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In any case, what are your plans for your Pabrika Pictures?
We intend to make more films!

How about personal goals? What’s next for Joel Torre?
I am going to be a co-producer of (American writer-director) John Sayles’ film Amigo. Sayles is the like godfather of the independents. He’s twice-nominated in the Oscars. Very revered, very respected. I met John through my friend Mario from Bacolod, who is also the film editor of John. Mario and I have formed a company we’ve called Aton Productions, “aton” is the Ilonggo word for “atin.”

Amigo is set during the Filipino-American war, 1900-1901. Americans were garrisoning villages because General Emilio Aguinaldo was fleeing.

Finally, back to Beerhouse, what is it with guys and beer?
Beer helps guys loosen up. Actually, it’s not the beer per se, it’s the company. Medyo, ‘the plot thickens’ dahil sa kuwentuhan. In Japan, drinking beer is actually part of their work. They bring the clients out and drink with them so that the clients will be relaxed. Once the intoxication sets in, one gets the real self of the person.

Ang mga babae – mas madaldal kayo. Women open up naturally. Sa mga lalaki may konting holding back pa. The more beer we drink, the more we loosen up.

Beer and beerhouses are rites of passage. I remember there was this bar in Bacolod on a street called Majolets, the longest existing girlie joint. Yung mga babae doon, matatanda na. High school boys would go there as a rite of passage.

So you went there when you were still in high school?
Siyempre. But I’ve been there only once. Ang lagkit doon! Ang init! Parang impiyerno na hindi mo maintindihan.

It’s apt that our Ang Beerhouse tagline: ‘Patay-sindi ang ilaw ng buhay.’ Yun ang tawag sa beerhouse, eh, patay-sindi. It’s actually a symbol for life. The lights go on and off and on again. So there’s hope for everyone.

Ang Beerhouse stars Ryan Eigenmann, Gwen Garci, Epy Quizon and others. Director & writer: Jon Red. Producer: Joel Torre. The film screens at Robinsons Galleria IndieSine from October 28 to November 3.