Last Saturday, my second short film entitled ‘The 12th of June’ was screened at Shift Bar in Makati for the Thrilla 4 Matela: A Fundraiser for AJ Matela. Our friend AJ Matela passed away last September 8, 2011 (two days before his 29th birthday) and we know that he is in a good place now. His blogger friends organized this gathering in order to collate funds that can help pay his hospital bills. Musicians, magicians and stand-up comedians took part in this fund-raising event and i know that AJ is right there watching us. I bet he’s happy to see his blogger friends gathered in one event once more.
My short film The 12th of June is my contribution for the fundraising event. It is my second short film that I created two years ago. Basically, the story is about a girl named Eloisa, who is working as a home-based virtual assistant. She is too occupied with her job and she sort of forgot to live her life. It is a story of a modern hard-working Filipina who finally decides to take a one-week break from work to re-access her life and yes, take a chance at love.
My good friend Jade Lopez, a Filipina actress/model played the role of Eloisa. I remember when we met up to discuss about her role and the flow of the story. Originally, I wanted her character to be a call center agent. I figured out that it would be hard for me to shoot some scenes in the MRT station and in a public transportation. A friend suggested that I must just make her a Virtual Assistant since I truly know how it feels to be one. It’s was my first job right after I graduated from college.
Jade Lopez is a good actress. When I gave her the character description of Eloisa, she decided to make me as her peg. Eloisa is like me two years ago – hardworking, stressed, idealistic in love and a donut monster. My blogger friends played the rest of the characters in the movie and I am impressed with their natural acting skills. It simply proved that bloggers are not only camwhores – they can be movie stars too!
I think it is the first time of some of them to watch my film. To be honest, I was partly nervous. I am quite happy with the flow of the story, but it is quite obvious that I had some faults with the technical part. Filmmaking is a learning process. I guess it helps that I recognize my own mistakes.
While watching the film, some of my blogger friends who saw it for the first time and knew me since 2007 kept on looking at me whenever Eloisa throws some lines that reminded them of me.
Very Mica, yes?
When you’re working as a Virtual Assistant or Full-time blogger, I bet you can relate to Eloisa’s character. At the first part of the film, I showed how a usual Virtual Assistant based in the Philippines works – you wake up at 7pm, eat ‘breakfast’ then go online to ‘face’ your boss and take his/her orders. I have some collegues who called me ‘lucky’ when I told them that my job as a VA is a work-from-home type of job. I did enjoy my first week as a Virtual Assistant and tasks bestowed to me were quite easy. Eventually, I got tired of it. I’d wake up late then rush to the computer and sleep before lunchtime the next day. My family even complained that they can’t even spend a decent lunch or dinner time with me.
The pay is good, but contrary to what others believe, it is not an easy job. It reached to the point wherein I consider my own room as an ‘office’, which means i am required to ‘work’ all the time. I rarely went out because i’d rather spend the mornings and afternoons catching up some sleep than meet up with my friends. My grandfather told me that I am too young for that job and the office setting is best for my age. I felt that too.
In the movie, Eloisa is also a blogger taking a chance at her failed love story with an old friend. I will not elaborate further on the inspiration of this movie, because I only managed to give justice to that part through this film. It’s funny how I used to be that hopeless romantic who believed in signs and destiny cheverloo. Maybe i still am deep inside, but I haven’t felt that in a long time… and i sort of miss it.
To Virtual Assistants and home-based workers out there: I encourage you all to go out of the house and live your life! It’s ok to be loyal to your boss and your job, but your job is not your life. You may be inside the house all the time, but are you paying attention to your family and loved ones? You may have lots of moolah in your wallet and bank account, but do you make it a point to at least give yourself a reward for a job well done? Also, try to travel every once in a while – you will never find Mr. Right inside your house!
