I got catfished: a (really long) thread pic.twitter.com/5BQ2G5kcif
— Jzan Tero (@JzanVern) March 30, 2020
In 2020, a few weeks after the lockdown, a twitter thread written by Jzan Tero about how she allegedly got catfished by fashion filmmaker Sam Morales went viral. Well, that thread is now the basis of a movie under the direction of Quark Henares.
Marupok A+, starring EJ Jallorina and Maris Racal, is a fictionalized adaptation about what could have occurred in that long con. In the film, hopeless romantic Janzen Torres (EJ Jallorina) finds another chance at love when she matches with the handsome and seemingly perfect Theo Balmaceda (Royce Cabrera) on a dating app. Unfortunately, on the day of their meet-up, Theo ghosts her, leading Janzen into an intricate web of deceit, lies, and catfishing led by sociopathic mastermind Beanie Landridos (Maris Racal).
Directed by Quark Henares, the film premiered at Slamdance in Utah at the beginning of 2023 and has since then traveled in festivals around the world including Hawaii Film Festival, Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, New York Asian Film Festival and Mostro Endemaris LGBTQ+ Festival in Spain. It was the opening film of last year's Cinemalaya and is finally coming exclusively to Ayala Theaters on July 10.
Marupok A+ Gets an X Rating: AF to A+
Marupok A+ was supposed to have hit the cinemas two weeks before July 10, but the movie got an X rating.
According to director Quark’s tweets, the reason behind the X rating was inherently inane -- they were not allowed to use the acronym “AF” in the original title, "Marupok AF". "What if AF meant 'Always, Forever?'" he jests.
OK we now have an R-18 rating. I think the coast is clear to talk about how we got an X rating first. https://t.co/htEWF0Pj4t
— Quark Henares (@quarkhenares) June 26, 2024
There is also an allusion to a double standard in the Board's review process, not just in Hollywood vs Local Content but also Cishetero vs LBTQIA+ Content. "There is a love scene involving a trans actress in the film with no nudity whatsoever, [and] if we were to compare apples to apples, 'I Am Not Big Bird' (the Enrique Gil sex comedy) had many more non-nude sex scenes, plus BDSM, masturbation, girl getting slapped by pixelated dick, etc. Why couldn't have we been treated the same way?" We heard there is also a masturbation scene featuring Racal, which could have been an additional reason behind the MTRCB's rating.
Since then, the film’s producers decided to change the title to "Marupok A+", but the damage has already been done. Renowned film critic Philbert Dy posted, "The MTRCB is still a wacky organization built on arbitrary decisions that has always ended up crippling Filipino films." While another critic, Ramon de Veyra of the Inquirer, pointed out further proof of the double standard -- "monsters killing people non-stop in a Quiet Place day 1’s MTRCB rating: PG.” Henares ended his rant by pointing out the MTRCB review of his movie included "[they call it] 'a very good movie to be watched by movie goers'. Wish you gave more of them a chance to watch it."
I know that story. Sobrang nag trending yan sa Twitter dati around 2019 ata
ReplyDeleteEarly 2020, dear.
DeleteAno yon? What happened?
Delete11:01 basahin mo yung film makers statement.
Delete11:01 you may watch the movie.
Delete11:01pm basahin mo kasi yung filmmakers statement. It will tell you not just what happened but the context of the situation, the aftermath and more. Kaya di umuunlad mga tao, simpleng pagbabasa na lang, di pa kaya tas inuuna salita. Gusto spoonfed. Gives me an idea sa estado mo sa buhay.
DeleteFP posted this in April 1, 2020 - Tweet Scoop: Transwoman Reveals Being Victimized by Malicious Motives of Multimedia Artist Sam Morales, Celebrities React
DeleteGives me an idea too about your character 12:03
DeleteNagtatanong lang si 11:01 up to anyone here who would like to share their thoughts about the scandal or what really happened. Andami mo na agad sinabi.
Whoah 12:03 no need to be snarky and attack 11:01. Init agad ng ulo mo. Says a lot about your behavior and character.
DeleteAng foul mo 12:03. We are all Anonymous here. Who gave you the right to assume "Gives me an idea sa estado mo sa buhay".
