The Philippines is no stranger to the ins and outs of the beauty pageant industry. We might be one of the countries that produces the best contestants that compete on the world stage. And having crowns from various beauty pageants, including Miss Universe and Miss World, I think it’s safe to say that we do know what we call “queen things” in relation to the pageant world.
This March, Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival official entry ‘All About Her’ will tackle the ins and outs of the pageant industry, but to an extreme point, it also presents a story about friendship, betrayal and murder. Watch the trailer of Joel Lamangan’s ‘All About Her’:
Why people should watch ‘All About Her’?
Director Joel Lamangan: “Dahil makikita dito ang totoong nangyayari sa likod ng mga beauty contests – ‘yung mga hindi tinatalakay sa mga news, dito malalaman ninyo, ano ba ang nangyayari sa loob ng isang beauty contest, kung saan nagpapagandahan ang mga babae.”
Writer Quinn Carillo: “Suportahan natin ang pelikulang Pilipino, pero other than that, maganda din na Women’s Month ngayon and the story is about two women. For me, sobrang perfect ng metaphor na lagi tayong ‘Women’s Month,’ ‘let’s celebrate women,’ yes, we celebrate women, but we’re still pitting them against each other. So, mapapanood natin ‘yung side na ‘yun na we’re all about celebrating and supporting women, pero at the end of the day, pinaglalaban ninyo pa din ang mga ‘yan. Kailangan ‘yung isa mas maganda sa isa, mas sexy, so dito natin makikita ‘yung struggles ng dalawang babae.”
Was the story inspired by a past crime story about a beauty queen?
Director Joel Lamangan: “Diba may balita na may beauty queen na pinatay? Tapos may pulis na involved? Doon galing ang kwento. Kasi inisip ko, magandang kwento ito para sa isang pelikula na ifi-fictionalize pero nakabase sa balitang ‘yun. Doon ko ‘yun binatay.
Actually, isang beauty queen ang pinatay. Dalawa ang naging interes ko dyan: ‘yung pagbuo ng istorya ng isang competition na pagandahan at ‘yung tendensiya na maaaring gumawa ng hindi maganda dahil sa pakikipagpaligsahan sa pagandahan. Actually, sinasabi ng storya na ito ang mga maaaring mangyari sa isang beauty contest, katulad ng mga babaeng pinaglalaban-laban, lalo na sa lipunan na ito na hit ang beauty contest.”
Kelley Day and Yuki Sonoda from real to reel beauty pageant contestants
Yuki Sonoda: “First of all, hindi po ganun ‘yung lakad ko sa totoong buhay. Merong part na similar sa totoong beauty pageants pero hindi ganito ka-extreme. Minsan talaga hindi nawawala ‘yung kino-compare ka sa ibang babae o sa ibang candidates and ‘yung part na ‘yun, medyo naka-relate ako kasi kung iisa lang ang gusto ninyong bagay sa huli, hindi ninyo maiiwasan i-compare ‘yung sarili ninyo sa ibang candidates. So, that part, super relate ako, pero ‘yung part na may gagawin ka nang extreme, super sama para makuha mo kung ano ang gusto mo, hindi ‘yun totoo.”
Kelley Day: “Ako naman nakaka-relate sa story because ‘yung first pageant ko na Miss World Philippines, I was actually competing with one of my best friends from that time. So, she ended up winning the crown and ako ang 1st Runner Up, super nakaka-relate. But the rest of the story, hindi naman. But the setup of the friendship is there, and of course like Yuki said, it’s competition. Kahit friend mo, you’re fighting for the same crown, but there are ways to do it with respect, there are ways to do it with class and honesty. So, makikita sa film na there are different approaches that people will take and I think, it shows the pain points of people and why they do certain things. It’s not just about the competition or the crown, you will see a lot of things about friendship, relationship, insecurities, struggles, and that’s what I like about the film was written and directed.”
‘All About Her’ stars Kelley Day, Yuki Sonoda and Tony Labrusca, with Angelica Cervantes, Pancho Magno, Marco Gomez, Itan Rosales and Jim Pebangco. Written by Quinn Carillo and directed by Joel Lamangan from 3:16 Media Network.
Catch ‘All About Her’ from March 23 to 29 exclusively at the following cinemas: Gateway, Eastwood, Uptown, Venice Cineplex, and Lucky Chinatown Cinemas.
Watch our coverage of the media conference below: