Happening Now: The partnership signing between 28 Squared Studios and Warner Bros. for ‘Under Parallel Skies’ starring Janella Salvador and Win Metawin.
Video: Khryzztine Baylon
Video: Khryzztine Baylon
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00 Okay, my next question is, what is the story behind the title, Under Parallel Skies?
00:07 Thank you.
00:08 That's pretty personal.
00:09 For this one, aside from producing, I was also involved in the creative side of things for this film.
00:15 So, in collaboration with the Dixie group, because she wrote the script,
00:19 I studied the script and also worked hand-in-hand with her when she was doing the story
00:24 because I was really interested not only about the film, or the producing side of things,
00:29 but also the creative side of things.
00:31 How your written work can turn into a motion picture.
00:34 So I was really interested about that.
00:36 Afterwards, after reading your script, I realized that,
00:38 "Hey, I think Under Parallel Skies would be the best title for this one."
00:43 Why? It's because, just to give you a background,
00:45 the main character, the male character for this one, his name is Iron,
00:49 he's a Thai bachelor.
00:51 And then the female character, her name is Iris, she's a Philippine modeler.
00:55 If you think about it, they're from two different worlds.
00:59 From Thailand, and then from different social classes.
01:02 Iron here is very wealthy and a Filipino modeler.
01:06 Also, Iris is a Philippine modeler working in Hong Kong.
01:10 You don't, in real life, you won't be able to think about,
01:14 "Okay, maybe they're passbookers or something like that."
01:16 But through fate, through destiny, their journey met in Hong Kong.
01:24 In the same city, under the same sky, under parallel skies.
01:28 So that's also one of the reasons why we have Under Parallel Skies as a title.
01:31 And also, in the story, Iris and Iron really did have the same pains and challenges.
01:38 So, despite being from different countries, different cultures and backgrounds,
01:42 both of them undergo parallel pains, parallel problems.
01:48 And hence, we have Under Parallel Skies.
01:50 If you watch the film, there's also a deeper meaning to it.
01:53 So, we're excited also when you watch the film,
01:56 you'll be able to understand as well why we have Under Parallel Skies as a title.
02:00 I was about to cut off Christophe because I think he was going to get into the spoilers.
02:04 Do you want to add on to that?
02:07 About the story behind Under Parallel Skies?
02:11 Yeah, even if it was a thought idea, I'd agree to it.
02:16 Simply because it symbolizes that wherever we are in the world, we are under the same sky.
02:25 So, this is actually about the beauty of unexpected connections.
02:33 So, yeah, and I think it's on the leaf of other details,
02:38 but for me, this is really a symbol of "Kahit sino ka pa, isa lang ang sky na."
02:43 We are under the same sky.
02:46 Wherever you are or whatever your situation is,
02:49 all of us are connected and we have the same sky.
02:53 Alright, okay, we have our next question from TV5's MJ Marfori.
02:58 Hi, MJ!
03:00 Congratulations on this project and of course, the partnership with Warner Brothers.
03:07 Okay, my question goes out to Janella.
03:10 Janella, can you share us a tidbit about how it was filming with Wynn
03:14 and of course, your preparations for the role?
03:17 Okay, filming with Wynn.
03:22 Actually, when we started filming, people asked us a lot if it was awkward or not.
03:30 When we started filming, it wasn't really awkward anymore
03:32 because we actually underwent workshops.
03:35 Our team flew to Thailand just to do like, how many sessions was that?
03:40 Three! Three sessions for intimacy workshops.
03:44 And so, by the time we started filming, we were a bit more familiar with each other already.
03:49 And yeah, how did I prepare?
03:54 I actually really... I don't know if I can share this.
03:59 No, I will share the story itself.
04:04 Richard is so funny.
04:07 He's so funny.
04:08 He's a spoiler.
04:09 No, just the two options.
04:13 I will tell you what they are.
04:15 They pitched two options of stories and they were both really amazing stories.
04:20 I fell in love with both of them and I couldn't choose.
04:23 They were two different storylines.
04:25 Under Parallel Skies was one of them and there was another one.
04:31 Oh, that one. Okay.
04:33 Yes, that one.
04:34 Yeah, I was... If I had to do any of them, I wouldn't be Man because they were both really...
04:42 Like, they touched my heart.
04:43 Just reading the script and from the pitching itself, I fell in love with both stories.
