SLIFF 2014 Review – THE BIT PLAYER

THE BIT PLAYER screens at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas on Tuesday, November 18 at 4:30 PM and Thursday, November 20 at 2:15 PM as part of the 23rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival. For 11/18 tickets go here. For 11/20 tickets go here.

Just as in the 1982 classic pop tune from Huey Lewis and the News, poor Loida (Vilma Santos) is “takin’ what they’re givin’, cause I’m workin’ for a livin'”. While she is the lead character in her own story, to the rest of the world (or at least Filipino mass media) she’s THE BIT PLAYER, a lowly extra for movies and TV shows. As her tale begins, the single mother has just left the set and is fixing s a meal for her teenage daughter. Another payment’s due for her school, so Loida’s got to get another gig. A text comes through and, after borrowing a party dress from another actress pal (she’s gotta’ provide her own wardrobe), she hits the sack for only a few hours. Then, before dawn, it’s a quick trip downtown to load up in the talent van that whisks them off to a location. It’s a loooong, full day on a popular evening soap opera. The cranky assistant director herds them off to change clothes (no dressing rooms for them so they take turns holding up beach towels to ward off the crew members’ leers). While the extras become almost sisters, nobody else seems to really like each other. The imperious “great and powerful Oz”-like director, sequestered away in the control room/tent can’t stand his aide or the whiny producer who complains about the budget as she is constantly pampered by the masseuse. And the lead actors are treated as glowing royalty, but the bit players…they’re scenery, moving props. But it’s hurry, hurry while the extras swelter in the sun as backdrops for the show’s young lovers. Will they have enough food for the Lunch break? Nope, sorry. But, after an acting play-off with another extra in front of the AD, Loida snags a maid’s role (more pay!), and as the day drags on and on, from early morning to evening well past midnight, Loida is given a coveted speaking role (alongside one of her idols). Will this be her break into the big time (and big bucks) and jump from bit to featured player?

Director Jeffery Jeturian’s slice of working life gives us a look at the grit and grime behind the glitz of glamour TV. This may be best illustrated when a “Joan Collins”-like “queen bee” injures Loida (gonna’ leave a mark!) during a take because “it just came to me and seemed right for the scene”. The whole film is full of good-natured humor until the final act hits the viewer like a hard , sobering punch to the gut. But does it get our gal down, or does she, as another great song says, “pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again”? THE BIT PLAYER is filled to the brim with laughs and heart, so much so that you might pay closer attention to those plucky unknowns just out of focus behind the leads.