Magikland to bring the magic and fantasy to your family this coming MMFF 2020
Watching MMFF movies became a tradition for several Filipino families during the Christmas season. Thus, to continue the holiday spirit, the organizers of the event decided to make it a digital one. In this way, the MMFF entries are going to be available even for those living outside our country like the OFWs.
The fruit of three years and preparation of Magikland’s cast and crew
One of the highly-anticipated movies from the said festival is the Magikland. As a fantasy film, the plot revolves around a video game for iPhone. The inspiration for the game came from Pokémon. Its producer, the late Peque Gallaga said, “The attraction to the game is for the gamers to get the highest points in order to save Magikland from an evil dictator. When the four winners meet, they are transported to Magikland which is, indeed, in mortal danger.”
Luckily, our team was able to get an exclusive interview with the main casts of Magikland via Zoom. We got a chance to chat with Miggs Cuaderno (Boy Bakunawa), Joshua Eugenio (Kit Kanlaon), Princess Aguilar (Pat Patag), and Elijah Alejo (Mara Mara para). Let’s get to know them more as they answer our questions below:
How was your experience shooting the film? Did you undergo lockin taping? Tell us about your experience.
Miggs: “Masaya po na may pagkamahirap since young filming namin sa malalayong lugar like sa Paway at sa Minalungao. Tapos nagstart po kami [ng taping] around late June, yun din and start ng rainy season. We had to adjust na yung hindi nakunan sa labas, yun yung kukunan sa loob. Like sa mga forests, pure CGI po yung background don. Pero nonetheless, masaya po yung set namin kasi nandun po sila Direk Peque, sila Josh, Princess at yung iba pa.
Josh: “Masaya po kasi nakasama ko po yung dalawa sa pinakamagaling na direktor sa Pilipinas. Kagaya po ng sinabi ni Miggs, nagkasama-sama po kami ng parang isang pamilya. One week po yung pinakamatagal na nagkasama kami.”
Princess: “Masaya po yung whole experience kasi napaka-loving and caring ng crew members po. Saka nakasama ko din sila Direk Peque.”
Elijah: “Medyo kinakabahan po kasi ang dami po naming kalaban, hindi lang po kami 8 kasi 10 po kaming finalists. Nakakapanibago din kasi green screen halos lahat, so imagination po. Pero yung bond po namin, nagpapasaya din naman po yun.”
What did you feel upon knowing that you’re one of the finalists for MMFF 2020?
Miggs: “Actually po dapat nung 2019 kasali dapat kami sa MMFF. Kaso hindi completely natapos yung CGI. So from yun po sad po kami kasi parang sayang. Pero sabi samin nila Direk Peque and Direk Christian, may pag-asa pa for this year’s MMFF. Baka isali na daw po. So nung i-announce na nila officially, sobrang saya ko po kasi first MMFF entry ko po ito. Napakaganda pa po ng istorya and one of the most ambitious Filipino films pa po ito.”
Elijah: “The moment I knew we were finalist for MMFF, nasa shooting po ako nun. So nasa standby area po ko nun. Sa sobrang tuwa ko po sumigaw po ko at naiyak po ko.”
Can you describe your character and what’s your preparation to portray him/her?
Elijah: “Yung preparations po namin, like yung stunt workshops po. Yung characters po kasi namin magaling pong makipaglaban. Natuto po kami ng taekwando, arnis, mga ganun po. Tapos pinag-acting workshop din po kami nila Direk Peque para po dun sa characters namin. ‘Ano kaya yung favorite ni Mara, ano kayang gustong pagkain ni Mara. Then itinuro din po na sa situation na to, ganito mag-act si Mara.”
Josh: “Yung sa preparations ko po for the character, first time ko magstunts talaga. Pero natuto din naman po ako. Isa sa mga advantage ko po, nagkahilig ako sa sports at sa martial arts.”
Princess: “Inaral ko po yung character ko, kung ano yung traits nya. Binigyan din po kami nila Direk Peque at Direk Christian kaya mas naintindihan ko po.”
What’s the most valuable lesson for you in working with veteran actors and directors in the movie? How was working with them?
Miggs: “Actually, sobrang nakaka-overwhelm po, talagang parang batikan po lahat ng kasama namin so nakaka-pressure. Pero mababait naman po silang lahat at thankful ako na nagtrust sila sakin for the role of Boy Bakunawa.
Elijah: “Yung tips po nila sakin is mag-get in the role po ko. Hindi pwede umarte as Elijah kundi umarte talaga as Mara. Na isipin ko po na eto po talaga yung ugali ko, eto po yung mga galaw ko. Para maramdaman din po ng mga manonood na ako po si Mara.”
Princess: “Ang pinaka-natutunan ko po is be professional and respect other actors po.”
What’s the message of the film, especially for the kids?
Elijah: “Yung message po kasi ng film para po sakin is makuntento ka po sa kung anong meron ka. Pahalagahan mo pa po habang nandyan pa. I-understand mo yung pinagdadaanan ng bawat isa. Katulad po nyan, di namin alam pinagdadaanan ng bawat isa so we judge agad.”
Miggs: “Para sa mga bata po, makikita nila kung ano bang mangyayari pag napasok sila sa nilalaro nila. Syempre pag nag-gigames sila hindi wala sa isip nila yung ‘Ano bang mangyayari pag napasok ako dito sa nilalaro ko?’ So makikita po nila doon. Gusto din po sabihin ng film na kahit naglalaro tayo mag-isa, hindi pwede na tayo lang. Kasama dapat yung pagpapahalaga ng Christmas tradition, kasama po yung buong pamilya natin.”
Even though we cannot experience the magic of MMFF film in the cinemas, there’s a lot of things to anticipate with this upcoming film. With the young, passionate, and energetic cast combined with the directing expertise of Peque Gallaga, this is surely a fantasy film that Pinoys can be proud of!
Do you guys agree?
