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A SineBuano Production of a Benjie Ordonez film, Screenplay by Denis M. Judilla.

From  the mind of DM Judilla, screenwriter:

Here’s the original draft of “Kadauwan” whose working title is “Tuwing Tag ulan/Every Rainy Day” which you, dear browser, might be interested to read and compare with the finished film. The characters’ dialogue though are in Filipino which was then translated to Cebuano/Visayan in later drafts.

“Kadauwan” is my first project with SineBuano when I joined the group in the summer of 2005. It was one of the many short films I wrote as part of my application to the group, showcasing my skills as a screenwriter as well as my intense intention to start on anything.

Benjie liked the script, found it entertaining as well as interesting as a guy with a great ear (as well as an eye for detail) in respect that it was mostly sound and music that propelled the plot. So he initiated this to be the next project production of the group. I was excited myself and took the initiative to help in making my script into reality.

I assisted in casting all of the actors involved in the film: Lloyd Reyes, Josephus Abregana, Rosanna Soriaga were all science students of the University of San Carlos, my alma mater. Most of the establishings were around the general Talamban areawhile I found and acquired the major location for the ‘dorm’ shoot.

I didn’t imagine myself initially of being part of the cast– I had no M. Night Shyamalan tendencies. It was supposed to be another actor to play Peg but who was unable to come due to a pressing family matter and only informed me at 4 a.m. of D-day! So what could I do but stand in for the renegade actor who by the way was a better actor than me 10 times over! Had he been involved, it could have made  the film a lot different. Oh well, c’est la vie.

The production was over in two days– first was in the primary ‘dorm’ location then a week later at the washroom scene.

Since the production of Jerrold Tarug’s “Haunted” by the now-defunct Dead Cat Pictures, it was good to be back among kindred spirits whose efforts and expertise are focused on making a film with a statement for entertainment. Benjie had admirable skill as a director as well as providing for the music and sound effects for the finished film. Jomark was just cool in composing the shots and the scenes. The other crew, Reggie Barrientos, Cheryl Baldicatos, Doreen Sy-Maloloy-on and Paolo Macachor, all SineBuano, were both helpful and fun-loving all around.

As the screenwriter, I was satisfied how the film came out. Though it didn’t come out the way I had envisioned in my mind, now I couldn’t see “Kadauwan ” any other way than what it is right now.

I learned something else as well, that filmmaking is a collaborative act of many people. Each and everyone involved brings something to it, nobody had sole control of it. With “Kadauwan”, Benjie saw to that surely, by constantly asking for suggestions and comments for each scene.

It was an exhausting, exhilirating and enjoyable experience and from that I was hooked, to SineBuano and to Cebu’s Independent Filmmaking Scene.