Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker's Debut Film Sees Real-Life Exorcism On Set
Filmmaker's Debut Film Sees Real-Life Exorcism On Set
6 Mar
Summary
- A crew member experienced a supposed possession during filming in an ancient church.
- Director James J. Robinson's film explores faith and his dual heritage.
- The film premiered in Rotterdam and is screening at the Glasgow Film Festival.
During the 2024 filming of James J. Robinson's debut feature, 'First Light,' a surreal event unfolded on set in the remote mountains of the Philippines. A female crew member reportedly became possessed while shooting in a 500-year-old church. The incident led to a chaotic scene involving attempts at exorcism and a witch doctor, highlighting diverse beliefs among the crew. Ultimately, locals performed an exorcism, after which the crew member had no memory of the event.
Robinson, of Australian and Filipino heritage, described the experience as uncanny, particularly as 'First Light' delves into his Filipino roots and his evolving relationship with Catholicism. The film, set in rural Philippine mountains, follows a young construction worker's death and an elderly nun's reckoning with church and community. It premiered in Rotterdam and is currently screening at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Robinson stated that exorcisms are normalized in the Philippines, noting how the Tagalog language itself makes space for spirits. He also shared that the film was partly inspired by anger over Australia's proposed Religious Discrimination Bill in 2021. 'First Light' ultimately aims to explore themes of faith, institutional power, and personal journeys through spirituality.
