GayaSaPelikula (Like in the Movies) - Filipino series

[antistatic]

I've just watched the finale and I feel so torn at the moment. My BL heart feels really upset that I didn't get my hoped-for happy ending, but the more reasoned side of me thinks this was probably the more honest and true to life open-ending that the story (so far) deserved.

Karl just wasn’t ready yet to come out to the wider world and Vlad wasn't able to let himself step back into the closet, both of which were perfectly valid positions to hold. Thing is, this was no manufactured last minute drama designed to throw a fly in the ointment and be resolved in the finale, instead it's just part of how the real world is for gay people which adds that extra layer of difficulty to the way we have to try and navigate our lives.

I loved the way Anna encouraged Karl to spread his wings and explore life beyond the apartment block, which in essence had become his new closet and the only place he felt safe to be his real self. She knows he still has a long way to go to overcome his fears and the prejudice of society. It's a step by step process and seeing Karl doing just that at the end was fairly gratifying to see.

The tease of the what-might-have-been alternative ending is the the real end goal in life (probably for all of us) and while I know they left us with the "Till we meet again" coda, I might have still felt a bit more placated if they had announced there was a season 2. At least then the BL side of me would have had a few straws to cling on to... (sigh!)

[kellerbrady]

The ending of the season is the same scene of the beginning of the Wattpad series.

You can even hear a few notes of the song heavily featured in the scripts at the end of the credits: "Ikaw Lamang" (Only You).

The ending definitely feels like a setup for season 2, it all depends on the funding and wait for the quarantine be over, since there are new characters and open locations.

[antistatic]

Nov 22, 2020 13:08:27 GMT -5 kellerbrady said:

The ending of the season is the same scene of the beginning of the Wattpad series.

You can even hear a few notes of the song heavily featured in the scripts at the end of the credits: "Ikaw Lamang" (Only You).

The ending definitely feels like a setup for season 2, it all depends on the funding and wait for the quarantine be over, since there are new characters and open locations.

I went snooping around Wattpad the other day after I came across a link to Juan Miguel Severo's account and saw that he's written GSP in the teleplay format rather than as a novel. It still looks unfinished to me (but then, what do I know?) and so far has three distinct parts 1: Orientation, 2:The Buddy System and 3:Movie Marathon.

kellerbrady, you are right about the last scene of the series. The written version also adds the detail that Karl and Vlad are sitting next to each other at the 'Student Filmmakers Orientation' event which is happening at the Film Org at School. It looks like any 2nd season would mainly be set at the school rather than at the apartment block which is probably why they are waiting for the quarantine to be over. I think even Amore were eventually forced to stop filming at the school they used due to all the restrictions in place. 

SPOILERY SENTENCE!
As usual I snooped a bit too much and spoiled myself over something to do with Karl's teacher, although to be honest, we were already given the clue in the text Karl received on his phone in ep8.

[antistatic]

Although Globe Studios released an OST lyric version of "Kilometre Zero" to coincide with the last episode, they've now released a full music video version featuring Ian Pangilinan.

[kellerbrady]

The creator of the series has revealed some things in this interview:




Everything is prepared for GSP’s 2nd Season. Globe Studios do wants it to happen. However, it requires bigger production, more characters and outside shootings with year 2019 setting, ending of Season 1, taking the current pandemic into consideration, government imposed restrictions, and sponsors. Something has already been written and the Team is readily game, except logistics.

- GSP is not exactly the way it was written in Wattpad (WP), just somehow, Gege stated. There were things still unrevealed as written. Hence, there would be things to watch differently once seen to avoid comparison, and it’s better that not all are made known in WP.

- JMS wasn’t ready to fully come out, had internalized homophobia, and hesitated to have a same sex relationship while in college. If only he wasn’t afraid to do so when he was younger, he could have had a more beautiful college love story. GSP is a “what if?” story, based on the guy he met in college, who eventually died at the age of 22, year 2010.

