Indie filmmakers urge MTRCB: Change rules

inq7.net reports (written by Marinel Cruz) that Indie Filmmakers urged MTRCB to change their rules because they’re lopsided, if not outdated.

This is what several independent filmmakers—troubled by the handing out of “X” ratings to their short films and documentaries—are asking the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), referring to its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Aside from the documentaries, there were also other issues. Jimenez is the producer of Khavn dela Cruz’s short film, “Three Days of Darkness,” which also got an “X” rating for “prolonged sexual activities, including pumping scenes, masturbation and lesbian lovemaking.”

Quoting a three-member committee that reviewed the film, Jimenez said he was disappointed with the MTRCB decision that said the short film “has no redeeming value and is therefore unacceptable for commercial screening.”

Jimenez initially applied for a 15-day screening permit and got an R-18 rating. The film later received an “X” when Jimenez reapplied, this time for a five-year permit.

Paolo Villaluna, co-director of the full-length feature “Selda” believes the “political rule” in the Board’s IRR should be revised. “How many anti-Bush films have been made in the US this year alone? And they have TV hosts like Jay Leno making fun of Bush, but the government’s okay with it,” he said.

A portion in “Selda,” co-directed by Ellen Ramos, had to be deleted to avoid getting an “X” rating, said Villaluna.

The directors also appealed for a representation of the independent film sector in the MTRCB’s board membership. “The Board should have separate guidelines when it is dealing with the independent community. We now have a hundred indie films all hoping to be screened in theaters,” said Villaluna. “I hope the MTRCB will open its system to this new industry. In fact, it should be thankful because a huge bulk of the Board’s resources these days actually comes from the indie sector.”

read the full article here inq7.net

SUPPORT ILONGGO FILMS

By Reymundo Salao

With the showing of the indie Ilonggo film “When Timawa Meets Delgado”, this only means that we are indeed foreseeing a good future for Ilonggo filmmakers. Just some months ago, Joenar Pueblo also released for public showing his film “Dagyang”. We all know how independent cinema has proven itself to be better than big production companies. Indie flicks like “Kubrador” and “Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” have all been made by independent film makers with little or no help at all from big production companies. While these movies have won awards from reputable film festival bodies like the Cannes Film Festival and other foreign film festivals, Manila’s big production companies has done nothing more but make and remake the same old rotten expensive movies that do nothing but please their own manipulated film festivals. While these big Tagalog movies continue on destroying the reputation of Philippine Cinema, it is clear that the ones that will eventually save this reputation are the independent film makers.

The Indie film scene of Manila has already strengthened itself and has even made itself popular in some portions of Metro Manila. Meanwhile, here in Iloilo, our Indie Film scene was born some years ago with CINE ILONGGO and the films it produced. For a couple of years, it had a brief hiatus. But when Pueblo released “DAGYANG”, it jumpstarts CINE ILONGGO back, letting the public know that it has never gone away and has always been there.

It has been easier for artists to make films now because advances in technology had made filmmaking less expensive. It does not take anymore for one to be very rich to make a film; it only takes a camera and a great degree of talent. On the other hand, there will always be ruthless critics. There will always be people who will never give the slightest appreciation for the raw approach of indie filmmaking. They will complain that these indie films look cheap, or they will complain that they are boring, uninteresting, and unexciting. But we must also keep in mind that many of the great filmmakers began in indie filmmaking. The Lord of the Ring’s director Peter Jackson started out with weird and cheap-looking indie films entitled “Bad Taste” and “Braindead”. Spider-man’s Sam Raimi also began with a cheap-looking weird flick entitled “Within the Woods” which he later remade into the 1981 cult classic “Evil Dead” (which later had a phenomenal Part 3 entitled “Army of Darkness”). These big directors all began with small quirky films. Despite their small budget, their talent shines; this has been taken notice by their audience and also taken notice by producers who have an eye for talent. Likewise, we may never know who among these independent Ilonggo filmmakers would someday become the next Peter Jackson or Sam Raimi. How would you know if you refuse to watch them? Them being Ilonggo filmmakers should be good enough reason to make you watch their films. I do hope that our local theaters here in Iloilo would continue on supporting Indie Films. It has always been a sort of wishful thinking of mine that Iloilo would make its mark as a place where great filmmakers would come from.