Deletesnowflakes. 12:03 was speaking the truth. pwede naman kasing basahin. that is pure laziness na
Delete5:43 he/she was not asking about anyone's "thoughts about the scandal" lol literal na tinatanong anong nangyari.
DeleteSo mean of you 12:03. You also gave us an idea of your attitude and behavior.
DeleteEh sa andun naman talaga sa taas lahat ng info. Pet peeve ko din yang mga hindi nagbabasa pero andyan na sa harap nya lahat ng detalye.
DeleteI don't find 12:03's comment snarky or offensive. The only people who will get hurt or offended by the comment are those who are too lazy to read. The summary is already in the article. If you only spent a minute or two of your time to read the post, you can already get the context of the story. Ang problema kasi, binasa niyo lang at kinomentan yung post ni 9:36. Nasa harapan niyo na yung detalye eh! Does it have something to do with our character? MAYBE. Just like 12:03, maikli din ang pasensya ko sa mga taong tamad at palaasa sa iba. Yung kami pa mag-aadjust sa inyo. Eh kayo ba, natanong niyo sarili baka may problema din sa inyo?
DeletePara sa mga na-offend ni 12:03
DeleteIn 2020, a few weeks after the lockdown, a twitter thread written by Jzan Tero about how she allegedly got catfished by fashion filmmaker Sam Morales went viral. Well, that thread is now the basis of a movie under the direction of Quark Henares.
AYAN, GALING SA POST NI FP SA TAAS. KUNG HINDI NIYO PA DIN MAINTINDIHAN YUNG CONTEXT, I-SEARCH NIYO ONLINE. TYPE NIYO LANG JZAN TERO.
5:43 7:00 7:35 10:07
DeleteYou were all attacking how 12:03 commented and even questioned the person's character when the commenter just stated the truth. 11:01 clearly asked ano yun, what happened. Eh yung sagot nasa post na. That's not being mean or snarky. That was a logical and direct answer.
It's not about being snowflakes. Ok di nagbasa si 11:01, sabihin na nating lazy, pero puede naman magrespond ng maayos diba. Nagtaray nagmarunong nagsermon pa si 12:03. Ang rude ng last statement about estado sa buhay.
DeleteAyan ha baka may mag react na naman pag tina-tag.
3:14 That's the only appropriate term. Huwag mo na gawan ng iba pang excuse. Tama yang ginawa niya para next time matutong magbasa. Di bale sana kung wala talagang paliwanag eh, kaso andyan na sa harap hindi pa binasa?
DeleteSus, nasaktan ka ba 3:14? Next time kasi huwag tamad at puro asa lang sa iba. Gumawa muna kayo ng paraan.
DeleteAlam nyo, maraming di masasayang na oras at paliwanag kung nagbabasa ng maayos. Nagttrabaho ako sa govt hospital and naka enumerate na lahat ng steps ng gagawin, di pa binabasa kaya maraming pasyente pabalik-baik, palikot-ikot kasi kulang sa requirements, na miss uung appointment or cut off, etc. Kaya tama lang na sabihan or i remind mga tao lagi na magbasa at wag spoonfed. Sakit sa ulo at ubos productive time mo sa kaka explain sa bagay na nakasaad naman.
Deletelooks good
ReplyDeleteKumusta na kaya yung tomboy at yung lalake? Ano na balita sa buhay nila?
ReplyDeleteBalita now sa Sam nagwowork pa din daw and with artists and models pa.
DeleteAno na news sa kanilang tatlo?
ReplyDeleteKakabasa ko lang ng thread now, grabe naman talaga ginawa sa kanya. Glad she seems happy now.
ReplyDeletehad to research what this trending thread was. Grabe ang nangyari sa kanya. But there were already several red flags before. The fact na thru messages lang sila lagi should have been a warning sign. But then again,sabi nga nya, naging marupok sya.
ReplyDeleteGot curious binasa ko, kawawa naman siya! grabe ang sasama! Hope she’s doing well now.
ReplyDeleteShe deserved what she tolerated. Aminado na siya sa mga red flags eh pero ipinilit pa din niya.
DeletePinahirapan panng MTRCB itong pelikula na ito.. ano ba yan. Muntik pa maging rated X . Buti nilaban ni Direk . Paano kikita ang pelikula ng Pilipino kung ganyan MTRCB .
ReplyDelete