Cinemalaya 9: backtracks

Hey! It’s time to resurrect my blog back into life again. Haha! I’m the worst in being consistent with this. My life’s been a bit ugh and hopefully I get back as soon as possible. Anywaaaaaaaaaaaaay, back to business.

It’s the last week of July and every film enthusiast knows what it means! Cinemalaya time! Oh yea!

I have been exposed to the wonderful world of Cinemalaya back in second year college, through my friend who invited me to watch. I don't remember what we watched back then but right then and there my life changed. chos!  Hihi! Being me, I’m easily interested with anything new and intriguing plus the fact that it’s so affordable (it was still 50php for students years back) .

So I’ve scanned through my scrapbook and saw this. It says it’s my 1^st Cinemalaya ticket. haha! I guess me and my friend wasn’t able to watch back in 2008 or maybe I just lost the ticket. idk.

 Since then I always see to it that I take part in this wonderful festival every year even just a film or two to see. Cinemalaya is such a breath of fresh air from all those cliché-filled films in the market (even if they say countless of times that their storyline is new, uh, not really). The films showcased in this festival bring us to a world where you would see more into life through the character’s eyes. It  tackles a wide variety of issues from gender, OFWs, miners, organ donors, criminals, sex workers to more other stories of people that might haven’t even crossed your mind from the very start. The range is endless that no wonder each year more and more patrons flock in to see what’s new.

Last Friday, July 26, 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition with a theme of "Cinesthesia: Synergy of the Senses".  This year 5 films (Amor y Muerte, Ekstra, Porno, Sana Dati and Liars) in Directors Showcase; 10 films (Babagwa, David F, Debosyon, Instant Mommy, Nuwebe, Purok 7, Quick Change, Rekorder, The Diplomat Hotel and Transit); and as 2 sets of Short features with 5 in each. The festival opened with a film entitled “Jazz in Love”, a documentary film by Babyruth Villarama-Guttierez which is free for all to see.

Last Saturday I went with my friend and as expected a lot of films are already sold out. Ekstra and Diplomat Hotel were already sold out even days before the opening. We arrived before 12:30pm and we’re left with no choice for the 12:45, 3:30 and 6:10 slot. We still pushed thru with those 3 films and just decided to pass on the 9 pm slot which still have 2 films available (Porno and Quick Change). And that’s what you get when you come after noon with no pre bought tickets in a weekend. sad.

First stop: Nuwebe

So basically it’s about a Filipina who got pregnant at the tender age of 9, thus the title, and how she and her family dealed with it. The film followed the story of Krista, the 9 yr old girl, as she narrates her experience. It's based on a true to life story of incest, an issue that's not different nowadays. 

Honestly, I wasn't too charmed by how the story went. Nevertheless, it received a generous amount of applause in the end. I just felt like the story went too slow and quite dragging, you know those times where you can go pee because you won't miss something big if you go. I'm also quite confused with some of the lines Krista had, there are times that it doesn't feel like it fits the character. Idk, but I felt she overdid it at some point. But anyway, in terms of the story, it was good. They injected some factors that made the film interesting.

Purok 7

This is another film in the New Breed Full-length category by Carlo Obispo. It follows the story of Doray and his brother as they live their lives on their own waiting for the time their family becomes complete again. 

This film is heartwarming by its own. It made me laugh, cry and giddy as the story progress. Hands down also to the 2 main leads ( Krystle Valentino & Miggs Cuaderno) who acted so naturally that it felt so real making you feel that genuine longingness for their family. 

It also injected some kilig factor, the puppy love for young ones, that balanced the feels. We saw it during the gala night so the director and some of the cast and crew were there. I believe they succeeded on their goal because everyone in the main theater that day saw and heard how the audience reacted and connected with the film. 

It was simple yet full of emotion you'll bring the character's feels as you go out the venue. It was no extraordinaire that will make you "woah" but it was something plain and simple, told in the eyes of the siblings that made the film genuinely good, and awesome.

PS. I think my love for dancers/bboys came back after seeing this. hihi.

Quick Change

I just saw this yesterday with my hs friend. Stories like this are the reason I kept coming back every year. It's about issues not too talked about or quite new, for my case, that you get too much information afterwards, but it's all good. haha. 