Let us support Ilonggo Films!

Screening Schedules this Week [01-16-08]

ROBINSONS MOVIEWORLD
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:45, 6, 8:15 PM
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:45, 6, 8:15 PM
Death Proof
12:15 PM, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15, 8:15 PM
I Am Legend
11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:45, 6, 8:15 PM
Desperadas
11:15 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:45, 6, 8:15 PM
When Timawa Meets Delgado
11:15 AM, 1 PM, 2:45, 4:30, 6:15, 8 PM

SM CITY CINEMA
Martian Child
12:20 PM, 2:30, 4:40, 6:50, 9 PM
I Am Legend
11 AM, 1 PM, 3, 5, 7, 9 PM
Desperadas
11 AM, 1 PM, 3, 5, 7, 9 PM
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
11:20 AM, 1:45 PM, 4:10, 6:35, 9 PM
Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo
11 AM, 1 PM, 3, 5, 7, 9 PM
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
12:20 PM, 2:30, 4:40, 6:50, 9 PM
Death Proof
11:25 AM, 1:20 PM, 3:15, 5:10, 7:05, 9 PM

It's 2008 & we're back!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Thank God the MMFF is over. Don't get me wrong. I love Pinoy movies... but i don't like CRAPPY Pinoy movies. And there's no line-up of bad movies like the Metro Manila Film Festival... especially the recent one. If you want to patronize & support Pinoy Cinema, watch movies like Kubrador, Maximo Oliveros, & Blackout... their dvds have been released already, it's worth a purchase.

May I add that the only good movie in the MMFF is BANAL, which is directed by a TV News Reporter, Cesar Apolinario. Yes, this "newbie" filmmaker won over the other has-been (overused) directors because those old directors are never any good at their craft anyway (how many million times more can we endure Joel Lamangan direct badly made movies or see Bong Revilla as some overweight action hero). Cheers to Apolinario! May he get better in his craft!

Anyway... MY APOLOGIES because THIS SITE HAS BEEN inactive for the past weeks, mainly because of the MMFF which this site abhors & thinks of as a breeding ground for movies that destroy the reputation of Philippine Cinema.

SO now, without any further bullshit, we're back...

STARDUST

THE MAGICAL WONDERFUL DELIGHT OF STARDUST
By Reymundo Salao

This movie based on the 1994 fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman tells the story of young Tristan Thorne who makes a wild-eyed promise to the prettiest girl in the village, whose heart he hopes to win: that he will bring her back a fallen star. But in order to make good on his promise, Tristan will have to cross the forbidden wall, and enter a mysterious kingdom lit by unending magic and unfolding legends of which he will quickly become a part.

In this fantastical realm known as Stormhold, Tristan discovers that the fallen star is not the meteorite he expected, but a beautiful, spirited young woman injured by her cosmic tumble. Now, she is in terrible danger - sought after by the King's scheming sons for whom only her secret powers can secure the throne; and hunted by a chillingly powerful witch desperate to use the star to achieve eternal youth and beauty. Tristan's adventure will never be an easy road to cross.


Considered by many of his fans as a literary god, Neil Gaiman weaves stories which have a timeless fantasy appeal. Oftentimes, his fans are very protective of their idol’s works, as they’re sometimes afraid when his stories are made into film because there is always a risk that it may not be translated well into movies, and may possibly just destroy the reputation of the original.

It seems unlikely that Matthew Vaughn would be the one chosen to direct this movie, considering that Vaughn’s previous work has only been the crime movie “Layer Cake” and his other credits include having produced the crime comedy “Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels… Nothing in his credits spell out that he would be a wise choice to direct a fantasy novel written by Neil Gaiman. It seemed like a risk. But sure enough, Vaughn pulled it off with flying colors. The film adaptation of STARDUST is a magnificent fantasy adventure that lets its audience soar into its wonderful universe of witches and sky-soaring pirates. Like all adaptations, changes and alterations may be expected, but the movie (according to fans of the book… they’re Gaiman fanatics…that I consulted) is more or less faithful enough to be considered a more-than-decent adaptation. According to the IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) trivias, Gaiman trusted Vaughn both as a friend and as someone "who stuck to his word," something Gaiman considered a rarity in Hollywood. To complement Vaughn's style and better capture all the aspects of the book, Gaiman introduced him to writer Jane Goldman, and the two hit it off and wrote the screenplay.