- JMS gained fame year 2015, as the writer of “On The Wings Of Love” series, and years after became a closeted LGBT icon for uplifting the community, his brother interviewer, JMILSev expressed. Though, JMS claimed otherwise and it wasn’t intentional to be as such.

- When Thai BL proliferated and became quite known in the Philippines, JMS thought there was already a local market for such, that he wanted to tell their love stories without tragedies, the usual gay stories prior, like someone either dying or getting sick, etc.

- Gege has activist friends that he wants to help, smuggling their ideologies/beliefs, and incorporating those in his materials. He detests personality politics that he believes it’s not him nor the artists who people should look-up to, but the film or movie’s principles, SOGIE (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression) Equality for all, and being an icon was never his goal.

- Gege’s inspirations were bits and pieces of each character.

He was ‘Karl’ in college, when he was 19, for he wasn’t ready then to say it out loud.

He is ‘Vlad’ with his current relationship who’s still not ‘out’, the boyfriend’s family doesn’t know Gege ‘exists’. They almost broke-up when he wrote episode 7, due Gege no longer wanted to have their affair remain hidden. Later on, he realized it’s wrong to force his BF to come out, thus the message, “you own the rights to your own truth.”

As Judit being an ‘ally’, Gege used to make his friends feel ‘safe’ with him. Further, pried on a younger cousin he only wanted to help that he’s not alone as gay, though wasn’t ready to come out yet.

Expectations from others on what one could do being a millenial, especially those who became parents at an early age, as Anna.

While giving advise and support to his cousin, as Tito Santi unlike before.

- Gege couldn’t imagine Vlad and Karl being played by any other actors, other than Ian and Paolo. He believes the show worked due to the two’s chemistry. They are irreplaceable, with no other options. He further stressed that if the two are not coming back for Season 2, there should no longer be one.

- Ian and Paolo are not into fan service, and what people see during their ‘banlaw’ (rinse) sessions, interviews, Kumu live, and online appearances are real and not just acting for they are genuinely close, even considering one another as one of each’s best friend, Gege expressed.

He later on laughed when questioned if there’s a possibility being best friends could be elevated even more, like being ‘cousins’? (My own take, for there’s a local joke for the word ‘COUSIN’, or ‘KASIN-tahan’ meaning boyfriend/girlfriend. It’s actual translation is ‘pinsan’) Gege objected, saying as cousins is not a possibility, since both had already kissed on-screen.

- Gege is proud of GSP’s songs. Some were written by his friends like Magkaibigan Magka-ibigan, Tulog Na Mahal Ko, TYL, Tahanan, and Kung Alam Mo, which he played while he was writing. He even included the lyrics in the script, that was why verses precisely matched the scenes. The same is true for the song, Ride Home, parts were written in detail, as well. Songs like Selos, Fools, Nasaan Ka Luna, and others were chosen by Pat Lasaten, then JP Habac and Gege selected the scenes where the songs were more fitting.

- If only there’s no pandemic, Gege would really push for a concert of all musical artists. Imagine Up Dharma Down playing Unti-Unti, while GSP clips running at the background screen. He really wants it to happen, however …?? (wishful thinking before flashing a sad face) Then, he added he likes a GSP prom or a concert with prom atmosphere, for the gays who never had the chance to dance together with their dates, including lesbians. Straights are welcome, as well.

- All musical artists shared their songs for free, including Ben and Ben, for Ride Home, which Gege badly needed for he could no longer find a more fitting song. Pat Lasaten, Ben and Ben’s keyboardist, and GSP’s Musical Scorer made it all possible after she spoke with her bandmates, who all agreed, as gratis.

- In Season 1, the leads’ self discovery and internal problems were coming from the outside of the house, from Judit, Anna and Santi’s characters.

While for Season 2, it’s self-conflict to the outside real world and how to fit in, entailing more characters, more stories of the LGBT community such as Vlad’s best friend, Sue, who would have a lesbian love story. More so, with Karl’s looks, do expect admirer/s, aside from finally seeing Aldous or A, Vlad’s ex, Gege excitedly disclosed.

