'Trese' writer Budjette Tan recalls struggles before bagging Netflix deal
Filipino comic book fans rejoiced over the announcement that Netflix will be screening an anime version of Trese, the Filipino crime-horror graphic novel first published in 2005.
But for its creators--writer Budjette Tan and artist Kajo Baldisimo--the Netflix deal was the culmination of years and years of heartbreaks and frustrations.
“The pitch was done by our producers from Base Entertainment. Tanya Yuson and Shanty Harmaryn did all the hard work of pitching Trese to different studios around the world for over seven or eight years,” Budjette tells GMANetwork.com.
“I was excited to know that there was a possibility that Trese might get adapted into a TV show or a movie. And I was also heartbroken every time it got rejected.”
It was in 2018 when Trese finally found a willing partner in Netflix to do an animated version of the series.
GIVING UP CONTROL
Comic book adaptations whether on TV or the big screen have this tendency to veer away from the original narrative due to a variety of reasons.
The changes could either be few or significant, but just enough to earn the ire of the author and hardcore fans in the end.
Budjette--who is now based in Denmark and working as a creative lead for toy brand, Lego--knows this too well.
He was in fact bracing himself to see tweaks and alterations on the final product.
Sketch of Trese / source: Budjette Tan (Instagram)
“Since I'm a big comic book fan, I know that sometimes the best comic book adaptations make big changes compared to the source material,” he confides.
“So, I knew that changes will happen but I trusted the anime team will stay true to the essence of the book.”
Trese tells the story of Alexandra Trese, a detective who deals with crimes involving supernatural elements.
The black and white graphic novel caught the fancy of readers as it blends local folklore and mythology in horror-crime fashion.
“When I read the script, I was amazed to see how the scriptwriters were able to surprise me,” Budjette recalls.
“Just when I thought I knew where they were going to take the story, they brought it to another level, which made the show more interesting and exciting.”
He adds, “So, I think old-time readers will enjoy the series. And I hope new viewers will enjoy it as well and will get interested to want to read the original comic book story.”
A SURPRISE HIT
Seeing Trese transition from a comic book to a TV series is a surreal experience for Budjette that he couldn't help but look back on how it all started for him and Kajo.
“Me and Kajo started Trese back in 2005 because we wanted to have fun making a comic book. Both of us had a history of making comic books in the '90s and early 2000s and those comic books didn't really sell well,” he shares.
“In my case, I invested my own money to self-publish a couple of books and I didn't make that money back.”
The first issue of Trese only had 30 copies. Budjette says he didn't want to “spend tens of thousands of pesos printing copies that won't get sold.”
Sketch of Trese / source: Budjette Tan (Instagram)
But then something magical happened along the way.
Before they knew it, the creative duo has self-published seven issues already that they started pitching it to publishers to widen its reach.
“We got rejected,” Budjette says candidly. “But finally, we pitched to Visprint and they said yes!”
It was at this point that Tanya Yuson, who had read a copy of the comic book, reached out to Budjette with the idea to turn Trese into a movie or a TV show.
It would take years before Tanya's vision for Trese would come true.
“One time Kajo told me, we don't really have any control whether studios will like Trese or not, but we do have control over making and creating the next issues of Trese,” he says.
“So, that's what I always keep in mind. Whatever happened, we'll have fun making a new Trese story.”
A NEW ERA
Budjette hopes that Trese's newfound platform would open the door for more local comic books to get noticed on the international stage.
“When I was in high school, I read a magazine article about Whilce Portacio and was so surprised to find out he's a Filipino and he was an artist in Marvel Comics,” says Budjette.
Sketch of Trese / source: Budjette Tan (Instagram)
“To learn that a fellow Filipino can get the chance to work on your favorite comic book was mind-blowing and inspiring.
“So, I hope that the story of Trese will show young and old comic book creators that there is a way for their stories to reach a wider audience, a global audience.
“We do have fantastic stories that I feel will blow away the minds and inspire readers and viewers around the world.”
Trese will premiere on Netflix in 2021