At first one may frown at the minor flaw of the movie, which is the casting choice of Claire Danes as the Fallen Star named Yvaine (Sarah Michelle Gellar was the first choice to play the role, but she turned it down to spend more time with her husband). She just seems to be not as pretty enough to look like a human-form Star. But then again, as the story progresses, she metaphorically and literally shines at her part, the more you watch her in this role, the more you feel that she seems to be the perfect choice for the role. She does have that ethereal hippie-chick image to back it up anyway, and I guess many of us have already forgotten (& forgiven?) her offensive remarks about Manila from around ten years ago, which led the nation to hate her.


The narrator of the movie sounds familiar because that is Ian Mckellen (Lord of the Ring’s Gandalf himself). The lead character Tristan Thorne is played by Charlie Cox, who does a good job in playing a likeable hero. The rest of the cast includes a lot of familiar faces. There’s Robert De Niro playing the pirate Captain Shakespeare, Peter O’Toole as the King, Sienna Miller as Victoria, Henry Cavill as Humphrey, Rupert Everett as Prince Secundus, Jason Flemyng as Primus, & Mark Strong as Septimus. And of course, there’s Michelle Pfeiffer as the big baddie in this movie, Lamia, a witch determined to kill the Fallen Star so that she could be young again.

To those looking for a flick to share with the kids, the movie is family-friendly, although there are scenes which have some morbidity on it. But I’m sure its not as bad enough to upset families. It’s not something Pinoy kids can’t handle. The film is a high-flying adventure reminiscent of movies like “The Prince’s Bride” and “Willow” But this one promises to be far better than those two. Even its love story is chillingly sweet enough to excite killjoys like me. Its humor and sense of wonderful weirdness is delightfully spunky and impressive. This movie is indeed a fairy tale with modern sensibilities. It’s a must-see for lovers of beautiful magical escapist delight.

The Desperate Housewives Racial Slur

THE BIGOTRY OF THE AMERICANS
By Reymundo Salao

It has been a week since the controversial Racial Slur that American TV Show “Desperate Housewives” has made in one of its episodes when one of the characters played by Teri Hatcher uttered a line that demeans the reputation of Filipino Doctors. Up till now, that insult has not been satisfied. …And that “Apology” made by that American network, ABC? Bahhh! They think they could just make us forget with a cheap apology? This was not just a matter of error; this was a deliberate Slap in the Face! An insult that spat onto a country already injured by a chronic lack of self-esteem.

Clearly, this show seems to represent Modern America: A bitch that hides itself in a disguise of glamour, and is constantly delusional of the idea that they’re superior above any other race on Earth. It has been an impression of mine, and now, with this bitter insult, proven true; it gives the impression that indeed Americans fancy themselves to be above all races. Basing from their history of racism, specifically during the era of the Ku Klux Klan, the Desperate Housewives show makes me wonder that with American arrogance being underlined, America could have been the country where Nazism came from. After all, Hate could be in the form of a Joke. It has now become not so much of a wonder why many other nationalities hate America. Not so much of a wonder why some races are desperate to bomb anything that is American. Some nationalities have even gave America that nickname that has long been used by the many that hate it: America – The Great Satan.

And after Desperate Housewives, comes The Daily Show with John Stuart that has made a video-clip joke where we see OUR Former President Corazon Aquino’s picture, with the word “Slut” on it. Clearly how disturbing that such an irreverent show would take pride in insulting a very revered harmless timid former leader of ours. I have been a fan of the Daily Show before. But now that they did THIS, I am deeply appalled. These American shows seem to be forgetting their own limits of discipline. The Daily Show should BURN for this. Of course, these shows would be chicken enough to make jokes of Muslim leaders, or else they will be hunted down like the dogs that they are. Sometimes, I wish we were as protective enough of our leaders as the Muslims would. But you know what? Maybe we ought to be as rabidly protective of our national pride as they do with their religion.

