The Billypines

And so It Ends...

2010-03-10T00:23:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in the Manila airport, waiting to board my plane back to the states.

It has been an amazing, crazy, wild, beautiful experience.

I will miss all the people who I worked with, and will always hold this moment near and dear to my heart.

Thanks to anyone who tuned in.

Mabuhay!

Knock Off iPhone

2010-03-10T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Nathan Hotel

2010-03-10T00:15:00.000-08:00

This is the view from outside where we were staying, The Nathan Hotel.

Great Hotel. I recommend it if you're ever over here.

Not Quite Sure...

2010-03-10T00:13:00.000-08:00

This was sitting above our heads as we ate Chinese food last night.

Crazy Wacky Fun Time

2010-03-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

I bought about a half dozen of these. Too funny.

Bags Bags Bags....

2010-03-10T00:10:00.003-08:00

Here are the bags I was talking about.

Bags Bags Bags....

2010-03-10T00:10:00.001-08:00

Temple Street Market

2010-03-10T00:08:00.000-08:00

This is the famous "night market". You can get every knock off electronic, hand bag, watch you would ever need here.

70s Architecture

2010-03-10T00:05:00.001-08:00

Cool Building. Would never want to stay there, but cool to look at.

70s Architecture

2010-03-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

Cool Building. Would never want to stay there, but cool to look at.

Hanging Birds

2010-03-10T00:04:00.000-08:00

Asians love to hang dead animals in the window.

Hong Kong Architecture

2010-03-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

I wish this pic was a little more in focus. It was really low light. But I feel like John Woo shot something back there.

The Hullett House

2010-03-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

Very few historical renovation sites in Hong Kong. Apparently its just more cost efficient to knock a building down.

But the Hullett house has been restored and has five restaurants and only 10 suites in it.

A Bar in Lan Kwai Fong

2010-03-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

I think this place is called Al's Diner.

The Lamborghini Shot

2010-03-09T20:15:00.001-08:00

This was a terrible, terrible idea.

Cool Alley

2010-03-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

More Lan Kwai Fong

2010-03-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

DJ became the unoffical mayor of Lan Kwai Fong in exactly one night. He moves fast.

Lan Kwai Fong

2010-03-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is the party section of town. There has to be at least 100 bars and on a saturday night a few thousand people all partying their asses off. They don't come out in the rain though.

DJ and I are having a celebration of Love

2010-03-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

Asian Jimmy Cagney's

2010-03-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

I think....

Massages

2010-03-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

You cant walk three feet without someone offering a massage.

A Vendor's Stall.

2010-03-09T20:01:00.001-08:00

Here's a typical stall at the Jade Market.

The Jade Market

2010-03-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

I'm bringing home about a kilo worth of jade. There are two main types of Jade, Nephrite and Jadeite, and I think its all Nephrite, which isn't as expensive, but its really beautiful stuff.

There's about 150 vendors all selling jade and pearls and all kinds of Chinese sculptures.

More Wacky Fun Time

2010-03-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

We Did Some Partying

2010-03-09T19:57:00.000-08:00

DJ will kill me for this, but its just too good.

McDonalds in Hong Kong

2010-03-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

I've now had McDonalds in two different Asian countries, and I have to give them credit they adapt to whichever country they're in.

Here, Milk and corn is very popular apparently.

Real Nachos!

2010-03-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

To most people this is not a big deal. But after spending 5 weeks in Bohol eating Fish Eyeball Soup and Pig Liver, this is fucking gourmet!

Hong Kong Ghost

2010-03-09T19:51:00.000-08:00

Chillaxin

2010-03-09T19:48:00.002-08:00

That's a Filipino phrase that Pizza Hut used to advertise how cool it was to hang at Pizza Hut.

So that's what me and DJ do now. We Chillax.

Our Room

2010-03-09T19:48:00.001-08:00

This is where I do my chair dance for DJ each night.

I wish I stayed here.

2010-03-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

Sex and Chopsticks anyone?

2010-03-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure where the Chopsticks come into play but I have a feeling I know how....

Splinters!

See below post

2010-03-09T19:42:00.000-08:00

Said guts.

Chicks in a Window

2010-03-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

How much is that birdie in the window...The one with its guts hanging out.

Wacky Fun Time!!!!

2010-03-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

This place is like Chinatown on steroids. Everywhere you look - signs, signs, signs.

Jam-packed

2010-03-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hong Kong is the most densely populated city in the world. This escalator is the also the most populated one in the world.