Ok. Fine. I’m still that hopeless romantic Eloisa after all 😛
Anyway, here’s the trailer of my film. You can watch the full movie with english subtitles too! Just comment here if you want the link. Working on the sequel 🙂
UPDATED: Here’s the Link http://yourindiefilm.com/node/313
Are you working on a home-based set-up? Are you a hopeless romantic too? Have you seen my film? Share your thoughts below! 😀
Congrats on your second film!
Are you working on a home-based set-up? Are you a hopeless romantic too? Have you seen my film? No to all the questions. BUT I’d love to see your film online! Please share the link.
Thanks Nadia! Here’s the link http://yourindiefilm.com/node/313
Thanks for the link, Mica!
Wow, being a Virtual Assistant is tough and lonely! Well done with the film, Mica. You did an amazing job! Jade Lopez is a natural actress, and your blog friends did great too. You weren’t too bad yourself 😉
Haha you did really watch! Thanks Nadia! Yeah, being a VA can be lonely sometimes especially when you’re locked at your own home and drown at work. When I moved to Manila and still had a job, I made it a habit to go out and work in coffeeshops every once in a while. It does help to have an outdoor atmosphere while working. Jade Lopez is really good not because she’s my friend, but she really is! 😀 I am hoping she gets the big break she deserves. About the rest of the cast, yep, they have alternative jobs when they retire from blogging LOL!
Naks! Ayos ah! Congrats sa short film. 🙂
Thank you po 😀
Wow Mica, this is cool… Congrats for your short film. I want to watch it! 🙂
Thanks Marx! Here’s the link http://yourindiefilm.com/node/313 sana masundan ng sequel asap hehe
Congratulations on the film! I agree- home based business is not what it’s cracked up to be. I know several people changed their lives to work from home, but 12 months later they chose to go back to work at an office. Unless you’re a very insular person, you miss that interactionwith other people that goes on in an office.
Thanks Jim! I am a very sociable person and I have this urge to really go out of the house from time to time. I guess you’re right with that. I have no regrets though. I think it’s just a matter of work-life balance. I was just 20 yrs old back then 😀
Congrats sa second film… What an interesting topic to tackle. Working online is not my cup of tea, but it fits my nomadic lifestyle. Also, I got a toddler to take care of. I miss having workmates, and uhm, the drinking sprees after office hours. Haha!
Thanks Gay! Ako naman ok ako sa dalawa basta makalabas from time to time 😀 Hindi ko nagawa yun before kaya ngayon i make sure na home-based man or office-based, lalakwatsa pa rin ako kapag weekends 😀
I bet your film is applicable to anyone who gives up their lives for their jobs, not just those who are working as full-time Virtual Assistants. Sometimes, I end up being like that as i work in an advertising production company. Glad to have friends around who keep me sane and make sure I travel… and see the world beyond work.
Hi Gladys! Yup, this is a short film that every working girl can relate too especially if they’re drowning themselves with too much work and not on the beach or pool hehe 😀 Glad to have friends around who can push us to take a look around and appreciate life outside work. 😀
Wow Ms.Mica… nakarelate ako ah… hehehe…
Pwede po bang mapanood yung mga ginawa nyo?
Astig..:)
Hehe salamat! Yung first ko is Kuya Bunso and it’s not available online yet 😀 The third one is uploaded sa Vimeo. Will blog about it din soon kasi medyo timely yung topic nya 🙂
Mica, congrats on your film and screening it for you late blogging friend. I agree with you that working at home is not often ideal. My current situation is working at school and then coming home and working on my blog until I pass out. I sometimes feel like I’m making a lot of sacrifices, but at the same time, I feel that if I don’t do things this way I’ll never find out if I can transition to another career.
Samuel, it is a lesson I learned in the previous years and I make it a point now to go out once in a while or bring my work in a coffee shop 😀 Have you tried doing that? Bring your laptop and work outside of your home! 😀
Actually, everything is about sacrificing especially when we’re thinking about our future. I am trying my very best to make ends meet as a freelancer because I want my freedom in terms of time. Eventually, i will go back to the corporate world soon but i am not afraid. I will take microvacations and blog too for extra income. 😀
Though I haven’t actually experienced working at home but I am taking calls for a living and I can relate to that. I will watch your film. Congrats to your 2nd film!
