Category Archives for Focus Page: FILM

The story of RED by Jay Abello

Back in 2009, I spent the New Year’s writing. For a week I stayed inside my room and wrote a script of 140 pages by hand. It was my way of saying fuck you to people who have tried to destroy me and my reputation.  I wrote and wrote and wrote…about real people, mostly real events from my life, picked up stuff from here and there. I knew what I felt and what I wanted to say and the rest was fiction.  And that was such great therapy.   Needless to say, I didn’t write Red as a movie I wanted…

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Rogue Article

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Pureza – Trailer

Pureza – Trailer

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Website testimonials and publications page

“Pureza: The (Dismal) Story of Negros Sugar” by Ma. Isabel Ongpin The Manila Times, Sat, 5 May 2018 In this Pureza, the documentary, should be a catalyst. It is a well-done, well written and well-planned, beautifully photographed with an extensive spectrum of subjects and interviews put in focus the search for Truth and hopefully, solutions. Read more on Pureza News & Reviews “Film review: ‘Pureza’—an unflinching look at the Negros sugar industry” by Mikhail Lecaros GMA News Online, Tue, 15 May 2018 There is a moment in the documentary “Pureza” when a sakada (migrant worker) is shown toiling in a…

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On Pureza by J. Abello

I worked on over twenty-five feature films in the country in a span of 10 years and only one was a documentary. The rest were all narratives. So in my mind, I was prepared to do this film.  I was not.  We spent three years trying to make sense of this documentary and although I’m happy that I found my voice, I wish I had studied film more. What I can say is that this was not just another film project for me.  This was very personal.  I go home to Negros at least once a year and face my…

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