Director Jun Lana Of 'Bwakaw' Reveals The Truth About His Star Eddie Garcia'S Health Condition

DIRECTOR JUN LANA is smiling widely these days because the film “Bwakaw”, which he wrote and directed, is being invited to various international filmfests. He’s leaving on September 6 with producer Ferdie Lapuz for the Toronto International Filmfest and, on September 20, the New York Film Festival. Ferdie says they got two more invitations. “But our goal now is to be nominated as the country’s entry to the Oscar best foreign language film category,” says Ferdie. “We’re qualified kasi nga we’ll have a commercial run in our local theatres starting September 5. We have a good chance kasi ‘Bwakaw’ has been bought for international distribution by Fortissimo Films. Having it released in the States will help our chances in the Oscars. But if FAP would not select us, then we’ll try to be nominated sa Golden Globe that’s also prestigious.”

Is their lead star, Eddie Garcia, really ill so he was not at the SM Megamall premiere night? “I was told he had an executive checkup and his doctor advised him to have a rest daw, kaya he left for abroad muna,” says Direk Jun Lana.

Did Eddie really turn down GMA-7’s new soap “Aso ni San Roque”, which also stars the same dog used in ‘Bwakaw’, due to health reasons? “No, he’s still part of it. What he turned down is the role being assigned to him, an old gay. E, yun na rin daw ang role niya sa ‘Bwakaw’ so ayaw niyang ulitin na naman. He’ll play another role.”

Is it hard to direct a dog? “Very, hindi ko na uulitin. We’ve been training another dog for four months with Tito Eddie but 10 days before the shoot, biglang nag-backout yung owner. So I researched sa internet and saw Princess in a dog camp. I contacted her owner and she became Bwakaw. She had only one week to train with Tito Eddie then shoot na. Mabait naman si Princess, but then, aso pa rin siya. She’s a Take One dog. Pag Take Two, ayaw na niya, hindi mo na mapipilit. May moods din siya so we have to wait to get what we want from her.”

Is Eddie his original choice for ‘Bwakaw’? “Yes, when I wrote the script in 2007, I already have him in mind. It’s a tribute to my mentor, the late playwright Rene Villanueva. Hindi talaga pang-mainstream ang material so no one wants to produce it kaya isinali ko sa Cinemalaya. I knew we had a good film but I was so amazed by the overwhelmingly warm reception of the viewers. It also won the Cinemalaya Audience and Netpac Awards, plus best actor for Tito Eddie who’s really excellent in the movie. I’m sure his performance will also win abroad.”