Citizen Jake (2018)

Interesting facts

Citizen Jake is a 2018 Philippine crime drama film produced and directed by Mike de Leon in his final directional feature film before his death in 2025. Combining elements of film noir and metacinema, it features real-life journalist Atom Araullo in a fictional role as a former journalist who criticizes politicians through his writing.

Production

Citizen Jake was directed by Mike de Leon. De Leon is making his first film in the 21st century having directed the 1999 classic, Bayaning 3rd World. De Leon along with Atom Araullo and Noel Pascual wrote the script for the film. The trio met regularly to work on the film as early as November 2016.

Director Mike de Leon said that the title of Citizen Jake is a reference to "the world of citizen journalists, social media and politics" and described the film as a "hybrid film of sorts". The film, which he described as "personal", is meant as a tribute to the now defunct LVN Studios which was run by his grandmother and father.

It was projected that the film's production team would be set up by Christmas of 2016 and it was planned that the principal photography was to start by mid-March to early-April 2017. Principal photography began on March 17, 2017, with some scenes shot in Baguio. Filming was also made at the director's house in Baguio which was also a filming location of the film, Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising which starred Christopher de Leon.

The cinematographer of the film was Dix Buhay while Lorna Sanchez and Martin Mayuga served as assistant director and production manager, respectively.

By July 2017, the principal photography of Citizen Jake has been finished. Post-production work was briefly stopped in November 2017 but was later continued.

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