Apocalypse Child

Last updated
Apocalypse Child
Directed byMario Cornejo
Written byMario Cornejo
Monster Jimenez
Starring Sid Lucero
Annicka Dolonius
Gwen Zamora
RK Bagatsing
Ana Abad Santos
Archie Alemania
CinematographyIke Avellana
Production
company
Filmex
Release date
  • October 23, 2015 (2015-10-23)(QCinema International Film Festival)
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Apocalypse Child is a 2015 Philippine independent film directed by Mario Cornejo, set in the Philippine coastal town of Baler and featuring aspects of local surf culture. [1] It stars Sid Lucero, Annicka Dolonius, Gwen Zamora, RK Bagatsing, Ana Abad Santos, and Archie Alemania, and was co-written by Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez.

Contents

Production

Development

Apocalypse Child initially had a different title and a different story, still written by Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez. The film's original plot revolved around four middle-aged women who went on to learn about surfing because they fell in love with a young surf instructor. [2]

But they changed the plot as soon as they went to Baler, Aurora to do further research and learn more about the history of surfing in the Philippines. Surf culture in the country, according to an a legend, began because of a Hollywood film. Apocalypse Now shot some of its scenes in Baler in the 1970s and allegedly, the crew left a surfboard floating in the sea. The surfboard was later used by five local boys who taught themselves how to surf and became the first Philippine surfing champions. [2]

Cornejo and Jimenez played around with this myth and incorporated it in their film. What if the Apocalypse Now production team left behind some children as well? This was how the Ford's character came to be, who was led to believe his whole life that he was the son of Apocalypse Now director Francis Ford Coppola. While writing the script, they already had Sid Lucero in mind to play the part. They also explored archetypes such as the favorite daughter, sacrificing mother, the "worst fault", and the father's son.

The final script was submitted to the QCinema Film Festival after which they secured partial funding. [2]

Principal photography

The film was shot in Baler, Aurora within 20 days with production firm, Filmex helping Cornejo and Jimenez in scheduling the principal photography. The production staff had a four-day break. [2]

Release

Apocalypse Child had its premiere at the QCinema Film Festival in October 2015, [3] about seven months after the script was submitted to the organizers. The film was later screened in film festivals in Italy, New York City and Pittsburgh in the United States, and South Korea. It had its commercial release in Philippine cinemas on October 26, 2016. [2]

Reception

List of accolades
Award / Film FestivalCategoryRecipient(s)Result
QCinema Film Festival Awards 2015 [3]
Best PictureApocalypse ChildWon
Best DirectorMario CornejoWon
Best Artistic AchievementLawrence S. AngWon
Best Supporting ActressAnnicka DoloniusWon
Film Academy of the Philippines Luna Awards 2016 [4] Best Supporting ActressAna Abad SantosWon
Gawad Urian Awards 2016 [5] Best Supporting ActressAna Abad SantosWon
Star Awards for Movies 2016 [6] Indie Movie Cinematographer of the YearIke AvellanaWon
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2016 [7] Fasken Martineau Best Feature FilmApocalypse ChildWon

Related Research Articles

Baler, Aurora Municipality in Central Luzon, Philippines

Baler, officially the Municipality of Baler, is a 3rd class municipality and capital of the province of Aurora, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 43,785 people. 

Anne Curtis Filipina-Australian actress, model, television host, VJ, makeup entrepreneur and recording artist

Anne Curtis is a Filipina-Australian actress, model, television host, entrepreneur and recording artist. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including two FAMAS Awards, a Luna Award, two Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, and five PMPC Star Awards for Television. Additionally, she has also been nominated for two Gawad Urian Awards, and eight PMPC Star Awards for Movies.

Baler Bay Body of water

Baler Bay is a bay in the northeastern portion of Luzon island in the Philippines. It is an extension of the Philippine Sea and bordered by four municipalities of Aurora province.

<i>Apocalypse Now</i> 1979 epic war film directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic psychological war film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, and Dennis Hopper. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola and John Milius with narration written by Michael Herr, is loosely based on the 1899 novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, with the setting changed from late 19th-century Congo to the Vietnam War. The film follows a river journey from South Vietnam into Cambodia undertaken by Captain Benjamin L. Willard, who is on a secret mission to assassinate Colonel Kurtz, a renegade Army Special Forces officer accused of murder and who is presumed insane.

Jerrold Tarog

Jerrold Viacrucis Tarog is a Filipino film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and composer. He is best known for directing Heneral Luna (2015), Bliss (2017), Goyo: The Boy General (2018), and the upcoming film Darna. His first feature film was the independently-produced Confessional (2007), followed by Mangatyanan (2009) and Sana Dati (2013). He directed segments for the Shake, Rattle & Roll horror series.

Romeo Gonzales Arcilla, professionally known as John Arcilla, is a Filipino actor and environmentalist. He is best known for playing the role of Antonio Luna in the historical drama film Heneral Luna, Hagorn in the fantasy drama television series Encantadia, and Renato Hipolito in the action drama television series FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. He won as Best Actor at the 78th Venice International Film Festival for his performance in On the Job: The Missing 8.

The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 43rd edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters.

Paolo Villaluna

Paolo Villaluna is a Filipino film, television and TV commercial director. He is part of the Philippine New Wave's 'most significant digital frontliners of the indie movement' (Philippine New Wave, Movfest Publishings, 2010) that emerged during the early 2000s that helped bring in a new era in local cinema. His filmography has garnered international acclaim and awards. Together with producer, writer and journalist Patricia Evangelista, he created the highly acclaimed weekly documentary show Storyline.

Maria Coreen T. Jimenez, better known by her screen name, Monster Jimenez, is a Philippine screenwriter, director, producer and editor best known for her work on Big Time (2005), Baby Angelo (2008), Kano: An American and His Harem (2010), Apocalypse Child (2015) and Respeto (2017).

Annicka Dolonius is a Filipina character actress best known for her award-winning performances in Philippine New Wave films such as Pisay (2007) Ang Nawawala (2012) and Apocalypse Child (2015). She has also appeared in various commercial film and television roles.

<i>Siargao</i> (film) 2017 Filipino film by Paul Soriano

Siargao is a 2017 Philippine surf romance film directed by Paul Soriano. Starring Jericho Rosales, Erich Gonzales, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, it is produced under Soriano's own company Ten17P.

QCinema International Film Festival Annual film festival in Quezon City, Philippines

The QCinema International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Quezon City, Philippines. The festival showcases local and international films, documentaries, and short films, and gives grants to their creators. As of 2017, the venues for the festival are Trinoma, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Galleria, and U.P. Town Center.

References

  1. ↑ Ortiga, Kara (Nov 5, 2016). "Armi Millare talks about making the music for Apocalypse Child". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Apocalypse Child: untangling small towns, surfing, sex, and moving on". Adobo Magazine. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 Aguila, Ren (29 October 2015). "Baler surfer drama, insomniacs' romance win big at QCinema Fest". GMA News. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "FULL LIST: Winners, Luna Awards 2016". Rappler. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "FULL LIST: Winners, Gawad Urian 2016". Rappler. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "FULL LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2016". Rappler. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (15 November 2016). "'Apocalypse Child' wins best feature film in Toronto Asian film fest". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.