Over the Holy Week, we had the time to meet some dear friends to catch up and, as the season calls for, reflect on our lives over the past years—the choices we made, the trials we weathered, and, of course, the glass ceilings we smashed. We also found ourselves discussing the many things unfolding in our community beyond the realm of politics.
As creatives, we couldn’t help but enthuse over the upcoming DreamWorks film, The Forgotten Island. It marks a significant milestone as the first major animated feature deeply rooted in our culture with an all-Filipino cast. Set to be released this September—just five months away—the film was the centerpiece of our excited chatter.
Our good friend Art Boncato Jr., former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Tourism during the leadership of Jimenez and Tourism Undersecretary during the Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s administration shared a fascinating bit of history: this “germ of an idea” was actually hatched around 11 years ago, during the tenure of the late Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.
We even became privy to the correspondence between the late Tourism Secretary and Jeffrey Katzenberg, then CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG (Margie Cohn recently took over). Shared by then Jimenez’s Executive Assistant Ren Sapitan, these correspondence revealed very interesting insights into what could be the origin story of this film, which is now finally ready to be shown to the world. With the teaser already circulating online, it is heartening to see the many vibrant icons and representations of our culture and our country finally taking center stage.
On July 8, 2015, Sec. Jimenez wrote to Katzenberg, confirming the Department of Tourism’s intention to collaborate with DreamWorks following an initial meeting during the World Travel and Tourism Council Summit (WTTC) held in Hainan, China.
Jimenez wrote: “DreamWorks has paved the way towards enriching the imagination of its viewers by forming a mental image of the life and ways of every culture presented in its films. Kung Fu Panda, for instance, sparked interest among viewers to experience Chine Culture because of its strong reference to the Chinses way of life, The same is true for Madagascar, that gave a visual image of this island country to. World that was less aware of it. As they sre ll grounded on real life settings, these films have served as a receptacle for interest among the audience that, in the process, invoked the desire to experience it.”
He invited DreamWorks “to come into play and work with us towards a possibility of producing an animated film about the Philippines. We are open to discuss with you further details of this invitation.”
Katzenberg replied immediately on July 9, 2015: “We always keep in mind that the creation of our films has many sources of inspiration – and in turn can also serve to influence and inspire others – so your thoughts on the cultural relevance of many of DreamWorks Animations previous films are much appreciated. Thank you for the seed of interest in the rich history of the Philippines and the optimistic outlook of its people. As we look at our future development slate, when we have an idea that lends itself to exploring your world and culture, we will be sure to be in contact with you.”
We would like to imagine that this very conversation between the Department of Tourism and DreamWorks made this film possible. It took a while, but we will soon be watching our own culture brought to life through world-class animation, with our own artists voicing the characters on screen. The lead roles are a “who’s who” of Filipino talent: Lea Salonga, H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Manny Jacinto, Jo Koy, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Dolly de Leon, and many others.
The story itself feels deeply personal: “The story follows two lifelong best friends, Jo and Raissa, who have been inseparable since childhood. As they graduate high school, they face the bittersweet reality of adulthood: Raissa is preparing to move to the United States, threatening to end their constant companionship. During a night of karaoke and celebration, the pair is mysteriously transported through a portal to the magical island of Nakali (the titular “Forgotten Island”). Nakali is a realm populated by legendary creatures from Filipino folklore, but it holds a devastating secret: the longer a person stays on the island, the more their memories fade. To find their way home, Jo and Raissa must embark on a race against time and face the terrifying possibility that the price of their return is forgetting the very friendship they are trying to save.”
This is another film we look forward to watching this year—and we will be watching it with pride and a lot of snacks in our movie theaters.
