Ortigas and Rocha are part of the movement of independent Filipino cinema that is putting a premium on quality films rather than formulaic big studio pictures. While Rocha is a veteran of the entertainment business having starred in such acclaimed classic films as Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon, Bayaning Third World and Virgin Forest, Ortigas says he got into film production quite late in his life.
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"I am a frustrated artist," he said. "I only came to this business during my sunset years. I've been loving it."
Ortigas founded Tuko Film Productions in 2013 while Rocha had his own entertainment company called Buchi Boy Entertainment. After linking up with Tarog's Artikulo Uno, the three companies rebranded and became TBA studios. They are joined by a third partner, Vincent Nebrida.
"I was in the family business, which was shipping and airlines, but I only dabbled in the arts," Rocha said. "But I've always loved it. I wrote Heneral Luna in 1997, with Henry Francia." Tarog, who had expressed interest in developing a Luna biopic of his own, heard about Rocha's script and asked if he could use it. The rest is filmmaking history.
"I don't want to put feathers on our own cap, but I've studied the film business for many, many years," Rocha said. "A visionary director is nothing without visionary producers. That's why what happened here is, he's a visionary (pointing at Ortigas), I'm a visionary, and then we found Jerrold who's a visionary. So it was a perfect storm."
Showbusiness is like any other business
Although fairly new in the local entertainment business, TBA Studios has already racked up an impressive list of films, many of which have gone on to receive numerous industry awards, including the documentary Sunday Beauty Queen, I'm Drunk I Love You, Bliss, and Smaller and Smaller Circles. The production outfit is also behind passion projects like Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, K'na The Dreamweaver, Tandem, Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Petalo, Water Lemon, Iisa, Matangtubig and Gayuma.
"We've done about 20 films now," said Ortigas. "The bottom line is that whatever the production, let's just make sure it's the best we can come up with. We're trying to challenge the industry. You can do a romantic comedy, just give us a decent romantic comedy. You want to do a horror movie? Give us a decent horror movie."
Despite the extremely fickle nature of the showbiz industry and the rapidly changing viewing habits of theater audiences, Ortigas and Rocha are committed to the business and said they're confident that audiences will respond to the product they put out.
"Running a film production business is just like running any other kind of business," Ortigas said. "You open up a sari-sari store, you're going to have to compete with the guy next door. Every business has its own beast to conquer and its own challenges. I always think, if you have a good product, it should sell itself. But I would like to think that luck sometimes comes into it. There's good timing. And the Lord up there."
While the producers were ecstatic about the success of Heneral Luna, they knew the second movie in a planned trilogy would be much bigger.
"Jerrold's vision always has to be respected," Ortigas said. "His vision can be a bit expensive, but his message, that's priceless."
Goyo necessitated recreating a late 1800s town in Tarlac plus location shoots in Bataan, Rizal, Batangas and Ilocos in a span of eight months, plus an additional year spent in pre-production. The price tag for the movie is well above Heneral Luna's Php80 million and, according to the producers, even over P100 million.
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"Put it this way," Rocha said. "We had double the shooting days, we have a bigger cast, over 2,000 people on set. We're talking quite a bit more than P100 million.
Perhaps it was divine intervention that led to TBA joining forces with Globe Telecom for Goyo. The Ayala-owned company has been expanding its portfolio well beyond telecommunications services in recent years. Its partnership with TBA Films for Goyo marks its second such involvement in film production. According to Rocha, the company invested in the project and owns 25 percent of the film.
A message to the country
Goyo arrives in cinemas on September 5, almost three years to the day since Heneral Luna's own opening. Ortigas and Rocha both have high hopes for the film, not only as producers looking to recoup their investment, but more so because the film continues the legacy of quality, thought-provoking cinema about our nation's history that Heneral Luna started.
"It's not only a movie we're making, it's a message to the country," Rocha said.
"Jerrold's vision always has to be respected," Ortigas said. "His vision can be a bit expensive, but his message, that's priceless."