Old Building

2010-03-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

While Hong Kong is filled with beautiful new architecture, there are all these lay-overs from the 70s. And here is one of them.

Hong Kong Airport

2010-03-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

Tired. But made it.

I'm King of the Pines!!!

2010-03-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

DJ couldn't contain his excitement.

Onward to Hong Kong!!! - The All-blind Band

2010-03-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

These guys were rocking some Whitney Houston in the airport at Tagbilaran. Homegirl was just singing her little lungs out.

The last pic in the Pines

2010-03-07T03:04:00.000-08:00

I leave this segment of the blog with a feeling of gratitude.

Everyone dreams. Few live those dreams. No matter what becomes of me, I will always be able to say I was a part of something special.

Baryo.

Wall of Defiance #2

2010-03-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

A proud man. A beautiful, generous man. A man of principle. A man of purpose. James.

The Wall of Defiance

2010-03-07T03:02:00.001-08:00

James drums to his own beat. And if he feels disenfranchised, his recourse is to wear his defiance on his sleeve. I will always love and respect him for that. I will miss living next door to him.

For Mom

2010-03-07T02:59:00.000-08:00

My mother bought me this shirt before I left and I promised her I would take a picture of myself wearing it in the Philippines.

Well, nothing like procrastinating, but this was at 6 am the morning I left.

I love you Mom.

Pool

2010-03-07T02:53:00.001-08:00

3 am.

Most are asleep.

The wandering hearts still wake.

Crushed under the moon.

The Last Hurrah

2010-03-07T02:50:00.000-08:00

I will miss each and every one of these people.

We were a part of something special.

Most efforts are in born out of false intention. This film. These people. Were complex in theme but pure in purpose.

A piece of my heart will always stay in Bohol.

Christina!!!!

2010-03-07T02:47:00.000-08:00

She was a light. She sang at night when no one would hear her. "I'm shy" she would say. Ask her anything, and she would say "I'm shy", but in her was a beaming bright light that could not be quelled. I will miss her, and hope that she will always sing.

Mira Villa!!!

2010-03-07T02:41:00.000-08:00

The best seafood in the Pines.

This place had a dude that was a mix of Jobba the Hut and The Godfather.

Literally he had a girl who would stand behind him and massage him. Thats all she did. I applied for the job. And got it!!!

You would look into these fresh water tanks and pick out the fish you want.

I can now say I'm responsible for taking a life directly. There was this beautiful Grouper swimming around, we picked it out, and it ate it.

Death has never tasted so good.

I got my Pig in a Box!!!

2010-03-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

A fucking pig in a box. The last night of our stay celebrated with three pigs. A new play, "The Three Pigs". The girls in production put together our party and it was one to remember. I wore my Malong, which is a sarong and it made for many interesting dance moves. We were on the beach, me at the helm as the DJ and we danced till the geckos came up.

The Sky at Olmans

2010-03-07T02:24:00.001-08:00

I can't do it justice. It was too were-wolfy for words.

The Sky at Olmans

2010-03-07T02:24:00.000-08:00

I can't do it justice. It was too were-wolfy for words.

My Room at Olmans

2010-03-07T02:23:00.000-08:00

This is it. The place to be. Olman's View. The bed is not the bed I used, but my utility bed. I will miss my room.

Jimmy Cooks

2010-03-07T02:21:00.000-08:00

One of the last nights of the trip I had to get into the kitchen with James and do some cooking. There were ants on the cutting board. YUM!!!!

With Cigarettes and Coffee I am Happy

2010-03-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

White flowers draped his feet. Life had washed him clean.
They loved deeply and fully. Their truth could not be denied. He saw in her all that life could be, and cried petals so bright with light that the sun broke upon their hearts. She imbued a force so brilliant that all doubt washed away and only the resolve of oneness was left standing strong.
At 23 she was pregnant. By 24 she was dead.
Time passed. Women came and went.
Late one night, the rocking chair creeked. And all of what he thought of love was affirmed. So clearly the words Pang-ga echoed in his ears. A gift of love. And while it had been some time, he felt again.
A gift had been presented. The feeling of one-ness burned to the core of his soul.
His eternal counterpart had returned, and with her a gift.
Go. Forth. Be. Present. Love. Deeply.
A life no longer suspended.
10. 14. 20.
The man who married his two guardian angels.

Dane's After Dinner Thinking

2010-03-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

He's a deep dude.

