People’s curiosity got aroused with Love At The End Of The World, an ode to loneliness as described by its director Shandii Bacolod.
The director sums up the erotic and suspenseful boys love romance drama as a story that follows four couples and their stories filled of love, sex, betrayal, pain, loss, forgiveness, and redemption in the last seven days of existence.
What audiences will witness are a quartet of men who falls in love with each other. The first are Kristof Garcia and Rex Lantano playing Ben and Sam, respectively, who are in a complicated love triangle with Mike Liwag, playing George.
Next duo, Markki Stroem and Khalid Ruiz as Mark and Kaloy, mighty and meaty provincial hot boys who represent pure love against all odds.
Couple number three are Gold Azeron and Nico Locco, playing Ian and Tony Smith. Gold is a young effeminate flamboyant gay boy abandoned by his family and Nico is an American tourist planning the perfect suicide in the Philippines.
Last pairing are Cris and Renzo portrayed by Yam Mercado and Elijah Filamor who are cocaine addicts on the run.
“It’s an adult queer story,” says Bacolod of what make this BL unique. “The main premise that the stories happen during the last seven days on Earth also adds premium to its originality. And since we are not on YouTube, sizzle and scorch are other elements that will surely surprise, shock and titillate the audience.”
“I wrote the material three years ago as a film. In 2020, revived it and turned it into a series. Then co-wrote it with Salvador Lopez. I told myself, if this project gets financed, I will direct it. Hindi pwedeng iba,” Bacolod expounds on his directorial comeback.
“The series is a culmination of my past, fears, desires, love stories and loneliness. This is my heart and soul,”Shandii caries on. “It’s just too personal to let someone direct it. I feel like after 10 years (my last directorial project was 10 years ago), I am finally baring my soul to the world,” the director added.
As a director, Bacolod likens his work ethics to his inspirations including Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, and Mario O’Hara who he had the privilege of knowing.
“We had a cinematic afternoon where we just talked for hours and I cried after. Peque Gallaga na meron din ako memorable encounter, then of course I love Brillante Mendoza (I am a huge fan!), I love Jun Lana and Perci Intalan, Joseph Abello, and Alvin Yapan.”
Bacolod would like to believe that he is a storyteller being a product of Ricky Lee and Dado Lumibao’s seminars and classes.
“This is a profession, so I always put these two words in mind – respect and consent. Sabi naman ng lahat pleasant ako to work with. I have been producing for ages, so my greatest talent is taking care of people. So kahit director na ako, hindi ko ma alis yung pagiging producer.”
In the end, director Shandii Bacolod summarizes the reasons as to why Love At The End of the World is a must-watch: “The brilliant actors, the intriguing premise of what will I do if I only have seven days left to live and lastly, if you support the LGBTQIA+ community, this is their story.”
Love At the End of the World is a GagaOOLala Original Series slated to stream in December.