Furthermore, the insult was not even based on some shred of fact. If there was a joke about Corruption in the Philippine government, if there was a joke about the antique-World War 2 Era facilities that the Philippine Air Force & Navy uses, then it would be not as upsetting, because in one way or another, there is some shred of truth to such. But demeaning the Filipino Medical Society and belittling it to defamatory level… where is the shred of truth in that? In fact, many westerners even GO TO THE PHILIPPINES just to have medical operations because it is practical to have medical operations and at the same time RELIABLE. You can scour all legitimate existing records, and legitimate websites and you will find the reputation of Philippine Medical Professionals that are well known all over the world. The insult that ABC Network and the show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES did was not even based on some manner of truth; not even based on a half-truth. Just a blind ignorant insult. No cheap apology can satisfy the damage that has been done.

They want to apologize? They have to try harder than just CHEAP APOLOGY. The ABC Network should maybe donate a hospital in the Philippines, or any medical facility. Anything that will really make them COMPENSATE for their ignorant humor. And THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEMAND IT.

With Desperate Housewives being a very influential show, that is seen by millions of its audiences, you can expect that it WILL AFFECT the employment of Filipino Doctors, Nurses, and other Medical Practitioners that seek to have a job in the U.S. Because of this show’s ignorant hateful remark, it is very very possible that your child WILL NOT BE WELCOMED by Employment Agencies in the US. If that happens, BLAME DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. BLAME THAT AMERICAN ABC TV NETWORK. BLAME AMERICAN ARROGANCE. They only give us some Cheap Apology, assuming that we would be stupid enough to just take it and everything will be “okay” with us. Well we should spit it back.

If I had my way, I'd have a mass demonstration condemning this act of insult. Burning of American flags in the plaza, also of posters and merchandise that represent this TV show. But then again, let's be realistic here, there are still many of our kababayans who are jaded and UN-PATRIOTIC enough to not even give the slightest care about this insult. There are many who will still watch this show. But then again, my advice to them would be simple: 1. NEVER buy Original or Official merchandise from/of this show (include ALL of ABC Shows anyway. I’m talking about DVDs, VCDs, shirts, mugs, whatever; 2. Buy ONLY Pirated/Bootleg dvds/vcds of this show. PIRACY is GOOD. You will save money by buying Pirated DVDs/VCDs of this show. The proceeds of which will go to impoverished Filipino families that are left with no recourse but to become Pirated Products Employees; Buy ONLY Pirated/Bootleg merchandise of this show. China makes excellent Bootleg shirts of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. This also includes mugs, etc. Our government may have cancelled the ZTE Deal with China. Do your part as a citizen and renew ties with China by buying Bootleg DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Merchandise! 4. Convince OTHERS to DO THE SAME

DAGYANG

Atty. Joenar Pueblo’s “DAGYANG”
By Reymundo Salao

The dawn of the Iloilo film industry began more than five years ago when Sine Ilonggo was organized. It was then when young Ilonggo filmmakers launched their short films on SM City Cinema, and it was then when Ilonggo audiences were first introduced to Ilonggo films, these were “Dihon”, “Hulot”, Batchoyan sa Banwa”, and other Ilonggo short films came afterwards. Among the new filmmakers that rose up during this time was Joenar Pueblo whose short film “Hablon” won a Gawad CCP Award.

I have personally known Joenar Pueblo ever since my high school years, and indeed, he has been involved, not only in theater arts, but also in the fields of literature, journalism and poetry as well. In fact, he helped me out by giving me tips in writing poetry when we were together in the University of San Agustin’s School Publication (which published the paper The Augustinian and magazine The Augustinian Mirror) He is also a very good friend and every now and then when I get to bump into him, we would comfortably discuss about movies. It wasn’t much of a surprise that he would end up making a full-length movie, despite the fact that with him now being a lawyer, one could imagine that he wouldn’t have the time to make a movie. But nothing can stop passion. No matter what you are in life, if you have the passion, you will always find time to create Art.

