Powerful. Unique. Majestic.
These are perhaps the three best words to describe Mindanao the movie’s float, which are the same words one can use to describe the film and certainly, the people of Mindanao, and the many Filipino heroes the film is paying tribute to.
Most of the time we only get to see the resulting work, and we shall, presently, delve on how this particular float stunned and delighted the crowd last December 22 during the Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 Parade of the Stars, but let us first show how, little by little, the Mindanao float is built, and appreciate the hard work put into it.
We had the opportunity to every now and then visit Brillante Mendoza’s Center stage Productions (CSP) aka Secret Garden in Mandaluyong in order to observe how the construction of the float was progressing. It was this blog’s decision not to immediately publish what we have seen as it is part of Metro Manila Film Festival’s competition and is meant to be revealed as a surprise, but here it is!
Mindanao‘s float is a big boat that interestingly features very colorful pandalas billowing in the wind, gold-fringed umbrellas that conveniently sheltered the passengers, and a dragon blowing smoke, its eyes glowing red.
The above photo was taken at night, after the tired crew had gone home to rest after a good day’s work. Here is the boat, painted brown, the pandalas still being attached to its body. The dragon is still in its original color, white. Just look at the work area! Center Stage Productions mean business.
Below is Mendoza applying gold paint on a dragon, taken about 10 in the morning; he had a child helping him with the brush strokes, and before you scream ‘child labor!’—no, the help was happily and voluntarily given by the boy. (fun video to follow)
Below is the dragon’s glowing eye being tested. Center Stage Productions think of these small details, with wonderful effect.
Here is Brillante Mendoza working with the ever- ready and cheerful working staff in CSP.
That the float ended up as something very unique and one of the crowd favorites is most likely due to the team’s cooperation and Mendoza taking the time to design and personally work on the project. A graduate of fine arts and having experience as production designer before he became a film director, the skill and the experience proved handy in the creation of this float. No knowledge is ever wasted.
Details matter. Another would have stopped at painting the dragon gold, but not Team Mindanao; above shows Mendoza adding darker colors and shadows on the dragon’s body, and veins on its wings; the finishing touches a day before the parade.
We will not even tell you about the budget allotted for the float’s construction but let it suffice that for all its grandiose appearance the cost was, with much effort, kept at a minimum.
There is truth in the thought that when we are passionate about something we should not simply spend money for it then leave it for others to fix—we must personally attend to it; we give time and effort to the things that matter most. And that is what the film Mindanao is about.
In this case, with Team Mindanao’s collective passion, attention to details and a sincere interest in building and creating a wonderful thing— the result cannot be avoided: Mindanao’s float is spectacular.
Catch Mindanao in theaters near you this December 25!
See you—and Merry Christmas!
One Philippines Filmmakers 