The story revolved around Tita Dorina, a transexual who makes a living through her underground operation. She "helps" her fellow bekis and others in achieving their pegs in life through injecting "collagen". This was new to me that's why I'm so hooked on how the story progressed. I never knew that this things happen. I mean I know nose lift and stuff is done in private clinics but I never knew that some do this underground, it's just too risky. scary.

 Anyway before I get completely sidetracked, the story was nicely plotted. They tackled the life of transexuals, the usual love and acceptance and mainly the risk and outcome of such "work". It also has the comedic side which everyone liked. I'm uncertain with the last part because it felt like they ran out of time that they pushed the story to end the climax. I don't know, it was just.. yea, expected but hasty(?). Anyway, I still loved the film because it tackled a lot of things that I'm not too aware of so it was a nice experience and also entertaining, nonetheless.

To get things straight, I'm no movie critic though, I'm just a film enthusiast and an avid fan of such films so please bear with how this is so MABABAW. hehe. I just like to share how I felt while I saw these films. I hope I could see all other films especially those in the New Breed categories because it's there I see mostly the gems in this festival. 

The Mexi Combi parked upp the CCP ramp which gained a lot of curios stares. Their pork soft tacos were superb!

One more new things this year is they let some food establishments make some makeshift stalls in the balcony side of CCP. That was a very smart and useful move indeed. July to August is a rainy season so it's really not practical to go down and snack out every break while waiting for the next film. So thank you so much for that Cinemalaya organizers! Maybe next time you could also make some vacant space/room/hall as a waiting area especially for those going alone. hihi. Just a suggestion. =]

"DON'T go beyond this point"... what sign? ... uhmm..

I believe Cinemalaya 9 was very successful this year, judging by the ticket sales and the films and the directors that were given a chance to showcase their talents, yet again. Never disappointing. Props to Filipino film makers, more and more each year are enchanted by your work of art. Thanks for sharing your talents with your fellow Filipinos!

PS. I feel like a whiner now. haha! But I really think that Cinemalaya organizers should consider stretching the festival for at least two weeks, maybe. I mean the following is significantly large right now unlike in the past years. Even tickets for weekday sched are selling like pancakes too (the case in CCP) so I hope they stretch the schedule next year so other could still have the chance to see other films they like. More days, all happier. right? C'mon, O hope somebody suggests this to them.

Schedule:

www.cinemalaya.org

Cinemalaya 2012

Cinemalaya is now on it's 8th year in Full Force with 25 new films in store for movie lovers. The films showcased in this year were more diverse, more genres are offered as I noticed while scanning on their synopses. They also expanded this year with Trinoma cinemas as an addition on the venues of the festival. Hooray for Pinoy indie films reaching out to more audience. =]  It would now be my 4th year this year attending the festival, and it just gets better and better to see more people attending and supporting Pinoy films. =] If only it wasn't for our preboards last weekend, I might have seen at least 80% of the films this year. But anyway, I got to sneak out some time out of review to watch one with my friends last Wednesday. CCP was full packed even in a weekday, wow. Cheers!

INTOY SYOKOY NG KALYE MARINO

Another exceptional story from The Eros Atalia. =] 

Basically, the story revolved around Intoy and his childhood friends. Reality bites, problems arises from each of them as the story unfolds. First, Intoy was left by his cheating mother after her father drowned himself on liquor after catching his wife cheating on him. He then eventually died that same night as he loss his balance and drowned. Intoy also almost lost his sense and decided to drown himself too to escape reality, but thanks to one of their neighbors who even offered to be his guardian from that day on. His friends were also there to be of comfort and make him realize his craziness. Aww... =] On the other hand, Doray, Intoy's childhood crush is also left with her two sisters who she sends off to school. School starts soon, thus she was forced to get any job that would get them by. At first she got herself a job in a local club but then after realizing how small their salary was, she is then forced to get to the risky life of prostitution after hearing about it from one of her ex-colleague at work. Even though most of the time she was just just given a bag full of fish, she still gets to make money out of it by selling it in the market. Intoy religiously goes to Doray's house to give her a portion of what he gets to fish out on a day. After knowing from his friends what Doray was into now, Intoy doubles his effort in work in hope that one day he could take Doray away with him from Kalye Marino.

