Production Analysis: ‘100 Tula Para Kay Stella’

and why I think it became a landslide hit

By Elaine Bueno

It was on the 16th of August (the first day of

Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino) when my friends

and I decided to kick off our PPP movie

marathon. First in our list? Jason Paul

Laxamana’s 100 Tula Para Kay Stella starring

JC Santos and Bela Padilla.

On its first day, the film didn’t had quite

numerous audience as I expected it to be

considering the fact that it is the only entry that

fits in that genre that many mainstream Filipino

moviegoers (particularly millennials) can't seem

Receipt! A 100-peso worth of ticket for a 100-
point worthy movie entitled, ‘100 Tula Para to get tired of. But on our second day of
Kay Stella’.
watching, the movie became the only entry with a

long line that formed outside it (at least in the mall

where we frequent).

Well then, I guess the ‘word had been spread’. 100 Tula Para Kay Stella was in deed an entry

you shouldn’t miss!

Simple yet compelling storyline

Fidel Lansangan (JC Santos) was born with a

speech defect – a defect that makes him stutter

when either he’s not reading something or uses

more than three words in a sentence. During his

freshman year in college, he meets this rocker

chic with a black lipstick named Stella Puno

(Bela Padilla), and falls for her. Throughout their

entire college, he writes 100 poems dedicated to

Stella (thus the title) to impress her and to make

her fall in love with him.

The film also included the struggles of singer

wannabes – the likes of Stella and her bandmates

– here in the local industry. That part didn’t only The official poster of the movie speaks for the film
itself – simple yet compelling. Photo from VIVA Films
made the audiences see where Bela’s character is

coming. That particular part of the narrative also showcased the circumstances an aspiring

professional singer like Stella is willing to undergo regardless the price she had to pay.

Like a farmer, Director Jason Paul Laxamana sowed every important details very well in the first

half of the movie and made its audiences reap everything on the latter part. I must say that the

strongest aspect of the film is the story itself. It succeeded on going away with the cliché (best

friends falling in love with each other) and even slapped its audiences with a painful twist right
before strutting its way to the exit. If you already watched the film, you’ll get that painful slap of

a twist that I’m saying and yes, it still stings.

All in all, the story is simple yet compelling.

Early 2000 feels achieved!

One of the things that’ll amaze you with the film was its ability to take you back down the

memory lane. I must say that the production design team of the movie did a fantastic job in

visually telling the viewers that the story was set in the early 2000s. The nostalgia would hit you

as to the existence of Nokia phones, cassettes (though CDs are already available during that

time), diskettes and posters of Sugarfree and many more iconic OPM band of early 2000

throughout the movie. The wardrobes succeeded on making its characters (even the extras)

appear like those people that I had come to watch when I was in elementary. Bella Padilla’s

character Stella would remind you of Avril Lavigne’s get up in the music video of her hit song

Girlfriend while JC’s character Fidel would remind you of Star Circle Quest’s Hero Angeles on

his usual get ups in his movies.

The script, as well, did quite its job. The characters’ frequent use of terms Friendster, and the

then favorite expression olats only adds up to the nostalgic feel of the film. There’s also this

instance where Fidel’s gay roommate and close friend, Chuck (Prince Stefan), used the term

(non-verbatim), “Wow, ang galing mo! Mark Bautista lang?” which I find funny and nostalgic

all at the same time. Itsumo was also mentioned, by the way.
Also, there is no denying that the music used (214 and Balisong by Rivermaya) help a lot in

achieving the film’s objective in bringing back the early 2000 feels…and the heartache we once

acquired due to our unrequited love back in the days.

The Main Characters

The ace player of the film, JC Santos, indeed made a perfect portrayal of a nerdy, grade-conscious
honor student who had a speech defect and a love for poetry. Screenshot grabbed from the
movie trailer.

JC Santos as Fidel Lansangan

Okay, I’m not going to deny it. One of the reasons why I chose to watch 100 Tula with my

friends first is because JC Santos is in there. This breakout star didn’t only had charms. You’ll

see to it his passion and versatility in acting – thus, making him effective and no doubt perfect

for the role.

