Friday, January 1, 2016

'Buy Now, Die Later' director is Tacloban’s pride

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29 (PNA) – The young filmmaker, Randolph Longjas, who jumped from making indie films to mainstream movies in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), is a native of Tacloban.
His work, “Buy Now, Die Later” was adjudged as the Second Best Picture in the MMFF awards night on Dec. 27 at the Kia Theater, Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
The horror-comedy flick also won the major awards as Best in Production Design and Best Parade Float.
Each of the five senses represents the characters in the movie all hoping to improve their fortune.
An unlikely horror flick with a touch of romance, the movie showed how man in its greediness and lack of contentment would do everything in exchange for what he desires in life at a pricey cost.
“Buy Now, Die Later” is the first mainstream movie of Longjas after his indie film “Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin” in 2013. The film stars Vhong Navarro, Alex Gonzaga, TJ Trinidad, LotLot de Leon, Janine Gutirrez and John Lapuz.
Randolph, 27, a mass communications major in broadcast alumnus, is a cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
He completed his elementary at the St. Therese Christian Development Center Foundation Inc. He was the salutatorian in their batch when he graduated at the Leyte National High School. Both schools are in Tacloban.
The filmmaker is the third son of regional finance officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Lucille and police officer Amancio.
His brothers are equally accomplished in their fields. The eldest brother is a scientist and next to him is an electronic engineer, both are based in the United States. The youngest is a nursing graduate and pursued law studies.
His indie film “Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin” was filmed for nine days in the summer of 2013.
It was one of the entries in the Cine Filipino that year. Out of 200 entries, his film was one of the lucky 8 funded by Cine Filipino festival organizers. His next indie film “Van Damme Stallone” is an entry of the Cine Filipino Festival 2016.
The film is produced by Joji Alonso of Quantum Films, MJM Productions, Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Films. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ


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