The ‘JackPat’ Story: Ilongga content creator bags TikTok’s First ForYouPelikula plum

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery?

Novy Recate, a 24-year-old Ilongga law student, took this question to a whole new level with her award-winning one-minute short film entry,”JackPat” (https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNQCjhc8/).

JackPat recently made waves at the TikTok Philippines’ first #ForYouPelikula Short Film Festival, bagging three out of four awards, including Best Short Film, Best Actor (Justin Cesar Samia), and Best Actress (Alyanna Rayos).

Depicting a story of a couple who, out of the prospect of winning a lottery, get into a conflict due to their differing dreams, Recate’s thought-provoking creation sparked conversations about possibilities, dreams, and the price one is willing to make in pursuit of one’s heart desires.

In an interview with Daily Guardian, Recate shared her intent behind “JackPat,” expressing her desire for people to resonate with the movie idea.

“I wanted people to resonate with the film, to show them that even in a simple story, such as a couple bickering about what they would do if they won the lotto, they can kind of reflect if ever they will get into a situation where the have to choose between prioritizing dreams/themselves over the harmony in a relationship or their significant other,” she explained and further pointed out that both choices are valid.

The title “JackPat” cleverly combines the names of the characters, Jack and Pat, while mimicking the sound of “jackpot,” creating a wordplay that hints at the theme of the film concept.

The irony lies in the juxtaposition of the idea of winning the lotto, traditionally associated with good fortune, and the subsequent strain it puts on the relationship between Jack and Pat.

While winning the lottery is considered a stroke of luck, the story delves into the ironic twist that this windfall becomes a source of tension that ultimately might jeopardize the very relationship of the characters.

As the film entry explores the reality that personal fulfillment can sometimes stand at odds, creating internal conflicts that are all too relatable, it skillfully brings to light the emotional turmoil experienced by individuals caught in this crossroads, forcing audiences to reflect on their own experiences and decisions

“More often than not, career or varying dreams are a deal breaker for a lot of relationships…and when you find yourself in that situation, it will be really hard,” Recate added.

Turning JackPat into Reality

Recate’s idea for “JackPat” had been lingering on her mind for quite a time.

“Naisip ko ni sya dugay na, I think the first time that I told this story to a friend was college, so it’s been years, and it is just one of my movie ideas na ginashare ko sa other people,” she stated.

“When I saw the competition, amo gid ni ang first entry nga nagsulod sa mind ko. I told myself, I really have to join and present this movie idea,” she added.

The process of bringing JackPat to life all happened very quickly. The short film was shot in Quezon City around Cubao, and according to Recate, the production didn’t take much time as everything was already in place before the shooting.

While she never expected to win, given the tough competition. The announcement that “JackPat” won Best Short Film was a surprise.

“I never expected that I would win because there are a lot of good entries. In my mind, everyone can easily win the best short film, it was like anyone’s game. When they said JackPat won best short film, I was very shocked,” she expressed and credited the success to the hard work of the entire team, emphasizing their collaborative effort.

‘Showing up even when its hard’

When asked about how she balances the academic life and content creation as a law student and a content creator at the same time, Novy candidly shared about the challenge of it, stating:

“Honestly, I really struggle balancing my time but one thing I would say that works for me is that, showing up especially when it’s hard.”

“I really find myself pushing that I have to show up because I committed to this,” she said emphasizing the importance of commitment despite the difficulties.

Starting her journey as a content creator in 2021 with random contents, Recate found her footing with the video “Three Things I Learned from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.

From such humble beginnings, she discovered her niche, leading to a significant milestone – now having almost 900,000 TikTok followers, hitting a million views, and winning a film entry competition.

TikTok emerged as the ideal platform for her creative expression, providing a space for her to connect with like-minded individuals.

About #ForYouPelikula

#ForYouPelikula is a short film festival by TikTok PH in collaboration with Viva, aiming to provide emerging filmmakers and storytellers with a unique platform to create engaging content that offers them the opportunity to craft inspiring narratives, connect with a broader audience, gain mainstream recognition, and contribute to the burgeoning local short film.

The festival has become an example of the convergence of social media and filmmaking, proving that compelling narratives can thrive in the briefest of formats.

Recate’s advice to aspiring creators emphasizes the importance of passion, citing her own experience: “For aspiring content creators, based on my experience if you should really go into content creation you should come from a place of love because if you don’t love what you do you will easily get demotivated. I make videos because I like doing videos, and I love movies. Through content creation, I’ve found my community and met great people.”

Recate’s journey illustrates the transformative power of storytelling on platforms like TikTok. As short films gain prominence digitally, festivals like #ForYouPelikula become crucial in providing creators with a space to showcase their talents, share stories, and contribute to the evolving landscape of digital filmmaking.