Personally, I find JC’s character strongly identifiable. On the first part of the film, he was a nerdy

wimpy, grade-conscious honor student minus the exaggerated nerdy glasses and geeky hairstyle.

JC portrayed the geeky, wimpy but a budding poet Fidel with just his way of talking, and acting.

His get up is just plainly preppy. Also, I must say that JC nailed that speech defect thing. He’d

done it flawlessly and convincing to the point that even my friends and I adapted that three-

word-per-sentence rule right after watching.

On the latter part of the film, it amazed me how JC transitioned into a braver and much confident

Fidel. You’ll know he did as to the way he dressed up and approach people. As a viewer who

identifies herself with the character, you’ll feel him and the changes he’d encountered right after

being recruited to the Young Performers’ Club – an org in his new university that discovered his

singing talent and even freed him from the confines of his preppy get up.

Bella Padilla as Stella Puno, the recipient of the 100 poems, would remind you of 2004’s Avril Lavigne
and that one great crush you never had during your younger days. Screenshot grabbed from the
movie trailer.
Bela Padilla as Stella Puno

Bella’s character Stella, a rebellious, rock star wannabe who would rather sing with her band

than study, was just a perfect contrast with JC’s character Fidel, a decent college kid whose only

flaw was his speech impediment. Upon watching, I just thought that Bela portrayed her role

effortlessly. Her get up in the movie would definitely remind you of either Hailey Williams of

Paramore or 2004’s Avril Lavigne. Her character’s sassiness would make you root for her more

and more.

But on the succeeding parts of the film, you’ll definitely earn grudges on her character as she’ll

definitely remind you of your crush – your ‘paasang’ crush.

Also, I would like to commend her acting on her confrontation scene with JC. She absolutely

managed to make everyone in the movie house cry with just delivering her lines minus the

theatrical and unnecessary shouting of punchlines. She made a great use of her expressive eyes

and shaky voice. She and JC made a perfect banter on that unforgettable part of the film, no

doubt.

The editing, music and overall feels

The colors used in the film complemented well its official poster. The film also make a good use

of Mt. Arayat as a backdrop for one of the most remarkable part of the film – the confrontation

scene.

It also didn’t quite escaped to my student-of-Video production’s eyes that 100 Tula Para Kay

Stella used a lot of conflicting perceptual juxtaposition in editing. It is quite obvious whenever
Fidel was reciting his short poems which were all about his secret admiration for Stella. I find it

strongly effective most especially when Fidel was reciting his last five poems – poems that

served as an irony to the sad happenings on Stella’s life on the latter part of the film.

The injection of music are also on fleek. The editor of the film clearly knows when to insert

Balisong and when to insert 241 (in the film, it was 241, not 214). The song line from 241,

“Somebody owns you now, and I try to live somehow…” will haunt your miserable hearts like a

ghost (you have to hear JC’s version, too, to make it even worse). Also, I have to agree with

Stella’s line in the movie that early 2000 was in deed the best era for OPM as most of the songs

there are truly heartfelt. Ambient sounds are also helpful in serving as a breath of relief for the

audiences to savor the recent scene they just watched. I also thought that it’s a great idea to use

the instrumental version of Rivermaya songs as a music score to some parts of the film.

As a result, the movie became a huge rollercoaster ride to its viewer’s trip down to memory lane.

It’s a film that’ll make you realize the importance of being strong to fight for what you truly feel

and to say the words you needed and wanted to say, regardless of having speech defect, before

it’s all too late. The movie in my opinion is painfully true.

And if I were to describe the film using the three-word-per-sentence rule, it’ll be this:

Story creatively told. Direction well executed. Simple yet heart-breaking. I need tissues. Rico

Blanco rocks. JC is heart. Movie price’s sulit. You’ll leave satisfied. That’s for sure. *insert wink

emoticon*