DIRECTOR LORE REYES wants to emphasize that he and the late Peque Gallaga are not directors of the Metro-Manila Filmfest entry, “Magikland”, but executive producers.
They conceptualized everything but decided to get a younger director who will be fit for the material that is mainly for kids. Their choice is TV commercial director Christian Acuna, who used to be a student of Peque in filmmaking.
They’re very pleased be with Direk Christian’s superlative work in the movie.
“There were times when Peque and I, nalilimutan naming siya nga pala ang director at nakikialam kami. So we would check ourselves and say sorry to him. Ang P200 million budget nito, siguro, katumbas na ng anim na pelikula.”
He adds the CGI requirements of the film made it very expensive.
“For the special effects, we got about 30 computer graphic artists to work on all the visual effects needed in the film. We’re proud to say it has the most CGI effects of all movies done locally.
"Bagay na bagay rin ito sa Kapaskuhan kasi the story starts on Christmas eve and the whole film happens in one day, on Christmas Day. Fantasy film for kids ito na apat na bata rin ang mga bida, kaya masisiyahan talaga ang mga bata sa panonood nito ngayong Pasko.”
At the movie’s presscon, Lore was asked what can he say about Robin Padilla’s rant against the current entries because his own entry, “Memoirs of a Rebel”, did not make it as an official entry.
He said the screening committee’s way of choosing entries remain to be in the “old normal” when we’re now in the “new normal.”
And this is Direk Lore’s statement: “Ang reaction ko lang diyan, sana kung nanggagaling yan sa bunganga ng isang taong nakagawa ng matinong pelikula, maniniwala ako. Not from Robin Padilla, excuse me!”
But what Robin said is not true. If the screening committee adopted the old way of choosing entries, then they would have chosen movies starring the usual top filmfest box office draws like Vice Ganda, Coco Martin and Vic Sotto.
But those three stars are all noticeably missing this year. Maybe they really didn’t want to join a festival that is not being shown in theaters but only online.
Robin later relented when Pres. Duterte, who he supports fully as a DDS, expressed his ownsupport for the MMFF this year. Robin later posted:
“Kapag nagsalita na ang Pinakapinuno ng mga pinuno ibig sabihin, yun na ang mangyayari at magaganap. Katulad ng salmo ng Pangulo! Mabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino! Mabuhay ang talentong Pilipino.”
