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Director Pedring Lopez recalls his experience shooting his film during a typhoon in Pampanga

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>Best known for his 2019 Netflix assassin film <em>Maria</em> which starred Christine Reyes, director Pedring Lopez brings to life another strong female character onscreen this year with his latest feature film, <em>Shadow Transit</em>. The film also marks the acting debut of UK-based singer and songwriter Qymira, who plays the role of a photojournalist named Celeste, who is in Manila on a 24-hour layover and crosses paths with a DJ with a gritty past named Kai (played by Indonesian-American actor Yoshi Sudarso).</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRSmSo_Ew-G/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A569564.8000000119%2C%22ls%22%3A67032.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A67255.60000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRHrOlVDy2A/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A546266%2C%22ls%22%3A67032.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A67255.60000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Wanting to capture the beauty of Manila at night, direk Pedring shot the 100-minute film using mostly handheld cameras and filmed scenes at night during the rainy typhoon season over a period of three weeks.</p><p>“<em>Shadow Transit</em> was born from a desire to explore connection within transience. I wanted to capture the electricity of a city at night—its beauty and its brutality—and the fragile human moments that exist between them. Manila is a city I know intimately: unpredictable, imperfect, alive. I didn’t want to romanticize it, but to let it breathe on its own. At its heart, <em>Shadow Transit</em> is about the intensity of brief connection—the way a single night can change you. It’s both a chase and a love song—to the city, and to the moment before it disappears,” he explained.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRQXVvhk64G/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A526956.900000006%2C%22ls%22%3A67032.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A67255.60000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>The <em>Shadow Transit</em> director said that the city is like its own character in his film. “It’s beautiful and chaotic, cinematic. Every inch of Manila’s screams culture, and despite of all the drama and trials, there is always good and kindness in every Filipino. The lives of Celeste and Kai and their relationship are made more beautiful, intoxicating and potent because of the elixir and pixie dust, and the magic that overcomes the mayhem and misdeeds in Manila,” he said. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOFqYyPkx-e/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A512144.2000000179%2C%22ls%22%3A67032.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A67255.60000002384%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>When asked which scene he considered was the most memorable during their shoot, the talented director shared it was the one done in Pampanga. “The most demanding scene was a brutal fight staged inside the old Clark airport. It was filmed over two days during a typhoon. But that typhoon worked for the film, especially for the cast because it made the emotions feel raw and all of them have become truly vulnerable,” he recalled. </p><p><em>Shadow Transit</em> is holding its world premiere via two screenings, November 22, Gateway cinema 16, 7:55 p.m. (Gala Night with Talk Back session), and November 23, Gateway cinema 18, 6 p.m. under QCinema.</p>

<p>'Shadow Transit' director Pedring Lopez talks about his latest QCinema noir thriller entry and why he will always enjoy shooting in the streets of Manila at night.</p>

'Shadow Transit' director Pedring Lopez talks about his latest QCinema noir thriller entry and why he will always enjoy shooting in the streets of Manila at night.