A twenty-six-year-old full-blooded Igorot from Buguias, Benguet is starting to make his name in the world of film-making. And just being a high school graduate with no professional training in directing or in making films not differed him from following his passion.
Nestor Daguines, a "Boyong", said that as a kid, he loves to watch movies and tried to impersonate the actors. Looking back, he sees this as one of the reasons which inspired him to pursue film-making.
Armed with an eagerness to learn, he taught the craft, searching for videos on YouTube that taught him the techniques, and with his camera, explored and experimented on angling and camera shots in order to produce a quality film.
He continued to learn progressively, absorbing new ideas and knowledge in filmmaking by attending workshops and seminars. His craft was slowly recognized and at one point he was even invited to be the speaker in one of the workshops for aspiring and advance filmmakers held at a prestigious school.
But he declined because for him he was the one in need of more training.
Boyong was then working as a driver of a van vying from Trinidad to Urdaneta back in 2011 when he discovered his interest in filmmaking. He added that it was just his pastime back then especially since he already had a job to keep.
It never crossed his mind that he would one day be a filmmaker.
In 2012, he produced "Buso" an action movie that received encouraging acclaim. This unleashed his passion and by 2013, he concentrated on making films.
His first work in 2011 entitled "Christine", where the lead character was his young sister, was a story that revolved around the life of a married couple. Since it was his first movie, he acknowledged the flaws yet the viewers did appreciate the consistency in the story flow.
Despite his uncertainty, producers looked for him and hired him to direct the making of their films.
Boyong is a member of the Cordillera Indigenous Audion and Video Association(CIAVA), an organization of Igorot filmmakers and music video producers that was established in 2013.
Filmmaking for him is not that hard because the passion and excitement are there. He said that while shooting, ideas freely come to his mind. He is challenged though because he only has one camera and tripe. He hopes to buy more equipment which can help him hone his skills and make the films he produces to be of more supreme quality.
Aside from his movies Christine and buso, he also became the director of other films such as "sik-a et baw"(2012) and "white lady"(2012), a horror movie that was shot only in one day. Although it received negative responses from viewers who are not into horror movies, teachers recognized it as a good movie.
His other films include "Di ka Maupay"(2013): "Timplan di Layad"(2014): and, his most recent film with a formal script, "Banor di Pamilya"(2014).
His films are also supported by Cordillerans abroad. They find time to watch it on YouTube. Sometimes when they come home they buy his films and bring them along with them when they fly back abroad, while others asked their relatives who are in the cordillera to send his films to them abroad.
Boyong, as a filmmaker said the qualities he looks for in an actor are the fire within for acting and an intrinsic talent. He also studies the actor's professionalism and attitude. He said actors should know how to deal with others and that they should always stay grounded.
Boyong said there are some basics in film-making. First is the attitude. He mentioned that not because he is the director means he is always right. A director should know how to listen to the suggestions of the people around him. He said that every person in the production gives him a lesson.
The second lesson is to know how to socialize. He said that he used to be shy and does not converse with people he does not know. But he soon overcomes this and is now more sociable even with strangers.
Boyong advises the aspiring filmmakers to continue what they have started and to always keep their feet on the ground. He added they should learn how to spot the mistakes in every film they produce. He also said everyone starts from nothing but they should not be discouraged because they will reap what they sow in the future.
He hopes to produce a film that will be patronized not just by Cordillerans but also by people in the entire Philippines. An action film similar to Buso which he and Sendong also as a filmmaker will be producing either this year or next year is expected to be included in the competition of independent films.
