Amigo

Director John Sayles

In brief:
This is the story of the American takeover of the Philippines around 1900. Amateur actors and professionals interact in stagey scenes. John Sayles was proud to tell us that many of the extras were able to re-create the farming duties of the past because they still knew how to do it. Verisimilitude does not always make for great movies.

Q & A with director John Sayles:
How was the script developed?
What was different about shooting and editing digital with the Red Camera versus film?
Was the phrase "hearts and minds" contemporary? And lots more background history.
Were the Filipino actors professional? And more about language difficulties.
How did you get American actors and extras?