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Differing Steps

Two women born on the same day lead very different lives. Magdalena thrives as a laundry woman living with her brother in an urban poor community rampant with drug transactions. Cherrisita is a young, ambitious police officer tasked to conduct drug-related surveillance in Magda's sitio. Two women, born at the same time, are then positioned at the opposite ends of the war that is not theirs to lose, or win.

  • Kushaiah Felisilda
    Director
  • Kushaiah Felisilda
    Writer
  • Mary Rose Ampoon
    Writer
  • Kushaiah Felisilda
    Producer
  • Richard Felisilda
    Producer
  • Violeta Felisilda
    Producer
  • Sara Ann Phoebe Valiente
    Key Cast
    "Magda"
  • Samantha Midel
    Key Cast
    "Cherry"
  • Shun Bacalla
    Key Cast
    "Ruel"
  • Clint Solante
    Key Cast
    "Lucas"
  • Charlie Yap
    Key Cast
    "Major Davide de Leon"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Nagkadaiyang Tunob
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Crime Drama
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 14, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,163 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Philippines
  • Country of Filming:
    Philippines
  • Language:
    Cebuano
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, 24mm, Sony A7R II
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Kushaiah Felisilda

Kushaiah Reichaeviel Felisilda was born and raised in Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines. She first developed her fondness for films by scouring her mother's wide array of DVDs which includes Schindler’s List, V for Vendetta, Jumanji, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Bridges of Madison County. Growing up as a shy kid, films became a haven for discovering and expressing stories whose creators did not own the spotlight, but was responsible for all the magic onscreen. This attracted her to the field of filmmaking, which grew in parallel with her love for technology and film gear. So on most Sundays she could be found experimenting with all the ways one can tell a story without the literal retelling of it.

This led to pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Cinema at the University of San Carlos, which she graduated from last May 2019. Her particular interests lie in politically motivated works that expose inequality in the society as she stands firm that film can be used to amplify the stories of the marginalized whose voices society wants to silence the most.

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Director Statement

Nagkadaiyang Tunob is a political film that portrays the role that women partake in the Philippines’ drug war—as an instrument of state-sponsored slaughter and as the recipient of this injustice. It is the story of two women who serve as victim and perpetrator of circumstances beyond their control. The Philippine society is undergoing an intense crisis and as filmmakers, our role is to contribute to the perpetration of justice by representing the narrative of the oppressed. Film is a powerful medium and it has the capacity to make people rethink and reevaluate their stances on important issues. May this become a mere reference, a look back, a case study for filmmakers of the time when genuine liberation has been achieved and the stories of the Filipino people no longer revolve around the narratives and tell-tales of centuries’ worth of oppression.

The film Nagkadaiyang Tunob started out as a mere question regarding the dynamics between an alleged drug addict held at gunpoint and the policeman who pulls the trigger. It started out as an inquisition of how it is to be on the opposing ends of a war that is neither their fault, a war that is substantially bigger than them. After eight months, and almost 30 screenplay revisions, it is now an 18-minute narrative film of a story that is inspired by actual events, circumstances, and people. The progress is owed to everyone who was involved in the making of this film.