04:49 And so, when they told me I was going to do Under Parallel Skies with Win,
04:53 and I was pushing through, I really prepared for the role
04:58 because it kind of demands a bit of a heavy emotional background.
05:03 You're going to see why.
05:05 And I really immersed myself in the story and I studied how...
05:11 Of course, how it is to be a hotel receptionist.
05:14 Yeah, I think that's all I can say for now.
05:18 Very exciting.
05:20 And then my next question goes out to the producers.
05:23 I would want to ask how the partnership with Margaret Brothers came about.
05:28 And my follow-up would be, of course, the premiere that's going to happen in Hong Kong this weekend.
05:33 How did it happen?
05:36 Well, I think from the very start, when we were thinking of producing a film,
05:42 of course, the dream of every filmmaker is to have it on the big screen.
05:45 And when we were planning, we were like, "Let's see how things go. Where can we go?"
05:52 And then when we saw the first cut with Drake at D6,
05:57 we were like, "Okay, I think we have something special here."
06:02 Me saying that, honestly, I'm getting goosebumps.
06:05 Especially the very final cut, the one that's going to be shown on the world premiere in AFA in Hong Kong.
06:14 That one, I remember watching at D6, my God, goosebumps almost grew for the first hour.
06:20 I mean, that makes sense.
06:22 Because it was just that good for me.
06:24 It almost made me cry, I remember, from the very first time, the very first cut.
06:28 I was like, "Grabe, ito talaga yung pinkirapan natin ito for the last year."
06:34 From planning, from the pre-prods, to, of course, the shoot.
06:37 There were so many ups and downs. There were so many hiccups.
06:41 But honestly, I don't know why. Everything just solved itself.
06:44 Every problem solved itself.
06:46 I feel like there was something out there, someone out there, really, that's defying control of this.
06:51 Then, it led to, of course, where do we distribute this?
06:54 Because we leave this project, it's for the region.
06:57 That's when our night producer, Katzy, brought up to us to say,
07:01 "Hey, I think Warner Brothers is interested to do distributed projects right now for Southeast Asian films."
07:09 We met up with Rico, we told Rico about this film.
07:14 I think there's a term in Chinese, "Tianxi" that they lay.
07:20 It means "all stars aligned."
07:22 I feel like this project is really a bit of that, "all stars aligned."
07:26 We produced a cross-country film, and then Warner is exactly looking for something like that.
07:33 That's how it all really started, I would say.
07:36 Rico?
07:38 Yes, sir.
07:39 I think that, just to add up on that, I also believe that some things are meant to happen.
07:45 I worked with Katzy, the light producer of the movie, and she approached me if I was interested in this film.
07:53 I met with them, with Richard and Katzy, and they presented to me the movie that they have.
08:00 I requested for a viewing of a non-final version at the time.
08:05 I was talking to Sigrid earlier.
08:09 I told her that there were some particular scenes in the movie that made me decide that,
08:16 "Yes, I'm going to recommend this film to my original bosses again."
08:22 You just don't know it exactly, but some things will hit you.
08:28 In Warner Brothers, we believe in the power of the stories.
08:33 I know for a fact, I was telling Direk earlier that I've seen all of her movies.
08:39 A common friend of ours told me that Direk doesn't make mistakes.
08:46 Very consistent in her works.
08:48 From what I saw, even if it was a non-final version, I knew that there's something special about the film.
08:57 I am very fortunate that it landed on my lap.
09:03 They're considering Warner Brothers to distribute it.
09:07 It's actually an honor for Warner Brothers, a foreign distributor, to distribute a very good local film.
09:16 I'm happy. It's part of this.
09:18 Just a clarification, sir.
09:20 The distribution is throughout the region? The Philippines?
09:26 Originally, it was for the Philippines only when they approached me.
09:29 Then we talked further.
09:31 I gave my recommendations to my superiors in Burbank and the regional office in Singapore.
09:39 They requested a copy because I informed them that there's a tie-up involved in the film.
09:46 They were thinking that Warner Brothers can distribute it somewhere else, at least in the region.
09:55 When they saw it, they immediately agreed that at least for a time in Singapore, Warner Brothers will be distributing it as well.
10:02 That's amazing.
10:03 For this one, it's really a testament of the hard work, the passion and creativity of our team.
10:09 From the director to the team behind this film, really dedicated this film to our team.
10:17 It was really very hard-working in making this happen.
10:20 Turning the story of "The Secret" into such a special film.
10:25 I think this partnership is a testament that Global, Warner Brothers are now opening up for cross-country films.
