The Rapture of Fe

While the entire production team headed out for Porac for our first shooting day, I was left in Manila to accomplish an equally important task.  I met with some of the WCC Survivors and Volunteers to share our vision for the movie with them.  It was the opening ceremonies of their 20th anniversary celebrations and I was more than happy to take part in the festivities.

The only "thorn" among the roses as I shared our movie with the women of WCC.

I must admit that I was nervous at the beginning.  I didn’t know how the ladies will take our movie.  Would they like it?  Relate to it?  Or see it as something offensive?  Something that exploits their plight?

After my brief presentation, Ms Terret and Ms Annie opened the floor for comments.  This was when the survivors started sharing their stories.  It was very moving.  These incredible women survived an ordeal that no one should have experienced in the first place.  And now, they shared their journey with me.  And I listen to their experiences, I take with me additional insights in making our movie richer.  (Trivia: because of the women’s sharing, we have included one more scene in our movie that was not originally in the script.)

As I write this article, I pray that our movie will indeed bear witness to the plight of the women from WCC.  Joining hand in hand with Ms Terret and Ms Annie and other volunteers at the center, we to continue to seek out resources to help us make this movie.  While Direk Alvin and the rest of the production team work on the quality of the movie, we, on our part, ensure that they have the necessary resources and funding to accomplish their artistic vision.  That in the end, we provide the voice for the brave women who have been silenced, shamed and even persecuted.

For more information on the festivities for the 20th anniversary of the Women’s Crisis Center, check out their website: http://www.wccmanila.com/