Why ‘Bliss’ was the most challenging film to make for Jerrold Tarog

"Bliss" was not a walk in the park to make, even compared to his revolutionary-era surprise hit "Heneral Luna," director Jerrold Tarog said.

"'Yung 'Bliss,' ngayon ko lang ginawa 'yung habang shinu-shoot namin medyo hinahanap ko pa kung paano siya i-kuwento," Tarog told GMA News Online on Thursday.

"I mean, planado na lahat, nandoon na lahat, pero nung natapos na siya and inedit ko, parang hindi pa rin siya 'yung kwento, so medyo ni-reedit ko pa hanggang sa nahanap ko paano siya i-kuwento."

"Bliss," with a plot centered on the film industry, is about Jane Ciego (Iza Calzado), a thirtysomething actress who decides to produce her own movie.

"Apart from logistics, ang nangyari sa 'Bliss,' maliit lang 'yung pelikula pero sobrang komplikado nung pagkuwento sa kanya," Tarog said.

"Na kahit ako naka-ilang personal na re-writes ako kung tama ba 'yung ginagawa ko or what. Sobrang hirap niya when it comes to the creative side, and nung nagshu-shoot kami kailangan namin bantayan kada detail ng mga props, kung consistent ba siya na reality o part ng dream, part ng flashback."

The director explained that unlike the fairly straightforward storytelling of "Heneral Luna," "Bliss" follows the character's dreams as well as her actual experiences.

"Kailangan mong sundan kung nanaginip ba siya o real life," Tarog said.

"Ang hirap non, lalo na 'yung pagtrato nung tema ng abuse, so medyo kailangan mong hanapin 'yung tamang balanse na hindi siya distasteful kung sobrang nakakaoffend..." Tarog added.

Audiences at advance screenings of the film had largely responded positively, said Tarog.

"[A]ng pinakamalaking audience so far eh 'yung sa UP...sobrang positive, so binabase ko lang doon na maraming naintriga, nawindang at napraning doon sa pelikula. Hopefully dumami pa 'yung ganon," he said.

Rating reclassification: From X to R-18

For "explicit [nude] scenes," the movie was initially rated X, which Tarog did not expect.

"When you give a film an X-rating, tinatanggalan mo ng karapatan 'yung mga adults sa buong Pilipinas to make up their own mind about something. Sinasabi mo na children kayong lahat, di kayo pwede magdecide kami magdedecide. So meron na silang moralistic stance, di ganon. You classify movies but you don't censor," Tarog said.

Tarog and his team appealed the decision. After meetings with the members of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), "Bliss" was reclassified R-18.

For Tarog, the country is ready to showcase films having controversial or dark themes.

"Parang nasanay lang kasi na pag mga mas daring na pelikula galing sa ibang bansa, pero pag local wala masyadong gumagawa. Eh sa akin, parang 'yung ginagawa nila pwede natin gawin din," he said. "Bakit tayo mas strikto sa sarili nating artists?"

'Kung kikita ang pelikula, kikita talaga siya'

Tarog notes the improvement in local film industry when it comes to certain technological aspects, with equipment such as cameras now more available and affordable.

"Mas marami nang mga pelikula, mas maganda 'yung technology, mas magagaling 'yung directors," he said. "Meron pa ring problema when it comes to the distribution side...kaya nga nagkaroon ng mga Cinemalaya, Cinemanila, 'yung mga ganoong festivals, dahil nga nahihirapang magkaroon ng avenue 'yung mga filmmakers na ipalabas 'yung pelikula nila."

One issue that persists is distribution, with smaller films going up against Hollywood blockbusters or even local studio films that have bigger names attached to them.

"Ngayon nandoon pa rin 'yung mga festivals, merong mga filmmakers na nakaka-access ng theatrical [release], pero mahirap pa rin i-convince 'yung theater owners na ipalabas 'yung mga pelikula kasi parang lahat tayo nasanay na sa Hollywood na style... so pag di Hollywood, ang default ng mga theater owners dapat may malaking artista or rom-com, ganyan," Tarog said.

He feels, however, that there is no sense in separating mainstream and independent movies.

"Dapat inaalis na 'yung 'indie' and 'mainstream' definition kasi ang pelikula bebenta whether it's produced by independent media or one of the bigger studios. Kung kikita siya, kikita talaga siya," he said.

History lessons

Tarog and Artikulo Uno Productions' "Heneral Luna"  was a cultural phenomenon in 2015, raking in more than P200 million during a theatrical run that was extended for weeks due to extremely positive word of mouth and an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm among moviegoers.

It proved that a film doesn't need big stars to connect with Filipino audiences—and that, perhaps, they wanted more than the usual cinematic fare.

"Sobrang hina ng sense [of] legacy natin... Hindi natin alam kung saan tayo nanggaling and ako aminado ko na ang tagal-tagal kong ignorante sa history," Tarog said.

He noted that historical films should always be connected to the present.

"Kung binabasa mo 'yung nangyari nung revolution, para kang nagbabasa ng current news. Paulit-ulit lang 'yung kung gaano sila kagulo dati, ganoon din sila kagulo ngayon. Nakakatawa na nakakalungkot, kaya para sa akin ganoon siya kaimportante na gumawa ng historical films," he said.

Tarog and Artikulo Uno—which is also the production team behind "Bliss"—will soon tackle the second film in their planned historical trilogy. "Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral" is scheduled to start production at the end of next month.

The third film will be about Manuel Quezon.

Tarog is also looking into the possibility of producing films about Katipunera Teresa Magbanua, who led revolutionaries in Iloilo; and President Ramon Magsaysay. — BM, GMA News