Eraserheads Combo On The Run Talkback Session

PEP.ph

PEP goes to the Erasereads Combo On The Run Film Screening and Talkback session with Eraserheads lead singer Ely Buendia, the director of the documentary film Maria Diane Ventura, producer Francis Lumen, and film distributor Rico Gonzales. Moderated by Carl David Opiña.   Here are the excerpts from the talkback session which was held yesterday, March 20, 2025, at the Gateway Cinema 5 Atmos in Quezon City.   #PEPvideo #PEPgoesto #Eraserheads #ComboOnTheRun   Video: Jerry Olea  Edit: Rommel Llanes   Subscribe to our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@pep_tv   Read the latest in showbiz at http://www.pep.ph   Watch more videos at https://www.pep.ph/videos   Follow us!  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepalerts/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PEPalerts  Twitter: https://twitter.com/pepalertsViber: https://bit.ly/PEPonViber  Kumu: pep.ph   Visit our DailyMotion channel! https://www.dailymotion.com/PEPalerts

Transcript

00:00happening, what were the biggest challenges in bringing this documentary to life?

00:09I think two things. The first is technical because this was done in three countries.

00:15So we started in the Philippines. I followed them during their world tour.

00:20Then we were doing the sound mix in Berlin. So this film was made in close to three years

00:28actually. So flying in between countries to finish this film, that was difficult. Combing through

00:3712 hard drives of 8 terabytes each. Combing through the archives was particularly difficult.

00:46But in terms of the shoot, I think getting these four guys together who are notorious for being

00:54aloof and being distant and detached. To get them together to sit down and be vulnerable and talk

01:05about things that people don't normally want to talk about. I think that was difficult.

01:15Was it difficult, Eli?

01:19Sir Eli, what were the biggest challenges in bringing this documentary to life?

01:24That's my interview. I don't know. I guess it was difficult to express again what we experienced.

01:45But it was also a joy to relive the past. It's a roller coaster like everything else.

01:54What is it like an iconic band, once you were part of, come to life on the big screen and

02:02see yourself vulnerable in it? I'm going to be really honest. I did not want to be here.

02:12I was forced at gunpoint by Dayan.

02:17Thank you very much.

02:22I'm just taking one for the team. The other three guys are lucky not to see themselves

02:31in the big screen. I quite enjoyed the Dolby Atmos sound the first time I saw it

02:39with that. And then this is the fifth time I've seen the movie in public.

02:49Second time. I have to add, I applaud his bravery and courageousness.

02:57I mean, it's so...

03:06Sir, what inspired you to produce this documentary?

03:10Actually, it's Dayan's idea. So I said, Warner, Warner, let's do this. Let's do this.

03:15But then I said, okay. And I believe in Dayan's, you know, and in fact, I've said this before.

03:23If you notice, these are four band members. And you know, reality is Ellie is the most popular

03:31one, you know? And he has done most of the work, the original of the song.

03:36So, what I'm expecting, and Dayan was able to make the pacing.

03:45I'm leaving.

03:48About this movie, Dayan was able to make the pacing.

03:56And then she was able to feature the four guys equally.

04:04The other guys were also there.

04:11And I think she did that with, you know, fairness.

04:15So, you know, and I keep telling her, partner, you did very well.

04:23I would like to, what was your decision on the narrative structure of the documentary?

04:28Was it always clear or did it evolve along the way?

04:32It evolved. I just realized how difficult documentary filmmaking is.

04:40I have tremendous respect for documentary filmmakers.

04:43I've mentioned before, this would be my last.

04:45It's so difficult because, I mean, every time, I mean, I'm interviewing super brilliant people

04:53who have like a lot of great profound things to say.

04:56So, every time they would say something, that would lead me to a different path, sort of.

05:03And every time you explore that new path, you have to provide context for it.

05:08So, we did 38 re-shoots trying to provide context for the previous, you know,

05:15people that narrated things.

05:30For fairness sake and for objectivity and also,

05:35to uphold journalistic integrity also, I really, at the risk of everyone's hatred,

05:45I, yeah, we had to have final cut without them.

05:50Okay, these questions first.

05:52Next, regarding distributing the film, may plano po ba tayong lakad para sa streaming

05:58or festivals or international releases?

06:02For now, we'd like to concentrate on the local distribution.

06:07We would like to encourage everyone to spread the good word about the movie,

06:11that take advantage of the short period that it will be available

06:17in cinemas starting tomorrow until Sunday.

06:20So, that's yun yun ang concentration natin for now.

06:24And then, whatever will happen tomorrow until Sunday, we'll move on from there.

06:31Is there any reason po ba kung bakit very limited days po muna?

06:36Then, maybe you can share the, well, there are some things that we're gonna share about that.

06:43But basically, we want this also to be a sort of a weekend.

06:51Pag-anood ng concert, like a weekend back-to-back days.

06:54So, instead of doing it in an arena or an open ground, we're doing it in cinemas,

06:59sharing a different content for the fans also.

07:03And I hope dun po sa limited days ng pag-release ng movie na ito,

07:08I hope it really brings a lot of people together dun sa weekend na yun.