James and his Snickers

2010-03-02T18:29:00.000-08:00

Pork Rinds, Chocolate, a Shot of Rum. Jimmy's always got you covered.

He's one of the more thoughtful people I've met in a long time and prides himself on including everyone and making sure all are having a good time. Thats rare in most people. Especially actors!!!!!

Rum. Chocolate. Cigaretters. A Winning Combo

2010-03-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

While we're not literally getting shot at and losing our lives, this process has been a bit like war.

Because we're so far away from home, everyone has bonded much quicker than usual. And each of us in our own way are doing what has to be done to get through the feelings of being homesick, lonely, sad.

I know we've all had a great time filming, but everyone has had their moments of missing home/loved ones.

And sometimes rum, chocolate, and cigarettes are a great remedy.

Old Bark

2010-03-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

A view from under the Acacia.

200 year old Acacia Tree

2010-03-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

This is out back of the Cafe Lauis. There's a back patio that seats about one hundred people. Last night we were the only ones under it. It reminds me of my tattoo on my back and makes me very thankful I got it.

I've always thought trees are the ultimate symbol of humility and strength.

Don't Get Caught With Your Hand In The Sannie Jar

2010-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

You may not get it back.

Spooky DJ

2010-03-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

One of the better places we've found to eat is a place called Cafe Lauis.

Its in an old catacomb-like structure next to a very old church.

Apparently many monks died in the rooms above the Cafe and the whole place is supposed to be ghostly.

Random Celebrities

2010-03-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Along with Jesus being everywhere, so are random celebrities. You find them in the nooks and crannies of the town. Store windows, barber shops, and here a picture frame at a gift shop.

A Whole Lotta Jesus

2010-03-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

You really can't turn your head in this town without someone reminding you that Jesus is the only way to your salvation.

Dashboards, Billboards, Cardboard.

Any kind of board....Jesus is there.

Lady Jane!

2010-03-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Lady Jane plays Azalea in the film.

She's got a beautiful presence on camera and has never acted a day in her life.

Count Chooch-u-la

2010-03-02T18:03:00.001-08:00

He steals children's dreams...

And plays with their barbies.

Funeral Procession

2010-03-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

Joel Torre

2010-03-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Joel is also one of the producers on the movie and is very famous in the Philippines.

No matter where we go in town, people swarm him. With a stare like this, I totally understand.

Alive Dead Girl

2010-03-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

This little local village girl was such a trooper, crammed into a little box during the funeral procession.

The movie uses tens and tens of extras in the movie.

2010-03-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

Lost Highway!

2010-03-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

We're on Panglao Island, and its dark as hell at night. Cabs dodge stray dogs, cats, and cows. There are tons of cows on the side of the road. Crazy.

Lee and Kokoy

2010-02-28T04:21:00.001-08:00

Lee is the Director of Photography and Kokoy the First AD.

I spit a couple of times the first day in some takes, and then didn't do it for a couple of days.

Lee pulled me aside and said, "I miss your spit." No woman has ever said that to me before. So I spit in just about every scene now.

It's going to be really cool or really stupid. I trust her.

More Werewolf Moon

2010-02-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

The image is a little grainy because the light was so low and I had to mess with the ISO on my camera. Anyway, DJ looks badass in it.

Dane Thinks....

2010-02-28T04:16:00.000-08:00

...and Tagbilaran whizzes by in the background.

Rolly!!!!

2010-02-28T04:10:00.000-08:00

Rolly taught me a song.

Tayo ng Magsaya
A Dede Pababa
Sakaka Chuchupa

I can't ever seem to get a straight answer as to what it means, but its either "Get this guy a blowjob" or "And then we'll give blowjobs" I have a terrible fear its the latter. I

The View of Tagbilaran from Where I'm Staying

2010-02-28T03:49:00.000-08:00

I've been here a month now. I have one week of shooting left and will be gone on Saturday. The thought of leaving is a mixture of excitement, sadness, nostalgia...

I can't help but think about how moments are fleeting.

I have formed so many friendships during this experience, but its sad to think that life will happen and we will most likely grow distant.

This will happen only one time. In this place. With these people. I will miss it.

View From DJs Room

2010-02-28T03:46:00.000-08:00

I'm at the end of the hall. I've found that lighting and a camera can really skew your perspective.

The place I'm staying is nice. But this makes it look like the Peninsula.

The Moon Makes Him Crazy!

2010-02-28T03:39:00.000-08:00

Tanduay 8 year

2010-02-28T03:33:00.000-08:00

Not to be confused with Tanduay #1, this is the upgrade.

