It was a hit among the Cinemalaya crowd back in 2024. This April 2, the squad may kitahits again, as BC Amparado's Gulay Lang Manong returns to the big screen. In line with the re-release this April, director Amparado shares insights about the film's production with CBO.
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| (C) Cinemalaya |
"I firmly believe that filmmaking is a powerful tool, which is why I choose to tell stories deeply rooted in reality—stories that reflect society," Amparado explains in his written interview with CBO. Grounded storytelling often allows the audience to experience a different world from what they're used to.
"I’ve always been drawn to narratives that capture authentic human experiences," he adds. "That’s why, in my writing, I devote more time to developing characters than structuring the plot."
However, marijuana is not exactly the typical grounded story we see on the big screen, let alone something that sparks a meaningful discussion. To depict its use, director BC revealed that he never intended for the film to be purely a comedy. It just turned out characters themselves were inherently funny. At the same time, while writing the script for the film, he also knew that it might really bring laughs from the audience.
After its initial release at Cinemalaya, BC was also overwhelmed by the support the film received from both inside and outside the medical marijuana community. To him, the film is not exactly a hard sell among people who have strong feelings about the substance. "It’s simply a story that presents different elements that can either support or challenge its cause," Amparado emphasizes. "In the end, it's up to the audience to decide kung saang bangka sila sasakay."
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| (C) Cinemalaya |
He also named the following directors that influenced his directing style:
- Erik Matti
- Jason Paul Laxamana
- Marilou Diaz-Abaya
- Quentin Tarantino
- Todd Phillips
- Martin Scorsese
According to Amparado, Laxamana was significant big influence to him in general. "Even when we were still students, he was already our mentor—he truly fueled our passion for writing and storytelling," Amparado shares.
For his debut feature, BC and his team impressively managed to get Cedrick Juan and Perry Dizon on board. Juan had just won Best Actor at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival for his performance in GomBurZa, while Dizon is an actor with a portfolio that includes both local and international productions.
"I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with both of them," Amparado shares. "Cedrick Juan is Cedrick Juan—there’s really nothing more to say. His work ethic, dedication, and talent are unmatched. I loved collaborating with him because we shared the same vision for Ariel’s character."
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| (C) Cinemalaya |
His producer, Tin Velasco of Cine Canawili actually set up the casting according to the director. "We had brainstorming sessions, and they were part of the pool of actors considered for the roles. Then, during the casting process, we finalized the lineup," he explains.
Gulay Lang Manong will be re-released exclusively on Ayala Malls Cinemas starting April 2. Metro Manila cinemas include Glorietta, Market Market!, Ayala Malls Circuit, Trinoma, and Ayala Malls Cloverleaf. Provincial cinemas include Ayala Center Cebu or Central Bloc, Capitol Central, Centrio, Abreeza Mall, Ayala Malls Legazpi, Harbor Point, and Marquee Mall.
Article has been edited to include release date and Harbor Point in list of cinemas*
