Before internationally acclaimed director Brillante Ma. Mendoza was done with at least four films in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, it was filmmaker Neal “Buboy” Tan who shot two movies in the coastal town.
Neal’s second film “40 Days” which starred James Blanco, Michelle Vito, Cataleya Surio and others was shot in Pola and it was done according to the script written by Buboy himself.
Incidentally, when it was wrapped up and its producer and star Ina Alegre, known also as Jennifer Cruz, the mayor of Pola saw some of the rushes, she called on her director and asked for additional scenes to make a more exciting project.
“Kaya kailangang dagdagan ang mga eksena. Ii-iskedyul ko (That’s why scenes should be added. I would schedule it),” informed Buboy during the Christmas party last year tendered by filmmaker-director and theater producer-director-actor Vince Tañada.
Immediately after New Year, Tan scheduled his additional shoots for the film but no more James and Cataleya.
There were others included in the film like Migz Molino, the boyfriend of the late Mahal and some other young stars.
Unfortunately, when Neal went back to Manila he was nursing colds and a mild fever. “Nakapag-pictorial pa ako sa (I was able to take pictorials in) Pola at sa (and) Batangas,” said Buboy.
But the director clarified that he had no Covid-19.