Behind the scenes on MA-I

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Behind the scenes on MA-I

Hello dear all. Some of you are already having a hard time sleeping na siguro because you can’t wait to get a copy of MA-I book series na. Thank you for your support. Sana hindi lang talaga kayo dadalawa o tatatlo (LOL) na super excited. I only realized lately that I am not excited. I am more nervous than anything else. Yet I do want to remind myself that what’s important in all of these is that what we did with MA-I will be able to inspire all of us that we have a role to play in the world, no matter how seemingly young or powerless we are. We want to inspire you all out there that you and I can be heroes, and it can only be possible with the help of Someone bigger.

But before we get to the launch a few days from now (mark your calendars please! It’s on September 20, 2pm @ SMX and you’ll be able to meet the main characters LIVE!), instead of spoilers, let me share a few behind the scene happenings when we were doing the first five books of MA-I.

Below: Arya working on Ka’lila’s Insignia.

Some interactions between us and the editors:

1. “More blood please.” was one of the first comments.We were apprehensive with putting blood splatters on scenes of war. But they feel the gravity of scenes were so downplayed that it was hard to understand the gravity of the situation.. So when we got this comment from the editors, Arya and I looked at each other and said, “Wait, what?” Below: “blood” applied in Book 2.

2. WE revised the first few scripts several times, including a certain character named Lolong in the story. We couldn’t move forward because something bothered both the editors and writers (I can’t count how many back and forth that was). We finally moved forward when we removed Lolong entirely from the rest of the script. Sorry, Lolong, panira ka lang talaga. So the also supposedly bloody war scene opening has been pushed back and saved for the later books . Below is the title drawing of what was supposedly the first Book.

3. After having one of the editors’ niece read all five drafts of MA-I books, the niece had a worried face as if crying, “Why? Why? Why?” I’ll leave it at that. Ready to flip the tables. Below: scripting Book 5: Aman at makaka

4. We made them cry in Book 4. Maybe you have to have tissue on hand too when you read it.

5. “wala bang stuff toy na Aman?” says another editor. We were surprised at how charismatic Aman turned out for them though to us he wasn’t supposed to be that appealing. This is where you can say that the characters really have a life of their own. Below: Early character sketch of Aman who was supposed to be blond.

6. Editor’s father is an artist. She showed him character profiles for MA-I and he started doing action figures right away!

Main Characters (1st Arc)- hand made by Romy Solina
(c) Joy Solina

7. The series was supposed to be entitled “Alamat” until GMA 7 came up with a cartoon show of the same title. Nevertheless, we believe it’s for the better. We do like the new title better!