “Those Long Haired Nights”. This is the full length directorial film debut of Gerard Calagui, who has previously worked as a production designer and directed TV commercials and advocacy films for schools.

The film first goes to the Busan International Filmfest starting October 12 in the Asian Window section where it will have three screenings, then it goes to Honululu for the Hawaii International Filmfest later this month where it will be in competition. In November, it will be an entry at the Thessaloniki Filmfest in Greece, the Brisbane Filmfest in Australia, and the Taipei Golden Horse Filmfest in Taiwan. It will also have its U.S. premiere in the San Diego Asian Filmfest this coming November. In Manila, it will be shown in Quezon City theaters as part of the QCinema International Filmfest from October 19 to 28.

“Those Long Haired Nights” focuses on the intertwining stories of three transgender pokpoks. “We did a research on actual transgenders in Burgos Ave. and the film is based on the true stories of Tuesday, Amanda and Barbie na talagang magkakaibigan,” says Direk Gerard. “We want them to star and play themselves in the movie but they refused. It will jeopardize daw their jobs kasi makikilala ang mga mukha nila, so we auditioned real actors to play the three major roles. Ang nakuha namin were Anthony Falcon, who played a villain in ‘Alyas Robin Hood’ and also played a transgender in Loy Arcenas’ ‘Requieme’, as Amanda. As Tuesday, we got Cebuano actor Matt Daclan, who won best actor sa Cinema One for the film ‘Soap Opera’. As Barbie, we got Rocky Salumbides who also won as best actor in Cinema One for ‘Lily’. Bato-bato si Rocky pero bumagay ang matigas niyang features sa role ng isang baklang napakaraming pinagdaanan sa buhay. Maganda ang naging chemistry nilang tatlo on screen and they all deliver, puro magagaling sila kaya I’m very satisfied with their performance. Playing the role of their pimp is Mon Confiado.”

The movie is filmed without a script. “I have a script but I didn’t give them a copy. I just describe the scenario to my actors, kung anong sitwasyon. What is important is for them to get into their characters, then they improvise. Surprisingly, it came out very well, very real, spontaneous and very original. Naisip ko nga, for my next film, ganun uli ang gagawin ko.”