10:34 It's really a very exciting and interesting time for the film industry.
10:39 If I may add one last note, because MJ mentioned about Asian Film Awards, AFA and Hong Kong.
10:46 The fact that it's the finale or closing of the Asian Film Awards film part of the program, it also adds to the idea of what we're trying to do here.
10:57 We're doing cross-country, we want to bring Filipino content.
11:00 We want to bring Filipino content not just from the camera to the world, but also behind the creative.
11:06 We want to see Drake's "Secret" out there.
11:09 That's why Drake's "Secret" is also joining us at Asian Film Awards.
11:12 That's really what the goal of this partnership is all about.
11:18 Congratulations and thank you very much.
11:21 Thank you MJ.
11:22 Richard, you said that you're not the only one who's getting goosebumps.
11:25 I'm getting goosebumps too.
11:27 We hear your stories and we realize how special, truly special this project is.
11:32 And we're very excited.
11:34 So next question is from Loveisiel.
11:37 Hi!
11:41 Hi, good afternoon. My name is Denise.
11:43 My first question is for Drake's "Secret".
11:47 Hi! You have experience shooting movies abroad.
11:51 How is your directing under parallel skies, which was shot in Hong Kong, different from your earlier films shot internationally?
12:02 If you are familiar with some of my film works, yes, most of my films are shot in other countries.
12:11 I don't know why, but I have films that are shot here in the Philippines.
12:16 I still love the Philippines.
12:18 The thing is, in every country, you have to adapt to a new culture.
12:24 So it's very challenging, but it's also at the same time very rewarding for me
12:31 because I learn from their culture, they learn from my culture on how we work together.
12:37 So it's really the process of connecting with each other that makes it work while we are shooting the film.
12:46 Because I do feel like on set also, it has to be, you know, we have to be friends and we have to make this work to make my actors comfortable also.
12:56 So it's really hard work, but it's challenging and it's also rewarding.
13:02 Yeah.
13:03 My next question is for Janella.
13:06 We all know that Pinoy is love, love stories.
13:10 But how do you think Filipinos can relate to under parallel skies without divulging a lot of things?
13:22 Us Pinoys, we love love.
13:25 We love getting killed, we love falling in love.
13:28 So that's definitely one thing that you're going to see in this film, "Chambering yung Mga Walay."
13:33 But aside from that, I think a lot of the OFWs will also be able to relate.
13:38 Because this film also, my character portrays an OFW who has big dreams and somehow it shows how it really is.
13:50 Like obviously, it's not easy for OFWs.
13:53 They have a lot of struggles mentally, emotionally.
13:58 They go through a lot.
14:00 So I think aside from the killing, marami din kayong makikita dun na.
14:05 Very real.
14:07 Ditoong buhay siya.
14:08 Thank you so much.
14:10 Thank you!
14:11 I feel like how Filipinos relate to this is, we currently live in a really multicultural world where
14:18 there's so many inter-racial relationships and all that.
14:22 And the fact that we have a Thai actor falling in love, not a Thai actor falling in love,
14:27 but a Thai character falling in love with a Filipino character.
14:31 So it's kind of like showing what Janelle said, like we're being real.
14:37 This is what's happening around the world.
14:39 Back in the day, usually it's more of "Mga Afang, mga ganoon sa Philippines."
14:44 Iba na nayon may mga Koreans, may mga Thais din.
14:47 So kind of like that kind of relationship, that kind of love that we would see in the film.
14:55 I think Direk, may gusto mo, gusto mo i-add to that?
14:59 Okay lang ba?
15:01 Okay lang!
15:02 Okay lang!
15:03 Yes, definitely it's an offspring.
15:07 But I just want to add also that it's also about self-discovery and chasing your dreams
15:13 and the beauty of unexpected connections.
15:17 I think that's also another important thing to highlight in the film also, aside from the love story.
15:23 It's really about their hopes and dreams for their family and for themselves.
15:27 Ganda.
15:29 Alright, do we have TV Patrol's MJ Felipe here?
15:33 I think he's not here, but we can move on to Daily Tribune.
15:39 Do we have a representative for Daily Tribune?
15:41 Hi!
15:42 Good afternoon.
15:43 Here in front.
15:45 Hi, I'm Trudeau Warner, executive.
15:54 This comes almost right on the heels of Malayari, which you distributed last December.
16:05 And this is a new genre, a very different genre.
