Production Analysis: Analysis: ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’ and why I think it became bec ame a landslide hit By Elaine Bueno
It was on the 16th of August (the first day of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino) when my friends and I decided to kick off our PPP movie marathon. First in our list? Jason Paul Laxamana’s 100 Tula Para Kay Stella starring JC Santos and Bela Padilla.
On its first day, the film didn’t had quite numerous audience as I expected it to be considering the fact that it is the only onl y entry that fits in that genre that many mainstream Filipino moviegoers (particularly millennials) can't seem Receipt! A 100-peso worth of ticket for a 100 point worthy movie entitled, ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’.
to get tired of. But on our second day of watching, the movie became the only entry with a long line that formed outside it (at least in the mall where we frequent).
Well then, then, I guess the ‘word had been spread’. 100 spread’. 100 Tula Para Kay Stella was in deed an entry you shouldn’t miss!
Simple yet compelling storyline
Fidel Lansangan (JC Santos) was born with a speech defect – a defect that makes him stutter when either he’s not reading something or uses more than three words in a sentence. During his freshman year in college, he meets this rocker chic with a black lipstick named Stella Puno (Bela Padilla), and falls for her. Throughout their entire college, he writes 100 poems dedicated to Stella (thus the title) to impress her and to make her fall in love with him.
The film also included the struggles of singer wannabes – the likes of Stella and her bandmates – here in the local industry. That part didn’t only
The official poster of the movie speaks for the film itself – simple yet compelling. Photo from VIVA Films
made the audiences see where Bela’s character is coming. That particular part of the narrative also showcased the circumstances an aspiring professional singer like Stella is willing to undergo regardless the price she had to pay.
Like a farmer, Director Jason Paul Laxamana sowed every important details very well in the first half of the movie and made its audiences reap everything on the latter part. I must say that the strongest aspect of the film is the story itself. It succeeded on going away with the cliché (best friends falling in love with each other) and even slapped its audiences with a painful twist right
before strutting its way to the exit. If you already watched the film, you’ll get that painful slap of a twist that I’m saying and yes, it still stings.
All in all, the story is simple yet compelling.
Early 2000 feels achieved! One of the things that’ll amaze you with the film was its ability to take you back down the memory lane. I must say that the production design team of the movie did a fantastic job in visually telling the viewers that the story was set in the early 2000s. The nostalgia would hit you as to the existence of Nokia phones, cassettes (though CDs are already available during that time), diskettes and posters of Sugarfree and man y more iconic OPM band of early 2000 throughout the movie. The wardrobes succeeded on making its characters (even the extras) appear like those people that I had come to watch when I was in elementary. Bella Padilla’s character Stella would remind you of Avril Lavign e’s get up in the music video of her hit song Girlfriend while JC’s character Fidel would remind you of Star Circle Quest’s Hero Angeles on his usual get ups in his movies.
The script, as well, did quite its job. The characters’ frequent use of terms Friendster , and the then favorite expression olats only adds up to the nostalgic feel of the film. There’s also this instance where Fidel’s gay roommate and close friend, Chuck (Prince Stefan), used the term (non-verbatim), “Wow, ang galing mo! Mark Bautista lang?” which I find funny and nostalgic all at the same time. Itsumo was also mentioned, by the way.
Also, there is no denying that the music used (214 and Balisong b y Rivermaya) help a lot in achieving the film’s objective in bringing back the early 2000 feels…and the heartache we once acquired due to our unrequited love back in the days.
The Main Characters
The ace player of the film, JC Santos, indeed made a perfect portrayal of a nerdy, grade-conscious
honor student who had a speech defect and a love for poetry. Screenshot grabbed from the movie trailer.
JC Santos as Fidel Lansangan
Okay, I’m not going to deny it. One of the reasons why I chose to watch 100 Tula with my friends first is because JC Santos is in there. This breakout star didn’t only had charms. You’ll see to it his passion and versatility in acting – thus, making him effective and no doubt perfect for the role.
Personally, I find JC’s character strongly identifiable. On the first part of the film, he was a nerdy wimpy, grade-conscious honor student minus the exaggerated nerdy glasses and geeky hairstyle. JC portrayed the geeky, wimpy but a budding poet Fidel with just his way of talking, and acting. His get up is just plainly preppy. Also, I must say that JC nailed that speech defect thing. He’d done it flawlessly and convincing to the point that even my friends and I adapted that threeword-per-sentence rule right after watching.
On the latter part of the film, it amazed me how JC transitioned into a braver and much confident Fidel. You’ll know he did as to the way he dressed up and approach people. As a viewer who identifies herself with the character, you’ll feel him and the changes he’d encountered right after being recruited to the Young Performers’ Club – an org in his new university that discovered his singing talent and even freed him from the confines of his preppy get up.
Bella Padilla as Stella Puno, the recipient of the 100 poems, would remind you of 2004’s Avril Lavigne and that one great crush you never had during your younger days. Screenshot grabbed from the movie trailer.
Bela Padilla as Stella Puno
Bella’s character Stella, a rebellious, rock star wannabe who would rather sing with her band than study, was just a perfect contrast with JC’s character Fidel, a decent college kid whose only flaw was his speech impediment. Upon watching, I just thought that Bela portrayed her role effortlessly. Her get up in the movie would definitely remind you of either Hailey Williams of Paramore or 2004’s Avril Lavigne. Her character’s sassiness would make you root for her more and more.
But on the succeeding parts of the film, you’ll definitely earn grudges on her character as she’ll definitely remind you of your crush – your ‘paasang’ crush.
Also, I would like to commend her acting on her confrontation scene with JC. She absolutely managed to make everyone in the movie house cry with just delivering her lines minus the theatrical and unnecessary shouting of punchlines. S he made a great use of her expressive eyes and shaky voice. She and JC made a perfect banter on that unforgettable part of the film, no doubt.
The editing, music and overall feels The colors used in the film complemented well its official poster. The film also make a good use of Mt. Arayat as a backdrop for one of the most remarkable part of the film – the confrontation scene.
It also didn’t quite escaped to my student-of-Video production’s eyes that 100 Tula Para Kay Stella used a lot of conflicting perceptual juxtaposition in editing. It is quite obvious whenever
Fidel was reciting his short poems which were all abo ut his secret admiration for Stella. I find it strongly effective most especially when Fidel was reciting his last five poe ms – poems that served as an irony to the sad happenings on Stella’s life on the latter part of the film.
The injection of music are also on fleek. The editor of the film clearly knows when to insert Balisong and when to insert 241 (in the film, it was 241, not 214). The song line from 241, “Somebody owns you now, and I try to live somehow…” will haunt your miserable hearts like a ghost (you have to hear JC’s version, too, to make it even worse). Also, I have to agree with Stella’s line in the movie that early 2000 was in deed the best era for OPM as most of the songs there are truly heartfelt. Ambient sounds are also h elpful in serving as a breath of relief for the audiences to savor the recent scene they just watched. I also thought that it’s a great idea to use the instrumental version of Rivermaya songs as a music score to some parts of the film.
As a result, the movie became a huge rollercoaster ride to its viewer’s trip down to memory lane. It’s a film that’ll make you realize the importance of being strong to fight for what you truly feel and to say the words you needed and wanted to say, regardless of having speech defect, before it’s all too late. The movie in my opinion is painfully true.
And if I were to describe the film using the three-word-per-sentence rule, it’ll be this:
Story creatively told. Direction well executed. Simple yet heart-breaking. I need tissues. Rico Blanco rocks. JC is heart. Movie price’s sulit. You’ll leave satisfied. That’s for sure. *insert wink emoticon*
