Dancing inmates to star in musical

If plans push through, the dancing inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) will once again be dancing on the big screen.
Stu Higton, creative producer of Portfolio Films, said they are planning to make another movie for the inmates, this time it would be a musical.
Higton revealed the plans came up after last Friday’s special screening of the movie about the dancing inmates, “The Dance of the Steel Bars,” which stars Patrick Bergin, Dingdong Dantes, and Ricky Davao.
The film was shot at the CPDRC for a week in 2010.
“We already had the first two scripts for the next film and we are waiting for the outcome of the Dance of the Steel Bars this June 12,” said Higton, who was referring to the date of the showing of the movie in local theaters.
Film festival
Portfolio films also planned to enter “Dance of the Steel Bars” in an international film festival.
Higton and his group arrived last Friday in Cebu with the GMA Films actors and officials to watch the special screening together with the dancing inmates.
Higton said using 90 percent English as the language in the movie with the rest in the Cebuano dialect, was part of the film outfit’s plan.
This is a first in the Philippines where inmates performed and acted in their movie.
Friday’s special screening was also a first for the CPDRC, to allow the inmates to watch a movie.
On the Twitter post yesterday by the Portfolio Films during the special screening it said, “Seeing CPDRC inmates enjoying the movie makes it all worthwhile.”
inmate’s reaction
“I am very happy that we saw ourselves on the screen and we have the talents that we expressed that will be seen by everyone,” said Roel Verdin, one of the dancing inmates.
Verdin, who was teary-eyed, said that he could not believe that inmates like them were able to watch themselves as part of the movie.
Cesar Apolinario, director of the movie, said he was amazed with the talent of the dancing inmates because they really embraced the art of dancing.
“Although they are inmates, we would also let them feel that they are not a threat to society,” Apolinario said.
Cebu Daily News tried to contact Byron Garcia, who initiated the dancing inmates routine as part of their rehabilitation, but he could not be reached for a comment.
The “Dance of the Steel Bars” will be shown in cinemas on June 12.
“We thought Filipinos watching a movie about redemption, about freeing ourselves from shackles that bind our true selves will be a very appropriate way to commemorate a historical event,” Apolinario said.