John Shaw: Nuclear Winter has unexpectedly become the movie the Philippine side of the Internet can’t stop talking about.
While the film runs at a compact 48 minutes, a lot is going on in the world of John Shaw: Nuclear Winter. The action thriller stars Ron Chan, a Filipino-Chinese business mogul turned aspiring actor, as John Shaw, the only man who seems capable of saving the world from a terrorist group and impending nuclear war. Acting alongside Chan is a cast of other first-time actors, including international model Anatasiia Dymchenko. The film also features an extensive amount of AI, with the trailer alone showing AI-generated scenes of explosions, car crashes, and even characters animated using AI.
“We want to claim that this is the first Filipino-made AI film,” says John Shaw director Danni Ugali. Although Ugali has worked in the Philippine entertainment industry in the past — he directed the Andi Eigenmann-led drama The Maid in London in 2018 — John Shaw: Nuclear Winter marks Ugali’s return to film and his international debut as a filmmaker.
However, the film has not been without its speed bumps. On September 8, the film was meant to hold its Philippine premiere at Gateway 2 in Cubao. After a red carpet event that featured the main cast members, all of whom gave speeches to open the premiere, as well as a screening of the movie’s trailer a total of three times, audience members were informed that the movie’s team had not been able to secure a Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) permit in time, and so would not be able to screen the movie.
But fear not, for the movie was able to secure a permit to screen the film in Cebu. John Shaw: Nuclear Winter made its Cebu premiere on September 9, this time without a hitch.
As local cinephiles continue to grow increasingly fascinated by Ugali’s movie, Rolling Stone Philippines tapped the returning director to discuss the movie’s origin story, his extensive use of AI, and what the future of the John Shaw: Nuclear Winter universe looks like.
Because yes, there are more movies like John Shaw: Nuclear Winter in the works.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
How did you first become attached to this project?
My boss, Ron Chan, is really the start of it. He’s the director, producer, and writer. He grew up in Cebu, tapos, nung nagtrabaho na siya, dun lang siya napunta sa UAE [United Arab Emirates].
I think he’s been based in the UAE for about 25 years now, but ever since, gusto niya palagang mapunta to this kind of industry. Kaya lang, parang wala siyang knowledge on how to start it.
Before I became attached last year, maybe two years ago, na pinagplanan nilang gawin, pero hindi nila masimulan. They were still looking for the right person na magkatulong sa kanila para masimulan ‘yong project.
I went to Dubai last year just to visit my sister. Nung nasa Dubai na ako, I learned that I have a lot of friends pala who still work in production [and knew Chan]. In-introduce niya ako. He interviewed me about my experience in filmmaking. Hindi ko in-expect na makukuha niya ako. The day before na bumalik na ako sa Manila, tumawag sila. Sabi nila, gusto na raw nila ng mag-start na ako.
So, ‘yon. I was given a contract, too. I was offered a contract of four pictures for two years.
Does that mean that John Shaw: Nuclear Winter won’t be the last movie?
No! Actually, ‘yong four pictures na ito, may mga titles na sila. The next one is The Enchanted World, parang Encantadia-type na movie, pero mas enhanced lang. We also have The Three Musketeers and Save Valentine’s Day, which we intend to show on Valentine’s Day. Hopefully next year.
Will those three upcoming films also use AI?
Yes. Pero ‘yong next one, parang we’re thinking of shooting it sa Cebu. We need a place na may mga forest, ganon and malaki ang location dito na pwede dito sa Cebu.
What was the reason behind using AI?
Unang-una, si Ron Chan kasi… medyo may talent siya in this type of enhancement with AI. Very experienced siya sa mga computer.
Ang second reason is medyo mahirap mag-shoot sa UAE for on-location shoots. It takes time talaga. Medyo mahirap mag-shoot sa mga places doon kasi may mga rule that you have to follow na hindi mo pwede ipakita si ganyan, hindi ka pwede magpakita ng mga babae na mga naka-costume siya, ‘yong nakasuot na [revealing]. It takes time din to get the permit to shoot kasi may maraming madadaanan. Aside from the government, meron din isang agency na dadaanan mo pa para mag-aapprove kung pwede ba mag-shoot sa UAE.
Tapos, mahal pa rin siya talaga ‘yong mga locations, kung i-compare mo sa locations sa Manila. But si Ron, he also owns a school, ‘yong Richmindale College. So, isa doon sa mga parang nire-rent namin na building, we turned [the school] into a studio.
The next one is The Enchanted World, parang Encantadia-type na movie, pero mas enhanced lang. We also have The Three Musketeers and Save Valentine’s Day, which we intend to show on Valentine’s Day.
What was the experience like working with Chan? And with the other first-time actors?
Na-surprise ako sa kanya kasi sa UAE [nakapag nag-organize] ako ng mga acting workshop doon, hindi siya sumali sa workshop namin so [naisip] ko, “Ah, confident siguro siya sa acting ability niya.” It turned out naman na okay pala siya. Siguro dahil ang passion niya ang mapunta sa filmmaking.
Can we talk about the Manila premiere?
‘Yong Manila premiere, medyo hindi maganda. I mean, accepted naman namin ‘yong nangyayari doon. Kasi hindi umabot ‘yong [permit] before the premiere. We need to abide by the rules of the cinemas and the MTRCB. Kaya natapos ‘yong film, kung walang permit na may pakita sa cinema, hindi siya pwedeng i-play talaga. Otherwise, mag-penalty kami.
We decided na rin to move our premiere to October. Our target is October 15. Pero, we’re still waiting for the confirmation from the booking office.
What’s next for Nuclear Winter?
After Manila, may other negotiations na rin. Magpapalabas kami sa may ibang region like Milan, Australia, Canada, and [the United States].
Wala pa kaming pag-usapan if we’re planning to join any festivals na international. Pero, napag-usapan lang namin kung pwede namin siyang i-Netflix or Amazon.