Thank you! Call-center jobs and VA jobs are quite similar except for the fact that the former is office-based while the latter is home-based. Thank you for watching! 😀
Congratulations on your film! What a special opportunity to screen it for your friend. I totally agree with your advice on getting out of the house…and of course, travelling! I’m not sure if many people working diligently from home, tho incredibly successful, are taking the opportunity to enjoy life and the freedom of having their own schedule. Thank you Mica!
Thanks for the lovely comment, Jess!
Jade Lopez! Favorite ko siya dati sa Starstruck hehe sana lumipat na lang siya sa TV5. Sila pa po ba ni Christian? What if gumawa ka ng short film nilang dalawa? Kwela yun sigurado!!!!! Keep it up Ms. Micamyx!
Uy, salamat! Sa ngayon freelancer si Jade. Sana mabigyan siya ng TV break she deserves it 🙂 About Christian, dream ko rin to make a short film na sila ang bida hehe 😀
Nice… Shared this at VAPhilippines FB page! http://www.facebook.com/VAPhilippines
Wow! Thank you so much! 😀
mica, nagenjoy ako sa film mo. It’s so you. hehe. 🙂 let’s gala again soon!
Thanks Tiara for coming! 😀 Gala na tayo soon ulit! Miss you 😀
LOL I can totally relate to Eloisa’s character. Right after graduation, I decided not to pursue a medical career coz nakakapagod din. I wanted to do something new naman. Being a full-time blogger is not easy din. It takes time and effort to increase your blog and nakakapagod din mag-isip ng new ideas and all, except kung inspired ka or umaapaw ang creativity juice. Pero I’m not that all the time. Kaya ayun, I travel para at least maramdaman ko rin na there’s LIFE outside my room.
Waaaa! Next time kung gagawa ka ng short movie, pwede ba akong sumali? Hahahaha!
Wow. All the while akala ko nasa college ka pa lang! 😛 If i were you, start ka ng Health blog para kahit papano naa-apply mo pa rin napag-aralan mo. 🙂
Well, matagal ko nang plano mag-shoot ng movie sana sa Davao. Convince mo sina Kuya Drew to produce hehe
Congrats on the film. That is really cool. I am going to check out the whole film now.
Thanks Ted! Looking forward to your review 🙂
The white beach and the place is pefcert for vacationcheck out my channel for more traveling videosyou can ask me about world traveling.
So awesome that you made a film, let alone for such a wonderful cause.
I did some film work in high school and university but it was mostly acting. I’d love to actually direct and film something though. You’ve totally inspired me! I’m going to check out your film later tonight 🙂
I can totally relate to being a hopeless romantic. I think it tends to go with the travel territory. After all, isn’t it the romance of life on the road that we’re drawn to?
And if Jade is ever in need of a guy in real life, I’d be more than happy to help :-p
Thanks Chris! I did that film two years ago and back then, I am not yet that open-minded when it comes to traveling hehe 😀 I guess it’s time for you to go back to filmmaking. I am itching to do the next one. This time, it is travel-related 😀
And oh, Jade is happily taken hehe she and her boyfriend celebrated their 4th yr last week <3
I saw the preview but I need to watch the film so I can get the English subtitles! Way to go!
I would never have the patience for film making but am so happy that not all Mica’s are alike! You go girl!
I love working from home. I never miss the interaction, just some of the office gossip maybe! I like to work alone and working from home can have its ups and downs but its mostly good!
Thanks Mica! To be honest, i still prefer the freelance set-up. I love my freedom, but i start to think twice about it whenever i encounter financial problems lol 😛
Watch the movie now and let me know what you think 😉