07:13Katulad nga po nang nasabin yun, parang concert.

07:15Being the distributor of the film,

07:18what do you hope this film achieves in the music and film industry?

07:24Just to give you an idea of how it started with the distribution deal with Dayan and the group,

07:33this project came to Warner Brothers to me in a very unexpected way.

07:38It was actually during the wake of Mother Lily,

07:41when Chuck, who was one of the editors of the film,

07:45approached me and told me that there's a project going on about Erase Your Head's docu.

07:51And, you know, sabi nga ng kanta nila,

07:53kay bilis maglaho ng kahapon.

07:55So, with Opportunity Knocks, you have to open the door and take a look at it.

07:59And it's Erase Your Heads, I'm a big fan.

08:02Hindi ko pwedeng hindi tignan.

08:03So, we had a meeting.

08:08Dayan, after several meetings, she showed me an initial cut.

08:15And then we had some notes, something to share with her kung kayang titignan.

08:22And fortunately, evolving pa yung edit nila at the time.

08:28And thankfully, also, my favorite song was included in the movie.

08:34Thank you, Ellie, for the shoot on that one.

08:37Para sa Masa was included, which was not in that cut that I first saw.

08:42Thank you, Rico, because you told me.

08:44So, I hope this is an opportunity, in my own little way, through Warner Brothers,

08:53na mas marami pang ma-reach ng tao yung music and the legacy of Erase Your Heads.

08:59Mas marami pang ma-reach, hindi lang dito sa Philippines.

09:01Hopefully, nga, with audiences all around the world.

09:05So, we'll start from this weekend first, and then see what happens.

09:08All right.

09:10Familiar with the band already.

09:13Did you still discover anything new, especially you, Sir Ellie,

09:17about the band or your band members that even your biggest fans might not know?

09:27Well, I didn't know Marcos could cry.

09:34Yung iba po sa atin, meron po ba tayong parang mas na-discover pa,

09:39Miss Diane, as the director of the film?

09:40Yeah, definitely.

09:42Because, as you all know, I have a business relationship with Ellie for the last years,

09:48more than a decade already.

09:51So, all this time, the perspective that I was getting was just from him.

09:56And of course, it's very valid.

10:00And it was until I saw everyone else's interview, yung nga, that made me realize,

10:09I mentioned this before na,

10:14their perspectives were also true and valid and real for them.

10:19And it made a lot of sense.

10:21And I guess, yung takeaway ko dun is the importance of expression and communication.

10:30Kasi I think if they had just talked to each other about that they were really thinking

10:36and articulated that, parang a lot of conflict could've been avoided.

10:42Yeah, I think.

10:43Maraming salamat, Miss Diane.

10:45Sir, a question is for you, no?

10:46Kung pwedeng ba itong matanong, no?

10:49Ano ang pinaguhugutan ng mga kanta ng Eraserheads nung nagsisimula pa lamang kayo?

10:54Ano yung nasa isip nyo na, ah, okay, ito ang gusto natin bagit tatak ng Eraserheads sa tao?

11:01Thank you, Dito.

11:03Well, I grew up listening to basically, um, OPM, uh, the Manila Sound.

11:10My, my mother was a big fan.

11:14So I, I love that kind of music as well.

11:18So I think yung mga music no panahon na yung 70s was very folky, um, F-O-L-K-Y, guys.

11:32Uh, uh, yes, uh, uh, I, I think this, we, I think the band just wanted, um,

11:41and me personally, uh, as a songwriter to just, parang, connect with someone.

11:49What did the film mean by wanting a band that had no fear,

11:55especially a lot of political elements were incorporated into the film?

11:58Um, it's what it is.

12:05I mean, uh, you can't be, uh, out there, um, uh, singing your guts out and expressing,

12:17uh, your innermost, uh, feelings without being courageous.

12:23Um, um, what's one thing that you wish the band had the chance to do in the past?

12:37You wish could have been released with Eraserheads, given the chance?

12:42Um, we've never been to Amsterdam.

12:49Always wanted to go to Amsterdam.

12:52Particularly the red light district.

12:54Just kidding.

12:57All right.

12:57This question is for everyone.

12:59Kasi narinig natin yung audience kanina, no, na patir sila.

13:02Ano po ang implication nung post-credits scene?

13:07Mahari ba namin itong malaman ng konti?

13:12Kahit sino po ang pwedeng sumagot, no, as people involved in this film?

13:17Mahari po ba itong malaman?

13:20First, there's an upcoming concert that's happening May 31.

13:26Sir Francis?

13:26Yeah, of course, uh, this is again a experimental, no, uh, you know, producing a concert and

13:36promoting it is quite a challenging task.

13:40But this is one way, sabi namin, what about using the movie as a promotional tool

13:49to promote the May 31 Eraserheads Electric Fan Music Festival, which they, the band members

13:59also will help promote the other OPM bands.

14:03And I think that's a great suggestion.

14:04May 31, abangan niyo yan.

14:10Sir Eli, would you like?

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