From left, John San Nicolas, Masie Tenorio, Friella Dela Santa, Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, Eric Atalig, John Blanco and Fenedel Buno. The cast and crew of “ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” participate in a panel discussion after the film’s premiere on Friday, Jan. 26 at Regal Movie Cinema.
“ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” was shot on location on Saipan, and is the first of three films in an anthology. In the movie, Matt, played by John San Nicolas, must use his knowledge to navigate a precarious situation he finds himself dragged into.
NORTHERN Marianas College and Mount Carmel School launched the film “ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” on Friday, Jan. 26, at the Regal Movie Cinema in San Jose.
The feature-length film was written, produced and directed by NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, Ed.D., and was shot on location on Saipan.
The film stars John San Nicolas as “Matt,” a high school senior and a math whizz. When Matt is accepted to attend an off-island university, he’s unsure of how to finance his education because his family is struggling financially. Matt also does not wish to abandon his family. He and his sister are both raised by a single mother, who was widowed after her husband was murdered.
After Matt’s uncle, who is tied to the island’s criminal underworld, reenters his family’s life, Matt figures out a scheme to use his knowledge of algorithms and probabilities to beat criminals in a game where “the house always wins.” He hopes he can raise enough money to bring his family along with him to the states, while also “knowing when to fold ‘em” and “knowing when to run.” However, his success puts him directly in the crosshairs of “The Ma’gas,” who always seems to “have an ace up his sleeve.”
Aside from San Nicolas, the film’s cast members include Masie Tenorio as Maria, Matt’s mother; Friella Dela Santa as Mandy, Matt’s sister; Eric Atalig as Jay; LJ Castro and Rob Travilla as Thugs; and John Blanco as The Ma’gas.
Fenedel Buno is the director of photography.
During a panel discussion, the cast, Deleon Guerrero and Buno described the filmmaking process on screen and behind it.
San Nicolas, who had the most screen time, said work was completed over two years.
“I can’t fathom that we were able to pull this off,” he said. “I’m really thankful that I got to experience this because I was able to work with experienced actors and with new and upcoming actors.”
San Nicolas said he spent most of his years in high school as a member of the MCS Theatre Club. While he was able to transition his skills onto film, the genres have distinct differences, he added.
In the “three years that I’ve been [with the theatre club], every project I took on we spent months and months and months preparing…. Whereas here we had to work on our own time…try and make an extra effort to study our character, learn our character, be our character. It was almost the same but at the same time it was really a struggle for me.”
Tenorio said she felt honored to be part of the film, especially because it allowed her to collaborate with her daughter, Malina Rose B. Tenorio, a veteran performance artist. Malina is the film’s production designer.
“[It] definitely took me beyond my comfort zone [and into] places that I just didn’t know how to get to. [But I was also] surrounded by talent, like Friella [Dela Santa],” Masie Tenorio added. It was only her second time acting; her first time was in a play.
Dela Santa said her experience in the MCS Theater Club led to her interest in film acting.
“I think it was really fun because you were able to interact with all the people that you never knew before or you’ve seen once, and now you’re able to talk to them and act with them,” she said.
Dela Santa said behind the scenes, she didn’t have access to the complete script. She only knew the scenes she acted in, which meant that the first time she could see the complete film was during its premiere.
To prepare for her role, she relied on her family.
“For my character I didn’t really know how to say my lines or do this or do that,” she said. “That’s why at home my sister would run through the lines with me. She would tell me how to do this and she would say ‘you have to do it with facial expressions’ [or] ‘do it like this,’ and it really started to grow from there.”
Atalig was the actor with the most experience on set and was the de facto assistant director.
“It was interesting,” Atalig said. “You never stop learning. For Rob [Travilla] and LJ [Castro] I had to tell them to be more rough because, at first, we’re all nice. I said ‘come on guys just go ahead.’ Or with Miss Maise [Tenorio], I said ‘you really got to get mad.’ Or John [Blanco] would tell me ‘I really got to show more emotion.’ So we were really working together as a cast, but also with Dr. G [Galvin Deleon Guerrero], who was kind of telling us what he really wants, and that was a good experience.”
Just like most of the cast, the film’s cinematographer, Buno, said he gained experience through the film.
“I’m always used to working by myself and working on my own thing and posting it on my Instagram,” Buno said. “When Dr. G mentioned that he was making a film I said I would like to be a part of it even if it’s just as grip or a cameraman. I ended up being director of photography,” he added.
“I told Dr. G I really want this for the experience — to know how it feels to be a part of a film crew who’s working on a story and telling a story.”
Despite delivering a memorable third act monologue in the film, Blanco was demure about his performance.
“I think they’re very generous with the credits because I don’t think I did a lot of the stuff that [the other cast members] are mentioning,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not sure this is something I can always do, but whenever [Deleon Guerrero] asks, I’ll come up. But I’m not sure if he’ll call me after this one,” he added in jest.
“ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” is the first of a series of three movies in an anthology that Deleon Guerrero plans to produce and film. He said each film will tackle the themes of faith, hope or love.
“It’s always hard for me as a filmmaker to watch my own work,” Delon Guerrero said. “But it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to work with the amazing talent that you see up here and behind the scenes to really tell a story that matters. Also to address very difficult subjects that we all should be talking about in the community. I really feel honored that they trusted me with telling the story and that they came along with the ride.”
Deleon Guerrero said it “drives [his] family crazy” that he is constantly working on multiple projects and ideas.
While he was directing and shooting “ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” he was still involved with the MCS Theatre Club. He is also president of NMC.
He said he will shoot the sequels at a later time and is looking forward to collaborating with Guam artists to create the Marianas’ first cinematic musical. He also wants to continue collaborating with island school theater clubs.
He called on the community to support local artists.
“Whether it’s a funny video on TikTok or a big movie on the big screen, please come out and support us because we do this for you. The whole point is to have an audience. When you show up to watch our stuff it means the world to us. Support your local filmmakers and you’re going to make them very, very happy.”
NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero directed, produced, and wrote “ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa.”
Northern Marianas College and Mount Carmel School launched “ISLA: Isla’n Esperånsa” on Friday, Jan. 26, at the Regal Movie Cinema in San Jose.