It’s a one complete story. My friends do also did agree with me on this. Though as the story progress, it gets too hard to grasp at times when the scene is just too much that you just want to hug the character or shout “why??!”. Like why did Yeye’s father have to die when he’s now in college to be on board with her father as soon as possible? Why did it took long for Bertong Baka to decide to leave away from his sabungerong uncle. And why does Doray have to keep on with his “job”when Intoy willingly helps them every day. Huh. Affected much? Lol. But good thing Intoy’s humorous friends love to crack jokes that makes thing lighter. The film gave a roundup of some of the issues that some Filipinos do really go through in life. Overall it was moving, it just let’s you see the other side most especially for those who were well off from the start that doesn’t know how to appreciate things in life.And btw, kudos to JM de Guzman and LJ Reyes who did good with their lead roles. And also Joross Gamboa who was so natural with his character, I love his banats. haha!

And yesterday I got time to go to CCP again with my friend, we were supposed to watch whole day but then we got there around 12pm and 9pm shows were already sold out and we even did long in the ticket counter for every film we choose were sold out already. Sad. But anyway, we still snagged up some tickets for 3 films.

KALAYAAN (Wildlife)

Honestly it bored me for the most. Slow paced movie and me are just not meant to be. Basically, the movie title was derived from the location which is Kalayaan Island aka. Spratly’s. The beginning was just disturbing enough for me. It involved a mermaid and a soldier in water in the dark. And Igot not intention to get on the detail, so moving on… =] This is how I see most of the indie movies. Less talk more on imagination. Though I didn’t liked it that  much, I still find the story appealing. The film focused on Julian, a soldier stationed alone in one of the islands. It showed the daily routine of a lonesome soldier who gets by everyday only with his radio,  tv and his R-rated cd. And now you know what happens next.

After the movie, the director was called upstage to answer some questions. So I got to know that the film was based on the interviews he had done from the soldiers in Honda Bay. Like the mermaid and sound of soldiers marching in the night that according to him was a tale on the island from some of the soldiers who’ve stationed there already. After hearing what the director’s behind the scene story, I got to appreciate the film more and besides it’s my first to see one about the life of those soldiers who get assigned on jobs like this. One thing is still stuck in my mind though, I’m still curious if the basketball game between the Vietnamese and Filipino was true. Because Zanjoe’s character talked about it in the film, about some Vietnamese  inviting the Filipino soldiers for a friendly basketball game and they got drunk after and when the Filipino soldiers woke up guns were pointed on them and they were forced to stay on the other island. Hmm… someone answer me please?  

SANTA NIÑA

When Paulino Mungcal and his co-worker in a lahar-filled quarry unexpectedly dig up the remains of his 2-year daughter Marikit, they discover that she showed no signs of decay. Could this be a miracle, and could she — despite death – cure the sick? Inspired by whatever healing power the deceased child may have, Pol asks the church to declare her a saint. But how, when her resurgence stirs up emotions buried by time, and shores up questions about pure love, guilt, sin andsalvation?- Emmanuel Quindo Palo

Since Pol found her daughter's corpse still intact and preserved in it's casket from the ruins of lahar countless of people started to visit their home as he placed the remains in their home  for a lot of people started to believe that it got some miraculous act.. Even the governor's wife was there to attest and support Pol on making her daughter Marikit a saint/ but religious leaders don't agree, explains that there's a process and their evidences were not enough.

There are a lot of issues in this film that will challenge your beliefs. The theme was religion with politics in the side.  The director was also there yesterday for a Q&A portion in the full-packed main theatre. The climax part was the one that moved me a lot. Mabel suddenly droppedthe casket while running to Pol’s Lola who suddenly passed out in the latter part of the film as they witness Pol nailed on the cross as a personal sacrifice for his sins. The glass closing of the casket then broke and all of a sudden the preserved body vanished as the gush of the wind blew the remains just like a sand. It’s just a very nice depiction of the closure that everyone had to have at last. 

POSAS

The last one we watched for the night. Twisted. ‘nuff said.

