Anatomy of a superstar and a multi awarded director

PINOY MIXX

Now that the dust has settled after the brouhaha as to why superstar Nora Aunor did not take the economy flight to the recently held Cannes Film Festival, it’s time to disclose some points as to what really happened.

The film “Taklub” of multi-awarded director Brillante Mendoza made it to this year’s Cannes Film Festival at the Un Certain Regard section.

The lead star of the film is no less than the country’s one and only superstar, Nora Aunor. The Mendoza and Aunor tandem has become the team to watch after the phenomenal success of “Thy Womb” that earned them both numerous awards in the world cinema.

When “Taklub” made it in Cannes, many film enthusiasts were expecting that La Aunor would do a celebrated comeback to Cannes after almost three decades when her film “Bona” was screened and she was not there to experience Cannes.

So, when La Aunor did not board the plane because she was booked in the economy flight, tongues began to wag and supporters started to dish out their judgment in support to the superstar.

Many were saying that she deserved to be given a first class treatment. That she should be given the priority because she is the lead actress in the film. That Brillante owed her the victory in “Thy Womb”. And some people started to bash Brillante in social media.

What is a superstar?

A superstar is absolutely a celebrity.  As a movie star like Nora Aunor for almost over four decades and multi awarded at that, she surely ought to be treated as such – a star.

Since La Aunor became the country’s one and only superstar, all the attention and adulation was given to her.

But, what in return did she give to her adoring fans in return? Everything. She gave up her privacy, time, energy, to some extent her resources and talent. She earned for the country several acting awards.

But, most of all she bared her soul every time she delineates a role. She exposed her innermost thoughts and feelings for every song that she rendered. All these for four decades almost nothing was left except a little dignity perhaps that she kept to herself.

This is what every performer has to go through. And the idea that you have shared a part of yourself and the audience was entertained at the expense of your entire self, what does an entertainer get?  Applause. An approval that oh yes, they love you at that one moment in time.

Now, given all that idea of baring and giving one’s self for your audience’s delight and amusement, isn’t it just right that a star would ask for something that is due to her – a first class treatment? Is it demanding or deserving? Or just playing diva?

What is a multi-awarded director?

It is common knowledge in the local and world cinema that Brillante Mendoza is a multi-awarded filmmaker.

Brillante’s name shines as brightly like a gem when alternative cinema is the subject matter. His films have collected numerous awards both locally and internationally.

As a “veteran” in international film festivals, Brillante knew the intricacies involved in producing a film and being nominated in these festivals.

In spite of the roomful of trophies he earned for his films, most of them have not given him proper monetary reward. They are mere physical remembrances of the honor and prestige for his works as a filmmaker.

In world film festivals, their priorities are the filmmakers. This is the reality especially in Europe. Not that they do not care for the actors, it’s just that they give more importance to the filmmakers.

This is the reverse in other countries like America where producers spend so much money to create stars that have become box office attraction. This mindset is what we inherited from Hollywood.

When the film “Taklub” made it to the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes, Brillante was hesitant to go because he knew the financial considerations involved.

Bringing Nora Aunor to Cannes was Brillante’s priority. She is the lead actress and a superstar. But, the costs involved would be another story.

So, even if it is an added task as the production outfit that produced the film, he has to raise the money to defray the expenses.

When a local press conference was held for the film, La Aunor was embroiled in an issue that she expressed her thoughts critical to the Aquino administration.

This aggravated and jeopardized the outsourcing of funds for the Cannes trip since the film was technically produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a government agency.

The funds courtesy of the Film Development Council of the Philippines were not enough to defray costs for the trip. The expenses did not only include the plane tickets of La Aunor but also the materials and other collaterals that need to be produced.

Brillante had no choice but to economize to meet the expenses albeit buying La Aunor an economy plane tickets. This entire scenario was communicated to the superstar.

Of course, personal and emotional factors were involved when La Aunor was at the airport learning that she was not upgraded.

At this point in time, Brillante and La Aunor may have been enmeshed in a situation where feelings and egos were hurt. But, they were both mature enough to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses and their capacity to understand and forgive.

People around them have thrown their ten cents worth of opinion which could have driven a wedge on these two film icons, but, as the cliché goes, all is well that ends well. And those people who thrive on this fight, simply failed.

WHO DA WHO?

• This famous mother and daughter are not in good terms. The mother is enraged by the daughter’s adamant behavior in posing almost naked in a magazine.
• This actress, a daughter of another famous actress was so upset in finding out that her current joie de vie is the lover of one of the network’s executives. This lady has never learned her lesson from her previous boyfriend who was rumored to be gay.
• How true is that a television series will be unceremoniously axed because the lead star has a gender problem.
• Who is this stage actress who was so frustrated because the director would always tell her to tone down because the new lead star was so weak that she was practically drowning her?
• She is considered as one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation. She is paired with a matinee idol that is rumored to be an alcoholic. This pretty young thing has a lesbian suitor who committed suicide when she found out that the actress has already a lesbian lover.