Ouija Insider!

“Never play with the ones you can’t see. Never destroy the only way out.” Scrawled in Ouija’s captivating trailer, the reminder is rooted in the event that sparked this much-awaited flick. According to GMA Films President Ms. Annette Gozon, Ouija is inspired by a real life documentary of a British family that toyed with the board and suffered the consequences. Because the board was accidentally destroyed, the summoned ghost could not escape and it lingered in the human world. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Promo photos courtesy of GMA Network. Graphic Design by Michael Allan Jay B. Pagsanjan. The documentary, however, is only a basis for the film. Everything else is in the Pinoy setting, for the Pinoy audience. The GMA and Viva Films producers are even planning to enter it in international Film Festivals! Says Ms. Annette, “Actually, from the conceptualization pa lang, napag-usapan na namin ng Viva Films to give it an international flair. Kailangan alam ‘yung concept ng Ouija, second, ilo-localize namin, that’s why we also opted, kahit siyempre, mahal, to shoot in Camiguin, so we can shoot our very famous floating cemetery. Naka-showcase talaga ‘yun sa movie, and naka-incorporate talaga siya sa script. We put in all these elements for it to be shown in film festivals abroad.” Penned by Aloy Adlawan and led by Direk Topel Lee’s passion for “stylized action,” Ouija has a potential following that transcends the Network Wars. With a powerhouse cast led by Jolina Magdangal and Judy Ann Santos, GMA Program Management Head Joey Abacan stresses that regardless of being a “Kapuso” or “Kapamilya, lahat ng kampo, matutuwa sa movie.” He’s also sure that Jolina and Judy Ann’s fans wouldn’t get mad, because they kept on revising the scenes to provide equal exposure for the two. “Binilang namin ang mga eksena; (but) it’s really an ensemble acting – hindi lang Judy Ann and Jolina.” Also part of the Ouija cast are Iza Calzado, Rhian Ramos, Desiree Del Valle, and Ruby Rodriguez. Insider trivia Jolina shares that they had resident Spirit Questors to watch over them during the “delicate” scenes – those involving the actual Ouija board. Although they had props to replace the board at times, it was still comforting to know that they were protected by those who can communicate with the spirits. Besides, even if they were using props, they still did the actual ritual while taping! She says, “Oo, meron talagang nagbabantay. At may pastora kaming kasama. Saka ang nakakatuwa dun, kahit na hindi nage-eksena, kahit na walang ginagawa, basta’t mabigat ‘yung pakiramdam mo, pwede kang magpa-pray over sa kanya.” One of the instances where she asked to be prayed for was when she was about to leave Camiguin after their taping. “(Kasi) ako ‘yung unang-unang aalis dun, e. And sobrang takot na takot akong umuwi nun dahil madaling araw pa lang, bibiyahe na. At saka mahangin, e. So delekadong (magbangka). E kasama ko lang, yaya ko, at saka si Bebong (Muñoz). So kinakabahan talaga ako, kasi you’ll never know, e. Hindi na dahil may eksena ako, kundi dahil parang nature na itong kasabay mo, di ba? Tapos nahihirapan pang kumuha ng speedboat nung time na ‘yun, e kailangang kailangan kong humabol sa roro (boat). Pero dahil walang makuhang speedboat, kailangang mag-adjust. Nagpa-pray over talaga ako, dahil ang bigat ng dibdib ko. So ‘yun, lagi namin kasama (‘yung pastora) mula umpisa hanggang huli ng shooting.” Jolina admits that she has tried playing the Ouija board with her friends back in high school, but she stresses that it was mainly due to curiosity. “Minsan nga, parang, ‘Hindi, baka imagination lang talaga ‘yan,’ o ginagalaw lang ng kasama ko. So isang beses ko lang (sinubukan), never na namin (ginawa) ulit. Ipapakita dun sa movie na may laro talagang ganun, and totoo na may (consequences na) pwedeng mangyari. So kung hindi sila sanay, or hindi sila ready, wag na wag nilang (susubukan) dahil sobrang delekado siya.” Together Again Judy Ann imparts that it’s been a joy to be working with Jolina again, especially since their last team up was during Gimik: The Reunion (1999), where she only had a cameo role. “Actually, nakakatawa nga kasi tulad ng eksena na kinunan namin (dati), tinawag (ako ni Jolina na) ‘Ate Aileen!’ Dun parang medyo nagkail angan!” shares Judy Ann with a laugh. “Bawat rehearsal nagkatawanan kami pero it is always fun to be working with Jolina! It’s very light (and) walang halong pagkukunwari.” She says that even though they work in different networks, they never really lost contact with each other. “May communication pa rin kami, kung baga hindi naman nawala ‘yun. There were times lang na hindi kami nagkikita pero pag nikita kami parang araw-araw pa rin kaming nagkikita! May ganun kaming factor.” Now that they’re done shooting for the movie, Jolina says that they really miss the staff and production. She shares that during a magazine shoot with Judy Ann, both of them got to catch up with each other again after Ouija. “Parang sobrang pinagkukwentuhan namin ulit ‘yung Ouija, mga buhay-buhay; ‘yun na ‘yung nakaka-miss, ‘yung walang sawang kwentuhan na hindi kami nauubusan!” Jolina tells all the iGMA viewers why she thinks Ouija will be a hit: “Kasi feeling ko, unang-una, masaya kami na maraming first dito sa movie na ito. First horror (movie) ng GMA (Films), first horror (team-up) namin ni Juday, first time naming magwork with direk Topel, and siguro kaya ko sinasabi na maghi-hit ito saka okay na okay kasi ‘yung utak ni direk Topel, napakabago, napaka-fresh! Alam mong hindi ‘yung ‘Ay, ‘yung dating movie, ginawa na yan, e!’ Ang dami ditong mga eksena na pang panahon ngayon. Tapos hindi ganun kadami masyado ‘yung effects. Hindi masyadong umasa sa prothetics -- konting konti lang. And hindi siya ‘yung kadiring horror; psychological thriller siya. Kahit kami, (natakot) nung ginagawa namin. Kahit alam na namin ‘yung mangyayari. Parang paguwi mo, mararamdaman mo pa rin, parang kasama mo pa rin ‘yung movie.” Don’t miss this big screen milestone on July 25! To share your views to fellow Jolina-Juday fans, visit the iGMA Forums! Text JOLINA, IZA, or RHIAN to 4627 to Feel the Fun with Fanatxt! (PhP2.50 for Globe, Smart, and Talk 'n Text; PhP2.00 for Sun subscribers) More features! Star-studded horror Direk Topel on Ouija Why you should watch Ouija A scary moment