Olman's Nights

2010-02-28T03:24:00.000-08:00

The sky here is very American Werewolf in London

Lords of the Ceremony.

2010-02-25T21:57:00.001-08:00

Yul and Garret wielding their power on their observation deck.

Dick Clark aint got nothin on these fools.

The Procession

2010-02-25T21:55:00.000-08:00

Mapulgas (which means fleas in Tagalog) leading the procession of San Isidro during the festival.

Armi and the girls....

2010-02-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

Armi is one of the kindest sweetest people I've met here. All of the Filipinos are so nice, but Armi has a sick twisted sense of humor that goes hand in hand with mine.

With her a bunch of adorable villager girls.

Dwight!!!!

2010-02-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Dwight is the man. If I need some prop on set (Tobacco Leaves) Dwight is the man.

We were trashed last Saturday and I found out that Dwight was a drummer. We picked up some barbeque skewers and jammed for about 40 minutes on some bottles. It was fucking awesome. A true bonding moment.

San Isidro in full force!!!

2010-02-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a wide of San Isidro in all his glory. Production had two of these made by some craftsmen in the 'Pines.

San Isidro

2010-02-25T21:44:00.001-08:00

The Saint whom the festival in the movie is named after. He's very photogenic.

He's Got Legs.....!!!!

2010-02-25T21:43:00.000-08:00

And knows how to use them.....

I thought I was pale. And he's cuban!!!!

Beautiful Jewelry

2010-02-25T21:40:00.000-08:00

The props mistress picked up these turn of the century style jewels in Manila. Hand crafted, beautiful stuff.

Tobbaco Leaves

2010-02-25T21:37:00.000-08:00

If you've never seen a Tobacco leaf, you're in luck. I've never seen one up close and well, here they are. In full force.

There's a section of the film where a "festival" takes place in the village and all of the villagers present their wears to sell. It was so cool to see all the turn of the century goods that people could and would purchase.

You roll these tobacco leaves and smoke them like a cigar. I begged John to let me roll one and he did. It made the scene and you can watch as a I choke my way trying to smoke it.

Choochie 1

2010-02-25T21:31:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I'm a bit addicted to taking pictures of the creepy Padre "Choochie" Hidalgo.

His pale skin. His dark thoughts. His total access to little children. Okay, now I sound really creepy.

But there is going to be a series of Choochie pics coming up. Sorry.

DJs Room

2010-02-25T21:25:00.000-08:00

DJ requested the Rainbow Brite-themed room. Complete with Polyester sheets and all!

The Soldiers Quarters

2010-02-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

The other day I had to do a shoot where I come out of this hut and check the rain. These huts are very well built, but rain streamed down from the roof. To think that actual troops slept in huts similar to this must have sucked!!! Granted we were invading someone else's country, but still...

Last Baryo on the Left

2010-02-25T21:20:00.001-08:00

Here Garret reprises his sick twisted rapist from Last House on the Left. It's always the quiet ones.

Pretty in Pink!

2010-02-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

I never thought we'd be cold in the Philippines, but when its raining at 3 am and then it abruptly stops and you have to wait around for ten minutes, you'll freeze your ass off. I don't care if you're in the jungle or not.

Brian requested pink, he says its "his color".

Creepy!!

2010-02-25T21:12:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night was our first night rain shoot. I've never shot in the rain before and while its a pain in the ass, rain on film is so dramatic and cool.

Here Choochie Hidalgo stalks his prey.

Ladaga Inn Sunset

2010-02-25T21:11:00.000-08:00

This is the view from the top of the production office headquarters. There are two hotels that the cast and crew are staying in. Olmans View and Ladaga Inn.

Chings Baby!!

2010-02-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

Ching gave birth to a costume baby. He's a very proud father.

Church in the Center of Town`

2010-02-23T03:18:00.000-08:00

Huge Catholic community. This is the mother ship church in the middle of town.

Piracy at its best!!!

2010-02-23T03:07:00.000-08:00

If actors want to know what is happening to their residuals, come on over to Tagbilaran.

One place had a disk with 16 Bruce Willis movies on it. 16!!!

Owen!

2010-02-23T02:50:00.000-08:00

This is outside of a barber shop that I pass everyday on the way to the set.

Words escape me.

The Loneliest Wifi Spot in the World

2010-02-23T02:37:00.000-08:00

I think this is what hell is. Only you never get reception.