Jay Abello talks about his new film “Flotsam”
By: Archie Liao
Jay Abello’s active involvement in the Negros theatre scene paved the way for his job as assistant director, cinematographer, screenwriter and director in films. He is best known for his full-feature documentary Pureza (2012), a searing documentary on the sugar industry in Negros and his Cinema One Original’s full-length feature film Red (2014), topbilled by award-winning actor Jericho Rosales. His credits include Cinemalaya finalists , Ligaw Liham (2007), Namets (2008), to name a few.
In his new film “Flotsam,” he explores a new territory.
Tell us about “Flotsam.”
“Flotsam is the first film I shot and directed myself. It was one of those materials that I wanted to hold really close to my chest and be hands-on from writing to shooting all the way to the very end. I wanted to hold the camera all the time, even all the handheld, even the water scenes, I wanted to shoot everything. It was the only way I knew how.”
What’s so exciting about “Flotsam”?
“Flotsam” is a surfer’s “Love Actually.” It is romantic comedy filled with love, laughter and songs. It’s actually a main indie love anthology consisting of 8 stories that features relatable characters.
The film is named after a quaint artist beach hotel in San Juan, La Union. It has about dozen characters who are in love, some of them falling out of love while others doubling up or changing partners. Each character interleaving the other in a grid of foreshadowing and disquiet.
It brings us to an excursion of coincidence , uncertainty and emotional roller coaster. The place itself is a testament to the sense of escape and wonder. But, instead of relaxing , we might end up asking why is everyone ‘running away’?
“Flotsam” is a melting pot of people who are either running away or waiting for someone…. and for whatever else. They are in reality, flotsam and jetsam or bits and pieces of random life stories floating in the sea of humanity.
I was told the movie offers some insightful and poetic lessons, thoughts and wisdom about love.
“There are actually a lot like “Love isn’t something that you find. It is something that finds you” particularly in the story of Solenn and Rocco.
In Carla Humphries’ story, you would realize that “immature love says: “I love you because I need you” while mature love says “I need you because I love you.”
In the case of Jun King Austria and newcomer Julia Quisumbing’s unlikely love story, it’s like “True love is like a ghost,which everyone talks about but few have really seen.”
In the coming-of age story of Adrian Cabido, it’s like “A flower can not blossom without the sunshine and man cannot live without love.”
Puppy love in Barbara Miguel’s story says “The best thing to hold on to is to each other’s love.”
Mara Lopez and Franco Daza’s story tells us that “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt. Only love.”
Lastly, Marc Abaya’s story represents the love that all the other characters aspire for… the one that is sure and yet, liberating and one that overflows. After all, “At the end of the day, love finds you. All you need is love.”
This film is promoting a place called “Flotsam” and La Union as a surf town. Do you expect that it will have that “Flotsam” effect to viewers in the same way that Sagada became a favorite destination for lovers and non-lovers after “That Thing Called Tadhana” popularized that place?
“I hope so. The movie is not really about surfing but nevertheless ,viewers will be treated to the scenic views of La Union-the northern sun, beach, waves, magnificent falls, and of course, chicks in bikinis. The intrepid travellers cum film buffs are given much more to explore.
Aside from that, you could look forward to the original songs performed by actors, Solenn Heusaff, Marc Abaya, Carla Humphries, Franco Daza and the up and coming Julia Quisumbing in the movie.
“Flotsam:The Movie” stars an ensemble of endearing cast including Solenn Heusaff, Rocco Nacino, Carla Humphries, Marc Abaya, Mara Lopez, Franco Daza, Zack Varkaris, Jun King Austria, Barbara Miguel, Adrian Cabido, Gerald Garcia, Anja Peter, Julia Quisumbing, Jeff Ortega and Lemon.
The movie hits cinemas nationwide on November 4.
