MR. HEMINGWAY

By Michael Angelo DAGÑALAN

HEAVENS BEST ENTERTAINMENT - as PROD

Fantasy - Development 2023

A young man with anxiety disorder must express his love for a childhood friend before their village gets demolished for a new condominium complex.

    • Year of production
    • 2023
    • Genres
    • Fantasy, Romance
    • Countries
    • PHILIPPINES
    • Languages
    • FILIPINO, ENGLISH-UNITED STATES
    • Budget
    • 0.3 - 0.6 M$
    • Duration
    • 90 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Michael Angelo DAGÑALAN
    • Writer(s)
    • Michael Angelo DAGÑALAN
    • Producer(s)
    • Ma-An ASUNCION-DAGÑALAN (Eyepoppers Multimedia Services)
    • Synopsis
    • The threat of having his neighborhood demolished by a housing developer into a new condominium complex compels shy teenage boy Carlos to seek ways how to tell his childhood crush Yoko of his unrequited love. He has to overcome his shyness and anxiety attacks before Yoko and her family moves out of their rented house being negotiated with the greedy developer. Home schooled, Carlos maintains a computer shop with his grandmother Ibyang. While his single mom Teresita works as an OFW in Zimbabwe.

      When Carlos visits his therapist for his anxiety disorder, the doctor advises him to try puppetry as a creative way to overcome his shyness. He might as well do it before Yoko goes away for good. Soon after, Carlos visits a ventriloquist to learn the art of puppetry and ventriloquism. After a few sessions, Carlos starts to build the character of his sock puppet he would name Hemingway - his favorite book author.

      Since then, Carlos would practice talking to people through his sock puppet Hemingway. Grandmother Ibyang loves Hemingway and how it made Carlos talk more. Trying to test his skills, he meets other girls. But all these ends in humorous attempts. One time, Carlos uses Hemingway to wave at a neighborhood girl. This turns out bad as the girl misinterprets his gesture. Carlos gets a black eye from the girl’s father. Humiliated, Carlos throws out Hemingway.

      Unknown to him, Yoko has been observing Carlos as she lives just across his house and the computer shop. A shy person herself, Yoko had actually started learning how to use a sock puppet as well. She comes knocking at Carlos’ house to return Hemingway whom she picked up from the trash can. Their romance blooms through their sock puppets.
    • Beginning of shooting
    • Apr 01, 2023
    • End of shooting
    • May 31, 2023