[antistatic]

kellerbrady, many thanks for all that information. It was very illuminating.

I had read something much less detailed about how this story was based on some of JMS's own life experiences, when he himself was a closeted student who fell in love with an out-and-proud film student. At the end of the credits there's a dedication "To Adrian, who was brave." I can't help but presume he was the real life Vlad.

It's quite touching to think that GSP is essentially Gege's own Alternate Ending in which his Vlad is still here and the stars will eventually align for them again.

[dmagiclight]

I Hope there is A season 2

[kellerbrady]

Like Gameboys, the show is going to Netflix too:
January 7, 2021. (Not confirmed if it's going to be outside Philippines too)

Hopefully that means they'll have funding for season 2.

[dmagiclight]

cant wait for season 2

[kellerbrady]

Juan Miguel Severo confirmed that Meet Me Outside takes place in the same universe as Gaya Sa Pelikula.

[kellerbrady]

Juan Miguel Severo launched a short tale with characters from the GSP-MMO universe.

SPOILER: Click to show

Aldous (Vlad's ex) narrates the meeting with Vlad we didn't see in episode 8. He confirms his boyfriend is Paul. Also, he didn't cheat?

www.wattpad.com/1008870009-beyond-the-screen-aldous-prologue

[kevvoi]

Ian's latest music video - which has a surprise guest at the end:



Courtesy of CS Music.

[antistatic]

It's always nice to see and hear a bit more of Ian.

[westwolf]

Finally got around to watching this after all the praise it has been receiving and man did it not disappoint. I don't think there has been any bl that has completely captured what it feels like to be gay as well as this series did. Found myself both relating to Karl and Vlad in so many ways. The characters didn't feel like tropes and there was a lot of subtlety in their story telling that really went a long way. And don't get me started on the amazing music. Easily in the top 3 bl soundtracks for me. This really is the gold standard for me. Really, hoping for a season 2!

[antistatic]

Another song from Ian, showing off his talent live on Wish 107.5 radio

[kevvoi]

It appears that there will be a special episode of some sort:



Unfortunately there are no subs - so it is a bit hard to parse.

[kevvoi]

Link for the premiere of the special episode - which premieres later today:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VT5bxfv_mw

[kellerbrady]

Jun 10, 2021 23:09:40 GMT -5 kevvoi said:

Link for the premiere of the special episode - which premieres later today:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VT5bxfv_mw

I read somewhere it's going to be behind scenes and commentary, but I'm hoping they announce something during.

[kevvoi]

Second special premieres later today:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6tf2ORi-M0

[mizuryuu]

As great as the special episodes been, I really hope it ends with them announcing S2

[antistatic]

The future of Gaya Sa Pelikula is now looking very dicey after actor Paolo Pangilinan (Karl) went public confirming rumours circulating on twitter that Juan Miguel Severo had sexually assaulted him. Paulo's management Cornerstone are preparing to file charges against Severo as he is said to have harassed Paolo several times and there are also 3 other victims now willing to come forward. 

Juan Miguel Severo has since deactivated his twitter account.


This seems to be the tweet that started the whole thing off:

[mizuryuu]

Just heard about the GSP thing. So disappointed. GSP had been the only BL I seen that talk about LGBT seriously, compare to some BL that seems to just take advantage of the LGBT community. It is sad that someone who wrote such a progressive story could have done something like this. I hope Paolo and the other accusers get justice.

[antistatic]

I thought it was worthwhile linking to this tweet (thread) put out earlier by Quark Henares, the executive producer of Gaya Sa Pelikula. He's made a statement but also made it clear that his decision to share his thoughts was personal and not an official statement as the executive producer of the production.

[kellerbrady]

[kellerbrady]

This is really the worst timeline. I spend so much time waiting for a second season that I believe it would never come. Then the week it was supposed to start, this huge scandal happens. I hope they can manage to take the project away from Severo and do it themselves.