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Avignon, September 2009. Photo by Ricky Villabona.

The winners of our first LitWit challenge brought to you by National Bookstore are. . .

First, the criteria. There were none, but the default setting is always ‘Clever’. This can be tricky because if the attempt at cleverness is heavy-handed (masyadong pinag-isipan) the result can be pretentious and annoying.

In judging the entries I found myself turning away from the correct but safe choices: projects involving Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Hugh Laurie, Ang Lee, Hughs Grant and Dancy (The Jane Austen Book Club), and James McAvoy (Becoming Jane). True the option of casting Austen “regulars” was allowed, but surely the pool is too vast. For the Filipino versions the formula seems to be Romantic Comedy=Jose Javier Reyes+Star Cinema.

On the other hand I am glad that our readers know their Filipino screenwriters, and I agree that Michiko Yamamoto is very well suited to adapt Jane for our times. I much enjoyed the entries which cast 80s stars in the lead roles—they got me to imagining D’Pride, D’Prejudice, D’Punks with Leni Santos and Rey ‘PJ’ Abellana, or even earlier, Pride and Prejudice at Burong Talangka with Nora Aunor and Cocoy Laurel.

Naturally I was delighted to read the ATP Tour version, the US Open being on the brain these days, as well as the West Wing and TV anchor versions (With one minor quibble. We’d marry Jon Stewart tomorrow, but he is too short for Darcy; Darcy should be able to look down his nose at everyone). In the end I went for the entries that challenge the notion that P&P is antiquated, conservative (may pagka-manang), a relic of colonialism, and a subject to be treated with extreme respect and respectability in Oscar-baiting “prestige projects”. One of my favorite Austen adaptations is Clueless.

Our winners are: Pride and Prejudice Ng Mga Elitista, directed by Carlo J. Caparas and produced by Golden Lion Films, PCSO, and Royal Era Entertainment by LigayaP, and Orgullo y Prejuicio (Hombre, Mi Amor) directed by Joey Gosiengfiao by Aimee Moonlight (Joey Reyes is involved, but it’s. . .different).

Apart from assembling a likely cast, LigayaP evoked the Kafkaesque process of getting a movie made these days, and spared me several weeks of catching up on the showbiz talk shows. Aimee Moonlight’s gender bender includes the Filipinized setting, situation, and character names (Fitzcarraldo Darcillano—Hola, Darci! made coffee shoot out of my nose).

Also, the winning entries are hilarious. LigayaP will receive the Winchester edition of Pride and Prejudice, and Aimee Moonlight the Sense and Sensibility. (You could swap.) Winners, please post your Philippine addresses in Comments (they will not be published) and we’ll see how to get your prizes to you. Congratulations! Thanks again to the lovely people of National Bookstore for supporting the weekly LitWit challenge.

The next LitWit challenge begins tomorrow.