The film that may literally be the height of Adolfo Alix Jr. and EA Guzman’s careers

Imagine an hour and 45-minute long film all shot in one go, without cuts playing on the big screen. And by the way, this real-time story completely unravels with the main character a mere step away from death atop a towering billboard along EDSA.

To capture the fear and excitement, the action and drama of such a premise — be it from the depths of the capital's main thoroughfare or the sky-high altitude of those robust steel poles — is the challenge ahead of the prolific and globally-renowned director Aldof Alix Jr. (“Donsol,” 2006; “Adela,” 2008; “Death March,” 2013; “That Boy in the Dark,” 2022). Well, that and also getting what he needs out of his chosen lead for this definitively unconventional project in the person of the serious, versatile and apparently acrophobic actor Edgar Allan “EA” Guzman.

However brave and remarkable — or foolish and unnecessary — one might think this extreme concept may be, though, this film is going to happen. In fact, it already has a very fitting title in “Karnabal,” and more importantly, the backing of an equally bold albeit young player in the industry, BC Entertainment Productions.

I count myself to have been one of the lucky few invited to sit in “Karnabal's” very first story conference, which, besides direk Adolf and EA, gathered a small but powerful supporting cast in veteran actor-directors Gina Alajar and Ricky Davao and noted cinema theater-export Joel Saracho. (Cannes Best Actress awardee Jaclyn Jose is also in this elite roster but was attending a Cinemalaya premiere at the time).

‘Karnabal’ director Adolfo Alix Jr. (second from left) with BC Entertainment Productions’ Karen Ortua andhis stellar cast consisting of EA Guzman, Gina Alajar, Ricky Davao and Joel Saracho. INSTAGRAM PHOTO/AALIXJR

Direk Adolf's narration of how he plans to pull off this story by Fudge De Leon was simply riveting, especially when you see how equally invested EA is in the project, despite the color on his face fading more and more as he continued to hear about the captain's plans.

Apparently, direk Adolf held an experiment of sorts of this one-cam, no-cuts method of filming over the summer, with Gina Pareño starring in a much shorter movie titled “Pila sa PSCO.” He needn't point out of course that he was just shooting his actor in a queue and not from 36 feet off the ground where EA's troubled character Caloy is bound the entire movie.

The supporting cast, who were likewise hearing direk Adolf's planned shot list for the first time were just as taken as the rest of us. It also made sense to them right then and there why they were cast as a reporter, policeman, barangay captain and so on at the sidelines of this veritable carnival.

“It will run like a play that's being filmed, if you think about it,” Saracho, the proud thespian, noted. “That's why I was telling Ricky, our experience on stage would come in handy because we have to do the entire movie in one take with no mistakes.”

“I think the key will be for all of us to stay in character even if we're not being filmed through the course of that hour and 45-minutes because once the camera pans to you, you've got to be ready,” direk Ricky said in agreement.

Jumping in for a bit of a laugh, direk Gina revealed, “That's why we agreed that whoever makes a mistake will have to treat the rest of the team later because we have no choice but to start from the beginning again if that happens!”

As for EA, he must've wanted to laugh as much as his respected peers and seniors during the momentary banter, but it was becoming increasingly real to him that the greatest challenge was on his shoulders. Way above the skies, which shook him to the core.

But no matter, the gifted and grateful actor is determined to face his fears even as he admits he's still in the process of figuring out just how.

“I get dizzy and queasy even when I'm at [the higher floors of] the mall. Especially on a Ferris Wheel,” EA confessed. “But at this stage in my career, it's about time for me to do something different. That's why I gathered all the courage I had in me when I told direk I would do this project. And I will,” declared the good man.

Obviously, I'm looking at “Karnabal” from the “brave and remarkable” vantage point right off the bat. And it's not only because of what a unique and thrilling cinematic experience it will be if done right, but because it is ambitious projects like this that set apart the truly passionate artists from the rest. Bringing to life reality at its most outrageous and unthinkable because it is a story that needs to be told all the same. What an honor and joy it would be to witness the height of direk Adolf and EA's artistry, wouldn't it?