 The movie was set in a day following the life of Jess, a delinquent who snatches phones for a living and to help his mother and brother get though life. But then came this day where his latest victim, Grace a call center agent would be the match that would turn his day into something that would mark another life for him after being captured by the police. This one day turned out to be a day of revelations of reality and a bite in your face. Anu daw? (excuse my sudden flow of words)  Lol. Basically, the movie showed the twisted realities that happen in the justice system. I just can’t imagine on till what etent does this film is based on true account. Grr! It seriously got me so... I just can/t… err, BWISIT NA MGA PULIS!!! There. I just have to release that. :p 

I never though that this film would be this good because I haven't heard some buzz about it (or maybe it's just me. :P). But anyway, I love the flow of this film! It's like watching every story unfold as it goes by. It feels real with the story focused on how the system works (most of the time?). It started from Grace seeking help from the police in finding the snatcher in the busy streets of Quiapo. And well, good for her, she caught sight of Jess, the snatcher of her phone and police eventually got a hold of him and got him into investigation. From the health center to the fiscal office. It's indeed a process. A long process (*cough* of corruption *cough*). In the end, even after proving Jess guilty, he was freed by the police after Grace got her phone back and backing out his complaint after the police gave some pep talk to her. But then, even if Jess got his freedom he still got some "debts" to pay with the chief police after being allegedly "saved" from the complaint. 

That's just too terrible. hai. It was a very good film with a very engaging story. I believe it deserves an award. It's just too real and direct to the point. I just wish that things like this aren't true, but who am I to fool. sad.

Can't wait for next year! See you on Cinemalaya  year 9! =]

Wong Fu live in Manila!

I seriously think 2012 would be a year of concerts/shows for me.  I seriously have to get a job asap after passing my boards. Haha! I’m not even a fan of watching concerts of big artists (too mainstream, jk.) but if you’ll say YouTube artists... definitely hard to resist! Err.  And destiny’s killing me by bringing all those Youtube artists, I only used to see on the screen of my laptop, in Manila! I never even thought that this time could possibly come because PH seems like a Narnia for others. But hey, they’re here!  

Last night was another surreal moment for me. Fiction definitely became reality! The first filmmakers who I followed on YT is here in Manila! Good thing Soulmanna Live heard our desperate calls on Twitter to include us on their Asia Tour. It’s a random night back in Jan. 31 when the good news came out but then I only bought my ticket last week.  I almost thought the odds won’t be in my favor because first, I don’t have anyone to go with and second, I’m not sure if I have the guts to home alone from Greenhills to Cavite after. But anyway, I still managed to go despite that odds. I just can’t pass out on these rare opportunity. Hah! =]

I still went alone though. And I think it’s not that bad. Haha! I managed to meet some “Forever-alone-wongfuloves” (thanks to Twitter!) too at the venue.  Meeting the Nice Guys and meeting new friends made that night purely worth it!

I got there around 6pm and we went in at around 6:30. I also got to buy a NG shirt. Not gonna lie, the price shocked me. Haha! And so I was forced to rob my atm because I just can’t go home without a NG shirt!! =]

Blurred photo of the table full of Wong Fu stuff!

The show promptly started at 7:30pm. As soon as the lights dimmed out the crowd was cheering and moments after, the lights came back and there they was, Phil and Wes standing in front of us.

 Yes, finally seeing them out of the screen! =]  Too bad, Ted can’t come on tour for some reasons. It’s an intimate night, as what they’ve also said. They’re right on that vibe like we are only on a living room chatting up with them. No host, only the two of them on stage. Very memorable night.

They started the show with a brief introduction of themselves and what WongFu is.  They didn’t had filmmaking as their degree in college and they only work on a small/no budget but still they come up with awesome videos. One of the so many things they said that made mark on me is about how filmmaking graduates requires st some point a big budget when they start making videos. This is just my opinion, but I think a good filmmaker who passionately loves their craft can work on and fit things how small or big the budget is. But then, I think that what happens when much knowledge on the subject matter makes everything look complicated and requiring a lot of specifics. Whatever. Lol. Anyway, my point is that Wong Fu does it good even if they only have the 3 of them and some of their friends. And that's why I look up on them. Improvising is the key, and Wong Fu does it best. They started out with only a regular camcorder back then and only did videos for class projects but look how they’ve gone.

