PROLOGUE
"Everyone, kindly double time! We need to take the scene with sunrise!" sigaw ko sa set na nagpataranta sa mga staff, cast at camera man.
It's 5'oclock in the morning at kakagising lang ng lahat para mag-taping ulit. Halatang pagod at puyat ang mga ito dahil ang tatamlay nilang kumilos. Even me though, I'm so tired. My eyes were even weary from too much work and lack of sleep.
We only slept 3 hours. . . I guess since 2 a.m na natapos yung last shoot namin kanina. To be honest, this kind of job is exhausting as hell. Laging puyat at laging hectic ang schedule. Hindi ka makakapagpahinga ng maayos dahil anytime, p'wede magkaroon ng shooting sa set.
Lalo na kapag isa kang AD na katulad ko. Yes I am an assistant director. First AD to be specific, which means that I am the right hand of the director. My job is to plan the filming schedule, working with the director, director of photography and other heads of department to ensure an efficient shoot.
It's a multitasking job and it's very time-consuming. I can't even have a free time and proper rest. . . But I have no choice. This is the job I chose in the first place. Sa totoo lang, nag-e-enjoy din naman ako sa trabaho kong to. Nakakapagod lang talaga.
"C'mon, guys! Hurry up, the sun is already rising!" Vincent, my close friend since college and my co-worker, yelled while clapping his hands in the air to energize everyone. He's the second AD.
Everyone is rushing their ass off preparing for the shoot this dawn. Kailangan kasi kunin ang next scene sa papasinag na araw, sa tabing dagat. We're here by the way sa isang sikat na beach resort sa Puerto Galera, sa Mindoro.
It's been 3 months since we started shooting this film, entitled "Reckless". This will be aired in cinema the next 2 months. Pinagbibidahan ito ng mga sikat na artista sa industriya ng showbiz, including Ms. Beatrize Hermosa, the most paid and well known sassy actress who plays a big role in the movies of our network.
I roamed around the area with my folder and ipad to check everything that has to be settled and arranged before the shooting. Ganoon din ang ginawa ni Vincent. Inihahanda na ng mga crew at camera man lahat ng kakailanganing kagamitan, mainly the cameras. They positioned it in a way that it has to be done.
"Is everything ready now?" tanong ko sa mga staff matapos ang labin-limang minutong paghahanda ng lahat.
"Yes, miss A! Ready na po!" ani ng isa sa kanila.
"Okay, good," I said before heading towards the main casts whose holding their own scripts as they practiced their lines.
"Ms. Beatrize, Zachary, have you already memorized your lines?" I asked both of them. Sila ang leading man at leading lady sa movie at scene nila ngayon ang isho-shoot namin. Zach just nodded.
"Yes" tugon ni Ms. Bea habang inaayusan ito ng kaniyang dalawang PA.
I took a last one check with everything before informing our director, Direk Nery, that everything's settled already. Vincent then called everyone's attention. From that, we finally started the taping.
"3,2,1, roll!" Direk Nery called on.
I was just looking through the cameras the whole time to check the angles and the lightings. Eventually, the shoot went well. Walang naging problema sa set dahil lahat na-settle ng maayos. Naging madali rin sa amin dahil 'di hamak na ang huhusay ng mga casts. It only lasted for about 25 minutes.
"Good job, everyone!" sabi ko sa set.
"Galing talaga ni Ms. Bea!" Vincent beamed as he clapped his hands.
I immediately opened my ipad and checked the schedule for our next taping. "Next shoot will be after lunch this afternoon, please be prepared, everyone. For now, you may take a rest," I informed them before settling myself on a longue chair.
The crews and camera mans started to fixed all the equipments while the casts headed towards the hotel of the resort to take some rest.
I put down my folder and ipad on the table in front of me and heaved a sigh as I rested my back on its headboard. Sandali kong pinikit ang mga mata ngunit napadilat din kaagad noong maalalang kailangan naming pumunta ni Vincent sa opisina ng department heads mamaya. We have to arrange some important matters with them.
I sighed deeply. I'm so tired and sleepless.
I saw Vincent approaching towards me. He was holding two cups of coffee. Nakangiti pa na akala mo naman hindi puyat. Ni-hindi man lang halatang pagod ito sa trabaho. Sanaol, looking fresh ang bakla!
"Mamsh oh, coffee mo," aniya ng makalapit sa p'westo ko.
He sat next to me after putting my coffee on the table. "Thanks," tamlay kong sabi habang ganoon pa rin ang aking posisyon.
"Forda pagod yarn?" he uttered after having a sip on his coffee. Mahina pa itong natawa noong tinignan ako. "Kawawa naman ang ferson. Kalaki na ng eyebags oh," he added and grinned briefly.
"Napakamo," usal ko sa kaniya at ngumuso. I reached for my coffee and took a sip on it. "May appointment nga pala tayo mamaya sa office ha," ani ko ng maibaba ulit ang kape sa mesa.
He immediately looked at me with confusion on his face. Halatang walang alam sa sinabi ko "What?!" gulat na sambit nito.
"Haven't you received an email from the department heads?" I asked.
"I don't know! I haven't checked my emails yet. Ayokong ma-stress! Pero tangina naman--" naputol ang sasabihin niya noong sinita ko siyang hinaan ang kaniyang boses.
Baka mamaya may makarinig at makarating pa ito sa Department.
Napatingin muna siya sa paligid bago nagsalita ulit, "E pano yan, luluwas talaga tayo sa manila?!" mahinag usal nito, sapat na para ako lang ang makarinig.
Tumango ako. "We have to be there before 10 a.m. Mag-ready na agad tayo pagkatapos nito, Ilang oras pa naman ang byahe,"
Napabuga ito ng malalim na hininga saka sinandal ang ulo at at likod sa headboard ng longue. Napangisi nalang ako ng bahagya nang makita ang ekspresiyon nito. Para ba naman kasing pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa. Yung kaninang fresh look niya, napalitan ng frustration.
"What about the shooting later? After lunch next shooting natin 'di ba? Pano yan? Alam na ba to ni Direk?"
I nodded. "I already informed her yesterday. Marami naman tayong staff dito. They can manage it already. I'll just give them instructions before we leave."
"Hay nako, kaloka!" he muttered exasperatedly. Napaayos muli ito ng upo. "Ano daw ba kasi yung aasikasuhin natin dun? Kailangan ba talaga nating lumuwas sa Manila? Jusko dai ha, wala pa tayong pahinga! Ni-konti lang yung tulog natin kanina! Hindi ba p'wedeng isettle yan through call?" reklamo pa niya.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Importante daw eh. Panigurado tungkol na naman sa network natin. Alam mo naman ang sitwasyon dun, komplikado," sabi ko na ikinasinghap niya ulit.
"Hays, kakastress amp! Gusto ko lang naman magpahinga, bawal ba? Patayin niyo nalang kaya ako! I want to rest in peace na talaga huhu," madramang aniya habang kunyareng naiiyak.
"Okay lang yan, Cent, ang importante mukha ka pa ring fresh kahit pagod." pambabalubag loob ko sa kaniya.
Pabiro naman niya kaagad akong tinignan ng masama. "Oo dai, fresh ka jan! Ang haggard-haggard na nga ng face ko!" he uttered annoyingly while combing his hair using his fingers. Nagawa pa akong irapan matapos sabihin yun.
