WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE
By Butch Macaro
Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines


DREAMS happen mostly during our sleep, in our subconscious minds. FANTASIES most often happen in our waking hours which are under the control of our minds, giving us more leeway to change the subject of our fantasies very easily. They become wild if we know that these fantasies appear to be far from realization. But wild fantasies sometimes become realities when least expected and their effect are sometimes beyond our control.

One of the most widespread fantasies we have as young dreamers is to be in the movies, become actors and actresses. Young people, including the not so young once who frequent TV, radio stations and movie productions are those who have wild fantasies of becoming celebrities someday. Some are fortunate enough to realize their dreams as in the cases of newcomers trying to etch their names in the celluloid field. They became actors instantly because of Pantasya, the newest movie of innovative director Dante Brilliante Mendoza who also made the much talked about movies Masahista, Kaleldo and Manoro. These films have been hailed in international filmfests, earning awards and recognition both for the producer and director, and because of this success, Pantasya became a reality.

About a hundred hopefuls auditioned for the roles under Director Arman Reyes and well known choreographer/talent manager Gerome Pelgone. Those selected proved to be worthy of their instant breaks.

The controversial digital film is the initial offering of Rollingball Entertainment, a sister company of CenterStage Production. Pantasya is aptly billed as “the ultimate gay illusion on men-in-uniform” in five episodes which had its invitational screening at the UP Film institute in Diliman, Quezon City last March 20, 2007.

My eagerness to see the controversial movie forced me to take a taxi from my place in Quiapo.I came just in time for a few chit chat before the movie began. The eager audience was composed mostly of students, perhaps from UP who must be movie buffs themselves, and some middle aged men and women and some who looked like professionals.

The first episode titled Biyahe or Trip (I think has a double meaning title) stars Rov Roxas as the jealous teen gay student and Arthur Estrella as the jilted taxi driver. Obviously they have problems in their love affair and both find consolation instantly in each other’s arms. One thing I missed though is to find out who between the two created the fantasy. The taxi driver or the jealous teen gay student?.

But whatever was missing was made up for by the good and convincing acting of the two newcomers. Everything flowed quite naturally that I forgot they were both new actors. For acting, I gave a score of 7 points.

The second episode is called Linya or Line which refers to a telephone line. Harold Montano, a hermit homeowner (whatever it means), reports that his telephone line is in disconnect. Two good looking linemen (Mark Dionisio and Kiko Montenegro) show up to fix his line, ending up in mending his lonely heart. Mark fixes the telephone and Kiko leaves the room to smoke outside, giving Harold a chance to fantasize with the other lineman left behind. When Kiko returns, he finds out in the fantasy that the homeowner and the lineman are in the middle of making love wildly. Mark urges Kiko to join in. The scene closes as the linemen leave, Mark ends with a mischievous smile on his lips. I never knew if the line was fixed. Let’s give it another 7 points.

Laro or Game is the third episode with Nicco Taverna, Dexter Castro, Brent Lorenzo and Kervin Castillo as students playing basketball in the college gym. Kyle Zenorio plays a gay fan who loves to play basketball but never made it to any team. After the game, the five players rush to the gym shower where the gay Kyle takes a wild fantasy peeps aon the other players taking their shower and even ‘playing’ with their things. A score for acting of 8 points will be good enough.

Bilis or Speed is about a pizza delivery boy (Trent Allan) who brings a pizza order to a bored gay Yuppie (Justin de Leon) who is working overtime in an office in a tall and modern building. The delivery boy misses the elevator by a few seconds and negotiates the long and steep stairway to deliver the pizza, not before almost losing his way. The gay Yuppie, out of hunger, does not eat the pizza but instead devours something that is not sliced at all. The acting can just score 6 points.

The last episode is Bantay or Guard (as in security guard). It is all about a lovers’ quarrel between a macho gay boyfriend (Rhyme Rodriguez) and a gay friend (Jon Eric). Jon leaves his townhouse and drives around town. Disillusioned, he pours out his pains in a solitary wooden bench and the horny guard (Kyro Baldemor) offers to console him in the well lighted guard house. When Rhyme returns, his gay friend Jon has recovered from his miseries and, together, they return to the townhouse…after the fantasy! I score it 7 points for acting.

One thing I noticed about the movie was that you cannot distinguish between between the fantasy and reality scenes. You are never sure when it is fantasy and when it is reality.

Dexter Castro is from Pampanga, 20 years old, 5’8” tall, a second year nursing student of the Metropolitan College of Nursing in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and a winner of several male competitions including Ginoong Pillipinas 2006 where he was 1st runner-up. He was also 2nd runner-up in the Hataw Bikini Open in May 2006, and Mr. Superman in December 2006. Gettinmg a good role in Pantasya is giving him a shot in the arm to pursue his ultimate fantasy of becoming a movie star. If this article will serve to help him realize his dream, I shall in every way offer a helping hand at any time if only for a very good friend, Jun Noya!

The film is good as an experiment. The movie was able to drive home the point about fantasies. Most of us, if not all, have at least one fantasy of his or her own. The subject tackled in the movie is quiet intriguing as it delves on homosexual relationship. I am of the belief that everybody will find a way to relate to the story as these things are now happening in our midst. Treating homosexual relation-ships with full understanding and sympathy is a present day reality.