Up a tree

Here is James Obenza, Joaquinto, climbing a coconut tree. Not every actor can climb a coconut palm. In the story he is cutting the telegraph wire, sabotaging the US Army.

I know I promised to blog faithfully, but without internet (no sabotage, just slow installation service) at our otherwise perfect Post House on Talisay Beach Rd, Bohol, I cannot be as steady as I'd like.
This one is sent from Bo's Coffee by the cathedral.
Pray for wireless. M

Saying goodbye

One of the things you get good at when you make a lot of movies is parting. This movie is John's 17th and my 13th, and we get sad, but we've done it before. We know we will see many of our new friends again. We are lucky since we go right into the editing room where our days are spent contemplating where we've been and who we've been with. Then the movie is finished and we get to travel with it, sometimes with our colleagues from the film, but at least always with a chance to talk about them.

These are our US soldiers. We recruited them from around the world and, as I hoped, they became very good friends.

From left to right they are Rainer Moore (Alabama), Dieter Balke (Bohol by way of East Germany), Luke Robertson (California), Kenny Guay ( NYC), Will Boddington (California), Bobby Guay (NYC), Ben Harvey (Cebu by way of Oxford UK), Jose Sanchez (Manila by way of Ecuador), Migue Cortes (Malaga, Spain), Ian Thompson (California), Erik Andersen (Colorado), Brian Wilson (Manila).
Stay in touch, guys.

Day 32 The rapture

On March 12, thirty two days after we started shooting, we wrapped BARYO on schedule and under budget.
John's nickname was "check the gate" which is what he called out when he was satisfied and ready to move on to the next angle or the next scene. He was fast, and he was happy. At the wrap party on March 13 he took the mic and said it was the first movie where he looked forward to shooting every single day. I second that emotion.
Thanks to all the BARYO cast and crew for making this one so special. Love, Maggie and John

Day 31 Baryo San Isidro

We have all come to love working in the village. When we work outside of it in the areas nearby we are relieved to come back to base camp and the village. Base camp is in Napo, Toril: the Wardrobe and Makeup House, the Green House for actors holding, and the catering tent. They are all just out of earshot from the village set. The village has comfortable verandahs and floors for naps and and shady refuge from the plaza sun. It is the perfect set.

Day 30 The funeral of Esperanza Banaag

Day after day we call on all departments to stage these big scenes with lots of actors and background extras. Today everyone is dressed for the funeral of a little girl killed by guerilla fire.  Wardrobe spent the day before dying clothes black, economizing and yet making it beautiful. The children are singing "In paradiso...". We are lucky to have had Paul Gelig to train them and Sheena and Rosemary can really sing.

Day 29 Spanky Manikan entertains the kids

And what great kids.

Day 28 It's lonely at the top

This is me with Dan Fernandez, Construction Supervisor and one of the best bosses I know. Most days he would greet me with "How's it going, boss?" and I'd say, "Just great, boss, how about you?" People who work on movies can make new friends on every job. You just have to show up.

Day 27 Rafael is rushed to torture

By one of our US soldiers, Dieter Balke. It is a scene of waterboarding. All involved were troubled for the rest of the day. What's that quote about history repeating itself?

Day 26 Occupation

That's what the movie is about, a village occupied by the US Army in the first years of the Phil-Am War. Bodjie Pascua is Sixto, one of the villagers. We watched dailies together one night, and when I said to him, "WAR! what is it good for?" He said, "absolutely NOTHIN".

Day 25 Garret Dillahunt as Lt. Compton

We worked in the village for weeks and finally on the last day of the Americans we went inside the Headquarters. Here is Garret a little bit like James Dean, looking out at the rain. Compton was an architect "building great big houses" before he came to the Philippines.

Day 24 Our Soldiers

Jemi Paretas as the Spanish scout Zuniga, wearing stripes (rayadillo). Chris Cooper in khaki (wool!) as Col. Hardacre and our American/Scot Merlin Bonning as his aide, in blue (more wool). Some will keep their uniforms as souvenirs. Some will want to BURN THEM. It's hot in the Philippines, even in February.

Day 23 Hilario and Tuba Joe profit from the US takeover

Joe Gruta and Spanky Manikan. We called their terrace at Olman's View Resort "Cafe Manikan" They held court there at all hours with Raul Manikan, and they called it the" Old Age Home". Wisdom and cigarettes were on offer at all hours. We are so lucky to have these seasoned, wise professionals on the team.

Day 22 The Dacanays move in

Is this not a wonderful photo? In the story Josefa (Irma Adlawan) receives her sister Corazon (Rio Locsin) and her brother-in-law Rafael (Joel Torre). They have been booted from their house, the largest in the village, by the Americans who take it over as their headquarters.

Day 21 Col Hardacre amazed

There wasn't one among us, cast or crew, who wasn't dazzled by Chris Cooper's work. Everyone learned from him, and he was a great friend to me during my trying days. We miss you, Chris.

I'm back

Thanks to Mary for her stills and to Mario for posting, right up to Day 20. Where have we been since then? What can I say? The work weeks were 5 or 6 days and I was often in a van leaving the hotel for set by 5:00 am. The days were always good and sometimes long, and with a spotty internet connection the window of opportunity for blogging was too short.
We wrapped right on schedule on March 12. Now, March 21, we are settled into the Post House, Talisay Beach,  Bohol, and I am just as happy as I look in this picture, taken on the set on the day we watched Rafael cut bamboo.

Day 20 - Hilario explains how the telegraph works

Day 19 - No words needed

Day 18 - DJ Qualls as Signalman Zeke Whatley

Day 17 - The fiesta of San Isidro

Day 16 - The Baryo has a visitor

Day 15 - Rigging a silk Bohol style

Day 14 - This season's crop