I THINK it was at around the age of 13 when I realized that I wanted filmmaking to be my life for the rest of my life. I mean, I couldn’t wrap my head around another idea of a profession that didn’t include a camera, actors, computer editing, music scoring, and the whole shebang.
I realized that when I was 16, I needed to quicken my pace and start doing something with acting, writing, or directing.
I wanted to work with Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese.
To hear that Robert Altman passed away broke my heart like a glass shattering against the cool tiled floor.
He was a legend, and among those I deeply respected.
They are my idols and, if given the chance to fully pursue filmmaking and acting, I’ll grab it like a hawk desperate for rodents.
So here I am, 21, and still on Saipan.
What does that tell you?
There are restrictions with what I can do but I’ll work to break the barriers that are out there. I’m fighting and hoping that my projects are going to be satisfying to my audience and to myself. I want to entertain my audience and I want to feel proud of my work.
Our Marianas Film project has just finished principal photography. I have viewed the shots and I’m a bit skeptical as to how they look.
The editing process is quite an obstacle and I still need to get used to it.
It must sound odd that I would hate editing, but I feel like I’m plunging deep into work and that I might not be able to get out of it.
I might sink into a pit in my head as I edit like crazy the shots I’m not proud of. I want them to be perfect. I want them to look exactly how they looked like in my head.
I am completely obsessed with the idea that what I pictured in my head has to look and sound the way I imagined it.
We are now starting pre-production for our next project, “Extra,” an action comedy about assassins and Broadway.
The project head is the director and the writer as well, Robert “Moji” Mojica.
The crew was out in the jungle last week, going to the deep ends of the boonies to find the perfect location for an amazing cat and mouse chase between the assassin and the victim.
These projects are getting harder to shoot. “Extra” contains a lot of action sequences and involves smashing a lot of our props. Our team members, especially the guys, are quite excited.
As a Power 99 DJ said, “We can’t wait to see some Saipan action. We would love to be in it.”
We hope the DJs will decide to do a cameo in our film.
“Extra” is all about rock n’ rolling throughout the whole shoot and having the same tone and feeling in the final product.
My film partner and I aren’t quite sure of how this will all pan out, but I guess all I can hope for is that we will do as much as we can with the resources that we have and create the most amazing thing that we’ve ever created.
What I’m hoping for with this project is to have our work accepted at Asia-Pacific film festivals, and get a great response from the critics and the audience.
We would be completely happy if the CNMI will also appreciate that its kids pursued their dreams and achieved their goals.
That would be an honor and an amazing feeling.
But I should calm down first and finish our projects.
I am, in a way, like Johnny Depp, who doesn’t like watching his own movies. I want to be where I feel comfortable: on screen, hoping that everyone will love it.
So in truth, movies are my religion. I can’t even picture myself doing anything but movies. I can’t picture myself not being successful in the industry or moving to another profession.
I have a list of ideas for films that will most probably take me about my entire lifespan to finish.
You’ll be astounded with these ideas which include a history of the ancient Chamorros and their first encounter with the Spaniards.
So hold onto your seats. There will be a Bernardo Mania in the future.
E-mail bernardorivera07@gmail.com or call 670-788-2164 for feedback.