16:11 What was the most compelling reason why your bosses, your original bosses, approved the partnership?
16:20 When we look at a certain project or content, we don't specifically choose a certain genre.
16:28 As I mentioned earlier, Warner Bros. believed in the power of the stories.
16:32 So it has to be a moving story.
16:34 There were two particular scenes that I told you earlier that made me finally decide that yes, I'm going to endorse this movie.
16:43 Because it moved me in a way that I know will work not just in the more than 20 years that I've been working in the industry.
16:52 I know what type of movies, stories that will work well, that will resonate to the audience.
16:58 And I found it in Under Paradise Skies.
17:01 So I made the recommendation even though I wasn't really conscious of just choosing another horror movie because Malayari made money for us back in the Metro Manila Film Festival.
17:14 So I'm hoping that the power of this story that the producers and the creatives want to tell the audience will also resonate a lot.
17:23 Not only here in the Philippines but in other territories at least in Mision.
17:28 Okay, thank you.
17:30 Thank you. Now we have someone from Mega Magazine who would like to ask a question. Hi!
17:35 Hi, good afternoon. My first question is for Janela.
17:43 So, hi Janela. I just want to ask how will this movie empower women especially now that it's women's month?
17:58 I actually want to address one thing.
18:00 Because like in the trailer if you've seen, people have been noticing that my skin is darker.
18:05 And they're actually afraid that is it going to be portrayed as something ugly or anything like that.
18:11 The answer is no actually. It was just meant to portray a character.
18:16 She just really wanted, the director really just wanted it.
18:19 It's more of a creative thing.
18:21 And my character is actually a very strong woman.
18:28 She's portrayed as someone strong despite all the challenges that she will go through with the film.
18:34 I wish I could share more but I can't.
18:37 But, so yeah.
18:40 You're going to go through many emotions once you watch this film.
18:45 And once you see the journey of Iris, who is an OFW in another country just really trying to survive.
18:54 Trying to get through her own problems and eventually falling in love.
18:59 It wasn't even something that she wanted but you're going to see.
19:03 She, women, strong women, like people have a notion that they're just strong.
19:13 But the truth is they go through so many things.
19:16 And what makes them strong are the vulnerable moments that they go through.
19:21 So, yeah. I really wish I could share more.
19:26 That's all I can share.
19:27 If I may add to that.
19:30 From what I've seen, I just want to give some praises also to Janela.
19:36 Because she really made it believable.
19:40 You will be convinced that the kind of strong woman her character is in the story.
19:49 She was able to pull it off with the help of, of course, also the director.
19:53 And just to highlight Janela as the star of the movie.
19:59 I think she's on a roll and I want to just, this is my opportunity to tell everyone.
20:05 I'm so happy to be working with her again.
20:08 I worked with her in "Manyari" and I think from the moment she came back with "Valentina" up to this day.
20:14 And I know she's coming up with a concert also, 10th year anniversary concert.
20:18 And she'll be doing a lot of movies.
20:20 I think the momentum of the future of the important accesses that we have in the Philippine industry.
20:27 One of that will be Miss Janela's "On the Dark."
20:30 Thank you, Ron.
20:31 Thank you.
20:33 Thanks, I really appreciate it.
20:35 Thank you, Janela.
20:36 My next question is for Direk.
20:39 So, Direk, I just wanted to ask what is it about Hong Kong that you discovered while shooting the film "Under Parallel Skies?"
20:47 Well, first, my first trip in another country, in 1995, is Hong Kong.
20:56 It was so different from that year and until, so it went here, but 2005, then.
21:04 So it was really different.
21:07 That was my first trip.
21:08 So this is very memorable for me.
21:10 Of course, I've been to Hong Kong so many times.
21:12 But then, making a movie on a country, the first country I went to as a filmmaker.
21:19 I've always wanted to make a movie in Hong Kong.
21:22 And because I like the culture that is very vibrant.
21:30 But then, what I discovered in Hong Kong, there are places that are very laid back.
21:37 And you will see that in the movie.
21:39 And that's what I wanted to share with the audience.
21:42 That Hong Kong is not just a busy city and not just a very, you know, the people are always on the go, fast moving.
21:51 There are also places that are very laid back, that you can rest.
21:55 And that's the beauty of Hong Kong, the contrast of it.
21:59 But then, just like also the title, "The Underparalleled Skies," they are in this parallel world.
22:06 It's just that they are living in a different city, but still in Hong Kong.
22:12 Thank you.