Sheron Dayoc resigns as director of Marawi film project

FILE: Filmmaker Sheron Dayoc. (Photo: sherondayoc1/Instagram)

Moviegoers will not be able to watch another Sheron Dayoc film for the meantime after the latter surprised the public that he will no longer direct the Marawi film project which is expected to be shown in cinemas next year.

Why is that? Sheron announced via Facebook post that he officially resigned from the project entitled, Children of the Lake.

“My professional career started and rooted in telling the narratives of the marginalized Muslim Mindanao and this project is no longer reflective of my beliefs as a Mindanao storyteller,” he wrote.

As of writing, there is no official announcement if the film will be cancelled as a whole, following Sheron’s resignation.

The movie, starred by actors Robin Padilla and Piolo Pascual, reflects the months-long siege in Marawi City that shook the country last May 2017. It is produced by Spring Films, an independent film production company handled by Piolo, award-winning director Joyce Bernal, and the president of Cornerstone Entertainment, Erickson Raymundo.

In his post, the Mindanoan filmmaker said he did not push through with the project as he and the producers have “totally different” perspectives on how they will deliver the story of Marawi.

While not elaborating the differences on their point of views, Sheron said the film is “such a sensitive subject matter” and that it “must be treated with prudence in respect to all the lives lost during the war.”

“This isn’t a love story, horror or comedy film that I would openly compromise,” he stressed.

“I fought for what I believe is right on how to tell this story.

I could be wrong, but I could also be right, but certainly I need to make a position and this is my stand,” he continued.

Nonetheless, Sheron still wishes all the best for the Spring Films and hoped that it will make the project “truthful and beneficial” to the people of Marawi, particularly the victims of the battle between the government forces and the Islamic State (ISIS)-inspired Maute group.

Apart from Robin and Piolo, the movie will also be starred by Mylene Dizon, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Sid  Lucero, Ronnie Quizon, Mark Anthony Celebrado, Marc Felix, Jessi Mendoza, Mariam Zimadar, and Ronnie Lazaro.

According to Spring Films, the movie will be entirely shot in Marawi City and will also feature its residents and real soldiers. The target showing of the project will be on May 2019, on the anniversary of Marawi siege, or in June 2019, on Independence Day.

Its proceeds, the firm said, will be given to the rehabilitation of the war-torn city.