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Patak-Kamandag (Drops of Poison)
Digitally Restored Version

Personal Notes

I was always told that this film was inspired by The Matrix - also released in 1999. It wasn't. It is a striking coincidence that, in my film, there's a character (named Jazon Kredd) who's being tagged by everyone as the one who possess the 'poison of life' - the sought-after 'thing' (nobody knows what it is because everything seems to be only hush-hush) that makes one live forever. We were done with the film already when Matrix was released. Of course, The Matrix had millions behind it and it was a great film. It turned out to be one of my most favorite films of all time. 

My film is miles and miles away apart from The Matrix. I was only 24 then and shot Patak-Kamandag in VHS-Compact. I did it with passionate young people (they were my film students at Lyceum - where my teaching career began).: Erik, Marnelli, Jeffrey, Jaime, Lorelei, Jeremiah, Tristan, Kim, etc. They were some of the best people I've worked with (we all did it for free). It was one of my best shoots ever. We were excited and enthusiastic. When we had our screening in CINEMATOMIKA, we were all in Cloud 9. We felt that it was all worth it. When it finally won me my third Gawad CCP (second place but without a first prize), we then knew that what we did was something very special.  

Elvert JV 

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synopsis
What is the 'poison of life'? Where is it hidden? Set in an unnamed locale, people here are in search of the most important 'item' to possess before the millennium strikes. The short film creates an imaginary sphere where tension, obsession and violence mix but never takes into true form.

Year of release: 1999
TRT: 10 min, 52 sec
Short Fiction, Sci-Fi, Drama
Shot, edited, designed, written, produced and directed by: Elvert Bañares
Cast: Erik Oviedo, Marnelli Sanchez Magdadaro, Jeffrey Angeles, Lorelei Montserrat, Jaime Arceo Jr.
Music: First Degree
Music Mixes: Elektronk Optikal Kadaver
Production Manager: Marnelli Sanchez Magdadaro
Production Coordinators: Tristan Anthony Kee, Jeremiah Perez
Post-Production In-Charge: John Julian Muniz
Editor (Original 1999 Version): Dexter L. Enriquez
Stunts & Equipment In-Charge: Kim Evangelista
Publicity / Press: Edgar O. Cruz (+)


 

   AWARDS, NOMINATIONS & CITATIONS

  • Winner, Best Experimental Film, Gawad CCP for Independent Film & Video 200

  • Finalist, .Silver Shorts, MOV Digital Film Festival, Quezon City, 2000

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   FESTIVAL SELECTIONS

  • Official Selection, CINEMAtomika Film and Video Festival 1999

  • Official Selection, Short Film Section, Cinemanila International Film Festival 2000

  • Official Selection, Short Film Program, Asian Digital Arts Film Festival, Singapore, 200

  • Official Selection, Pagdiriwang Film Showcase, Seattle, USA, 2000

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