Chapter 109 - Exploration of Character Psychology

May 12, 2012 – Saturday, 2 pm – Clambu City

*clap clap* *whistles whistles* the movie theater is filled with cheers and applause. There are only fifty or so of us in the theater but the cheer was deafening. A few days ago, Tayaw sent the cast and crew and me, the screenwriter, invitations to gather at this theater today to watch a private screening of 'September Ninth', dedicated to the cast and the crew.

Even though Tayaw said the film was good, even when I received the news that I was nominated for an international award, I could not believe that my story, my baby, has come to life until today, when and saw it play in front of my eyes.

It's real, and it's here. I'm now an acclaimed screenwriter. It got me thinking. Had someone made my film earlier, would my life be any different than the one I lived for the past 8 years? Probably not. My script would have been ruined by any director that is not Tayaw.

Even though it's just a private screening of 'September Ninth' and it has not come out to the public yet, I'm very optimistic seeing the cast and crew who watched it with me give it a standing ovation. These people around me are not the regular movie goers, but professionals in the industry that know their stuff.

Seeing the group of actors, full of smiles, high fiving each other and shaking each other's hands, I could not help but be proud of them. I've seen these fellows endure Tayaw to be the personifications of my characters.

Seeing the group of the filming crew discuss enthusiastically and proudly amongst themselves about which shots they took and how they did it, I was reminded that these same people are the ones who almost got into a fight with Tayaw.

"By the way, where's Tayaw?" The sound engineer for the film asked the others. "I don't know. I saw him at the entrance when he was welcoming us in, but now, I can't find him." A camera guy said. "He didn't watch it with us. I saw him walk out when the film started." I said to the guys. "Well. I think he was tired of seeing it. He was the one who edited after all. He locked himself for a few days in his room." A young man by the name of Bay-an explained to us.

Seeing the young man and his band mates, I was reminded by the skepticism I expressed to Tayaw regarding the soundtrack of the film. I didn't believe it when he said he was going to MAKE the soundtrack and after finding out about his identity as a musician, I still was worried. After listening to the songs throughout the movie though, I got to see why he had to make the songs himself.

"Mrs. Yalen, Tayaw said he went on ahead to 'the usual' place with our van. Can we tag along?" Jenna, a member of Tayaw's band, asked in concern. I shook my head. I've always thought of Tayaw to be responsible, but to leave his friends to strangers was such an odd thing for him to do. "Of course. HEY URANTO!" I called for the lead actor, who I've made friends with during the production process. "Jouny, what's up?" "Do you have spare seats in your car? Tayaw went on ahead to the hotel and he left his kids with us." I said.

"Sure! They can come with me. So you are the fellows that sang the songs in the movie huh? It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Uranto." Uranto said and he introduced himself to the band. I saw Tayaw's band just stare at Uranto. This must be what being star struck looks like. Uranto, having his introduction ignored, looked embarrassed. "You take the boys, I take the young lady." I said and rescued the fellows from the awkward interaction.

A few minutes later, a caravan of cars hit the road and is heading to the hotel where we had our wrapping up party. "Mrs. Yalen. Steve- I mean… Uranto looks more handsome in real life." Jenna asked me. Me and my husband chuckled at the comment.

"That's because he's supposed to me more handsome than Steven, so make-up artists made him look shabbier in the film." I explained. While that is true, there's more to it. Uranto, since the filming finished, has become more confident in himself and smiled more often. He got brighter and more handsome.

"Hah! I don't know what Tayaw did to Uranto, but he wasn't that handsome before. My wife too became more beautiful after Tayaw bought her script." My husband said, to my embarrassment and to Jenna's amus.e.m.e.nt.

"By the way. Are you guys famous? You did a great job singing the songs in the movie." I asked Jenna. "Well… We were seen by millions of people on the internet, but I don't think we're famous. It's actually - " while on the drive, Jenna told us their stories about meeting Tayaw and their journey as a band. "So.. yeah. Currently, we're making our first album under Tayaw's supervision." She ended.

"So is Tayaw going to write you songs?" My husband asked. I'm curious as well. He has a lot of songs and he even made songs for the movie. "No. He said that it's better if we sing our own songs. He said he will eventually but we're still inexperienced." She replied. "That's a strange… arrangement. I think you guys are great." My husband said and I think so too. "We still have a long way to go compared to Tayaw." Jenna just shrugged her shoulders.

A few minutes later, we arrived at a private conference room where we the cast and crew gathered for another party. Tayaw really treats people generously. Even though we no longer work for the kid, he still bothered to set up catering.

The lunch was nice and sumptuous and we ate to our fill. The atmosphere was also nice because we all loved how the final cut of the film came out. While eating, I could not help but notice Tayaw talking to five people, actors and crew people alike, at the same time. This blew my mind. How is he talking to five people without getting confused? But thinking about how he multi-tasked while working on the movie, it makes sense that he can multi-task talking to people too. I guess this is one of the things that differentiate geniuses from regular folks.

After lunch, as we were about to bid our farewell to Tayaw, I received a text. "Please talk to Ramil before leaving. It's the young man in the black leather jacket. I have something for you." I looked at Tayaw and nodded at me. As my husband and I approach Ramil, I saw Uranto and the main actors also make their way to the young man as well.

"So, you guys got Tayaw's text too?" My husband asked them. "Yeah. What's it about?" Iliene, who played Diwaya in the movie, asked Ramil. "Follow me." Ramil said and led us to a hotel room nearby. Hm. It's odd how the young man did not even look at Iliene.

Ramil then proceeded to the bed of the room and picked up a backpack among the bags scattered in the bed. "So. Tayaw asked me to distribute these things to you." He took out a few fancy envelopes and started distributing them. Uranto opened his first and pulled out another envelope inside and a few cards. "Hey. It's an invitation and an ID?" Uranto said.

In each of our envelopes are the invitations to the Sorrento Award Ceremony and a passes to watch the movies screening during the festival. Because Tayaw already gave me and Uranto heads up, we were prepared. The rest of the people here gathered however, they could barely keep their excitement in.

"I wonder what Italy looks like." I heard Ramil say while looking at Nielg's invitation. "You guys didn't get invitations?" I asked. They contributed a lot in the movie so I was confused. "Tayaw said it's probably because movie people don't put so much importance to the soundtrack." Ramil replied. "That's too bad. Wanna come with me?" Iliene, Uranto's partner in the movie, teased the kid. Iliene is a beautiful woman and her teasing worked well enough that the young man blushed and was gob smacked.

"Me? We- I- Well. I have – You're too old." Ramil managed to pull out an answer after struggling with his words. His reply silenced us all in the room until Uranto burst out laughing. "Ahahaha! Khk Khk Khk.. Hooo.. Man that was great." Uranto is trying his hardest to control his laughter as he patted Ramil's back. I don't dare to laugh because I am not close to Iliene, but I'm still trying to hold in my laughter.

Props to Iliene as she took it in grace. "Well. That's too bad." Iliene said while smiling. After a few minutes of catching up, we left the hotel room. Walking behind Uranto and the other actors, I saw Iliene pinch Uranto's arm.