Sundance winner Martika Escobar reveals 'Leonor Will Never Die' took 8 years to make

Filipino director Martika Escobar revealed that her masterpiece "Leonor Will Never Die," which won an award at the Sundance Film Festival, took eight years to make.

In an episode of The Howie Severino Podcast, Martika shared the challenges and process of making the award-winning film.

"Nagkaroon ako ng parang shallow na epiphany na-realize ko na growing up nagkaroon tayo ng action star na naging president so nung panahon na 'yun akala ko normal lang siya," she said.

"Pero ngayon na siguro mas matanda na ako mas wise konti meron siyang sinasabi kung gaano kalakas ang impact ng film satin na to the point na pwede niya baguhin kung paano natin nakikita ang mundo kaya naging action genre specifically," she added.

Martika said what took time in making the film was the writing process.

"'Yung matagal is yung writing process kasi hindi naman talaga ako writer tapos gumagawa ako ng film about a writer na supposedly recognized so nahirapan ako doon but ang naging solution ko ay humingi ng tulong sa mga writing workshops, writing mentors," Martika said.

When asked how she worked around the challenge of translating her ideas that are images into words,  Martika said it starts with things that fascinate her.

"Kunware action star na lola or kunware ano ba mga ginagawa mo sa CR  kapag ayaw mong naririnig 'yung naririnig mo outside sa CR?" she said.

"Gagawa ka ng noise mag-sa-splash ka ng noise so nagsa-start siya sa mga moments na im familiar with in real life na gusto ko makita in a film," she added.

During the 8-year process of making "Leonor Will Never Die," Martika said she had other projects as a cinematographer.

"Mahirap i-sustain ang buhay ng filmmakers so sinasabay ko doon ang pagiging cinematographer para lang makaipon kasi medyo executive producer din ako dito so mahirap talaga siya itawid," she said.

"Leonor Will Never Die" won the prize World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award: Innovative Spirit at the Sundance Film Festival.

"Leonor Will Never Die" is a drama-comedy that follows Leonor Reyes (by Sheila Francisco), a grandmother who was once a major player in the Filipino film industry after she created a string of successful action films.

Missing her previous exciting life as a writer-director, Leonor is now relegated to the realities of unpaid electricity bills and the struggles of facing violence out in the streets. —JAB, GMA News.