Legendary screenwriter Ricky Lee is seeing one of his passion projects begin major development – a biopic about fellow National Artist and filmmaker Ishmael Bernal.
Lee’s Kahon Collective Inc. confirmed that the writer’s long-completed screenplay for “Bernal” is entering the pre-production phase, with studio Epicmedia assisting in production.
The two National Artists worked together on the early 1980s movies “Manila By Night,” “Himala,” “Relasyon,” and “Broken Marriage,” all released within a three-year span.
Bernal also directed “Tisoy!,” “Hinugot sa Langit,” “Nagbabagang Luha,” and the second segment of the first “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” while Lee’s other famous screenplays include “Moral,” “Karnal,” “Brutal,” “Anak,” “Madrasta,” “Jose Rizal,” “Muro-Ami,” “Cain at Abel,” “Green Bones” and “Labs Kita, Okey Ka Lang?”
“Very excited ako na finally itong matagal ko nang binalak na material o script ay matutuloy na,” Lee said in a statement.
Three actors are expected to play the director, one of them being Jericho Rosales for the majority of the movie. The “Bernal” film will breathe life into the titular director by placing on the big screen the actors, collaborators, and family members who shaped his cinematic journey.
These include Nora Aunor and Spanky Manikan (both who starred in “Himala” as Elsa and Orly respectively), Rita Gomez who starred in three Bernal films, and Bernardo Bernardo who was a frequent collaborator for the director including “Manila By Night.”
Judy Ann Santos and Atom Araullo will play Nora and Spanky, the journalist appearing in just his second film ever after 2018’s “Citizen Jake.” Iza Calzado will portray Rita while John “Sweet” Lapus takes on Bernardo.
Cinema stars who worked with Bernal closely such as Vilma Santos, Eddie Garcia, Alma Moreno and Lorna Tolentino are expected to feature, with the likes of Agot Isidro, Lovi Poe, Shaina Magdayao and Chanda Romero playing some of them.
“Bernal” will also serve as a tribute to the titular filmmaker, Lee, Nora, and fellow director Marilou Diaz-Abaya (also a character in the film); the two late women are also National Artists.
Lee is currently working on a new book and scriptwriting manual “Trip to Quiapo 2,” which will launch at this year’s Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and Manila International Book Fair.