I am a fan of pinoy music video directors so I manage to follow them on tweeter and fb just to be updated with them. And that did not fail me. One of them is Marie Jamora. She directed some Up Dharma Down mvs and some tvc as well. And of course, the director of Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There). With the help of facebook and tumbler let’s trace back the one year journey of the film that successfully landed on Slamdance Filmfestival. Oh yes! Slamdance.

One year ago, she called for audition online adding that the movie will be an official entry to Cinemalaya 2012. Character bios were posted to clarify who are required. The story plot was also shared five days after the first post. March 9, 2012, call for extra was posted and sadly because of my job I wasn’t able to be there. And on March 10, 2012, the first shooting took place. Sandwhich and Pedicab played their songs originally made for the film. The film started shooting but the cast wasn’t reveled yet and so casting was revealed later on May 2012.

Tumbler annoucement happened on May 6th and the first post was the picture of the main cast- Felix Roco,  followed by Annicka Dolonius and few days later Dominic Roco. Thanks for the caption of their posts. You can’t actually recognize who is Felix and Dominic. Photo of forever-pretty Dawn Zulueta was also revelead that made me wonder that time which role she played. Before May ends, major cast were revealed completely on tumbler and was published on facebook in one album for the conclusion.

One month before the Cinemalaya, promotions took place adding the official website aside from the social streams, angnawawala.com that went live on June 3, 2012. GMA news released an article on June 4, 2012 and and June 15, 2012 Spot.ph followed a releaselaunching the first poster of the film and the first mv related to the film- the live performance of Tarsius track titled “Deathless Gods”. On the night of Fete Dela Musique, June 23, 2012, the teaser was shown and uploaded online on June 25, 2012. 

July started with broadcast promotion of Dawn Zulueta on ABS-CBN with her appearance in ASAP 2012 and The Buzz; and Alchris Galura on MYX on 3rd of July. MYX also promotes the film on their website revealing another poster of Ang Nawawala whilePEP.ph revealed the poster with Dawn Zulueta in it. Interaksyon.com of TV5 also released an article but this time more personal about Marie Jamora as she tells how her dream full-lenght movie transpired. On July 10, 2012, the theatrical trailer and poster was released. This was followed by another exclusive release of poster this time by Juice.ph that contains Gibson’s dad played by Apo Hiking Society member Boboy Garrovillo follwed by a poster with GMA kid talent Sabrina Man released in Lagarista.com and lastly the twins poster released by no other than by clickthecity.com on July 19, 2012. July 21, 2012. The big day for the film. Ang Nawawala premiered in CCP Main Theater together with other Cinemalaya film entries. This was followed by selected SM Cinemas, Greenbelt and Trinoma. Filipino music supporters came to cinemas to support the movie. That includes me of course! Cinemalaya 2012 concludes with the movie success with Audience Choice and Best Original Score Awards New Breed Category. Afterparty happened in B Side, Makati.

School screening came after started by UP Manila and even trended on twitter with hashtag #AngNawawala. And up to September 2012, the movie were still shown in selected movie houses.

Ang Nawawala official soundtrack was released with album title “Ang Nawawalang Soundtrack” on November 2012 in digital platform and in (this made history) vinyl. You maydownload the album here.

2012 ends even bigger for Ang Nawawala as on December 5, 2012, the movie entered the Slamdance Festival with international title “What Isn’t There”. The film was also nominated for Rappler’s Social Media Award Best Film. Nothing’s gone as the movie won the award as 2013 enters.

The official website did little tweaking for global audience. whatisntthere.com leads also to domain name angnawawala.com. Today, January 19, 2013, What Isn’t There premiered in Slamdance Festival.  Director shared photos on her instagram her stay in Utah for the movie festival. 

Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There) is a movie to be proud of. It is not only a dream come true for director Marie Jamora but for others as well. The film successfully collaborates Pinoy artistic channel- music and film. Nonetheless, the movie wave international audience into a different Philippine scene. Usually, third-world movies garner global recognition only by picturing poverty. This time, its time to show the world “another” side of the real Philippines. Ramon De Veyra, a personal friend of Marie co-writes, co-produced and co- supervised the music induction of the film as well.

More than one year, the idea sets to the silver screen and in 12 months, it projects to global audience. The whole pinoy rock scene truly made a stand in this one. You can see and feel them in the film! Kudos to the Ang Nawawala. Hi-five to What Isn’t There!