Developments in digital video technology has helped Independent Film-making grow. Before, it was tedious and incredibly costly to produce a full-length film, now film-making can be done with practical means. Imagination and Passion can be brought to life as films without the gigantic technical hindrances. Because of this, we are beginning to see a sort of “Renaissance Age” in the art of film. Films like “Kubrador” and “Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” are testament to that. And now, Atty. Joenar Pueblo is giving us his new movie, the first Ilonggo full-length feature film “DAGYANG”

His crew started filming DAGYANG in December last year. With the help of such talented people as Rhodora Solis, Jigo Mambo, Eric Divinagracia, and my good friend Wilfred Galila, DAGYANG was made. The cast includes Edward Divinagracia, RLeone Gerochi, Julienne Baronda, Geoffrey Obe, Erwin Chiongson, and Joanne Paulette Libo-on, among many other cast of characters.

DAGYANG melds various stories that somehow involve Ilonggo Heritage. From the Binukot to Manoghiwit, and even to the Batchoy. With that in mind, DAGYANG is sure to be a must see for Ilonggo film audiences. Don’t miss it. DAGYANG is now showing at Robinson’s Movieworld Iloilo. Its screening schedule is 12:15 PM, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15, 8:15 PM

The Brave One

THE BRAVE ONE
by Reymundo Salao

Synopsis: New York radio host Erica Bain has a life that she loves and a fiancé she adores. All of it is taken from her when a brutal attack leaves Erica badly wounded and her fiancé dead. Unable to move past the tragedy, Erica begins prowling the city streets at night to track down the men she holds responsible. Her dark pursuit of justice catches the public's attention, and the city is riveted by her anonymous exploits. But with the NYPD desperate to find the culprit and a dogged police detective hot on her trail, she must decide whether her quest for revenge is truly the right path, or if she is becoming the very thing she is trying to stop.

Jodie Foster is a very powerful actress, and we have seen her in many movies before that has awarded her with numerous acting awards, but lately, her career has been taking on more mainstream movies, like "Flight Plan" and "Panic Room". All great movies, but not really movies that are subject of serious acting dramas.

Now comes her new movie, THE BRAVE ONE which is directed by Neil Jordan, whose track record includes many dramas with arthouse appeal; "The Crying Game", "The End of the Affair", and "Michael Collins". His work in "Interview with the Vampire" which is his more mainstream work is defined with his mastery of more character-based dramas.


In this movie, Foster gets to utilize her acting abilities on a project which fits well with her prowess. THE BRAVE ONE has a storyline that mirrors many revenge movies. But this one is so true to its subject matter. Tragedy and revenge does not turn you into Rambo, it actually turns you into a stranger, and ugly side of you. Or so does this film portray. The movie has a more dramatic and psychological aspect, than your usual heavy-metal-soundtracked vengeance-themed action movie. It takes you on a more realistic ride of going through the excruciating pain of loss, inner confusion, emptiness, helplessness, and then a transformation into somebody who implements one’s own definition of justice.

This could easily have been dismissed as a remake of Charles Bronson's classic vengeance movie "Death Wish", but with a female main character, the depth of drama is far more defined. Probably because women have a more defined psychological and emotional detail than men do. A male hero would just jump (riding their testosterone) to all-out revenge; but with a female character, we see that she has to weigh the circumstances, and a push of chance would have to drive her to become the vigilante we expect her to be.

Also among the cast list is Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen, and Terrence Howard, who’s known for his role in "Hustle & Flow" and "Crash" where he won numerous acting awards for. His performance in THE BRAVE ONE impressively melds with Foster's, playing a detective who is investigating the vigilante murders that have been going on in the city.

THE BRAVE ONE is easily a movie that has great impact on its audience. To call it a Revenge Movie would be fair, but to call it a Revenge Drama would be appropriate. Solid and powerful acting, fabulous screenplay, and an impressive direction, THE BRAVE ONE is a movie that is indeed worth watching.