Q&A: Director Ron Morales on His Film GRACELAND
May 6th, 2013 by chocko
GRACELAND is a gritty Filipino thriller that pulls no punches and will open the viewer’s eyes to a near hopeless, poverty stricken world infested with crime, corruption and violence. In the film, Marlon (Arnold Reyes) must find a way to rescue his daughter Elvie (Ella Guevara) who becomes a victim of mistaken identity in a kidnapping gone terribly wrong.
BUGGY makes her return to Planet Chocko with the following interview we did with writer/director Ron Morales about his latest film.
Where did the idea for GRACELAND come from?
The idea behind GRACELAND started while I was in a car driving around in Manila. I was reading a recent news article about a kidnapping then all of a sudden a police officer on a motorcycle pulled the car over. In the Philippines the police are known for shakedowns and corruption, so in this situation, I imagined what if something horribly went wrong.
What was the message you were trying to convey by making the film?
We are what we are. People will do almost anything in their power to save their loved ones even if the actions are morally wrong. We all are susceptible to the evils within humanity.
It took 5 years to make the movie. Was it primarily research or were there obstacles that you had to overcome to complete the film?
The original script of GRACELAND was an action thriller. I had to shelve it after I realized that it would be too expensive to make. In the interim, I researched a different screenplay in the Philippines. I was very close to receive funding, but in the last minute the script did not get the green light. It wasn’t until producers Sam Rider and Rebecca Lundgren jumped on board that I was able to make GRACELAND in 2010. But with many low budget independent films, raising funds is the biggest challenge.
Where exactly was the film shot in the Philippines?
GRACELAND was filmed more or less in the entirely Metro Manila. The locations were spread out through out the city, but the majority of locations spanned Taguig City and Quezon City.
The film focuses on underage female prostitution. Were you apprehensive about including the nude scenes?
We were apprehensive about including the scenes, but when it came down to the final edit, I felt that the research and the reality of these issues would be wasted. I feel that these scenes are necessary and done in a way that forwards the story, as well as portray the harsh reality with in the world we live in.
What did you learn about filming in the Philippines?
Being a Filipino American, filming in my homeland allowed me to investigate my culture and grow as an artist. Filipinos have a talent of making something out of nothing. What we accomplished with the small budget we had and the time restraints still amazes me. This is the product of some of the hardest working crew I have ever had the pleasure to work with.
What future projects can we look forward to?
I have a couple of new scripts that I am working on. One is a US Mexico Border crossing thriller and another film that partially takes place in the Philippines.
GRACELAND is available on VOD/iTunes and out now in select theaters. Click here to purchase tickets.
Tags: drafthouse films, film, graceland, interview, ron morales
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