Shell

Won't even start

"One Million Subscribers!"

 their "1 millionth subscriber"

They also brought along and played for us some of their shorts/MV (Kung Fooled, Shell, Won’t even start MV) where they gladly talked about after what’s going on behind the camera while they’re doing it. They also showed some more videos after plus an unrelease short still which is still not on its final cut. This unreleased short got some interesting plot, indeed. I seriously love the ideas coming up with these 3 nice guys, I think they were destined to meet each other and be friends to come up with awesome videos. Watch their videos and you’ll see what I mean. The last part was the Q&A portion. A lot of good questions were asked that made us know them and their craft better.  Too bad, time is limited. It ended up past 9. One and a half hour is just too short. And btw, their videos are flawlessly good on big screen! =]

WongFu 4 Lyfe!!! OvvO

Musicality

This past few days I've been into musical movies. First on the list is, "Lemonade Mouth", a Disney movie which I just heard and copied from my friend's laptop (I already got my hard drive filled with dozens of movie which I don't even  know when I can finish watching. haha!). It's about five highschool students who have each of their own issues in life.

The story:

It started in a one normal day where they each got detention slips. This detention slips was the key for them to meet each other for the first time in the basement where detention hall is, together with other non-sports related clubs. Then after some moment while they were cleaning stuffs for detention, they got into beat and suddenly realized they can jive into music. The teacher who’s in charge of them, and who is incidentally a former music club head, heard it and thought that it would great if they'd form a band and let the school's director realize that there's more than sports and cheerleading that matters. But they all think it's not their interest not until Stella, a girl with angst who’s into freedom of speech and equality, who forced everyone to give the idea of a "band" a chance. And then after realizing they got it, a nobody like them in the past started to become a somebody.

This movie made me miss highschool, back with my bandmates. I think that's one of the best things I had in highschool. Anything about music interests me; it's like something I'll be living with, in my whole life. Hehe. It's kilig whenever I see the characters in movies snap their fingers and tap in a beat then in a sudden they would be starting to sing and make music. So gooooood. FUN. =]

I have also just recently seen the movie adaptation of the well known Broadway musical, Rent. I got more interested to it when my friend gave me a background about it plus how it became a tribute for Jonathan Larson (who died of an aortic aneurysm before the movie went out on the cinemas). And I never knew, not till now, that one of my all time favorite song "Seasons of Love" became famous because of this movie. Hindi ako informed. Haha! And another good thing about the movie was that 6 out of 8 original cast member went back to do the lead roles. Cool! Dedicated talaga sila. I super enjoyed every song number. I wonder how it's like when someone suddenly breaks into a song while riding the MRT. Haha! It didn't bore me that much even though some of the songs were too long and the setting was a bit dark. It's a good eye opener flick because it tackled a lot of social issues, mostly from the 80's. Too bad I have to forward some scenes because I still have classes that day.

Next on my list would be reality shows like "Platinum Hit" and "The Voice" (I'm starting to have a HUGE crush on Adam Levine. haha!) But not until I get a time for those. October please be near, gusto ko na ng sembreak! XD

*googled photos. ctto.

Cinemalaya on a Monday

I've been dubbing July as a Cinemalaya month for three years already and a UAAP month also in a way. Hehe. The 7th Cinemalaya just opened last July 15 and it will run till the 24th. Every year, it becomes a venue for independent directors to showcase their short films plus also a time for more experienced directors to show something new and fresh. This would be my 3rd consecutive year attending this festival. Since my first experience last 2009, I've always been in anticipation for this comes July. I like how it showcases hidden talents that doesn't make it to the mainstream. Plus the stories shown mainly focuses on reality and some unseen stories that we won't normally know unless we existence it. This is the best time for visual artists to show something out of the norms. Good thing I only have a TThS sched this sem. One of the "perks" of being irregular. Haha!

I was already on CCP around 12pm for the 12:45 sched. I was planning to watch today Shorts A & B but Shorts A was already sold out so I just had "Ligo na U, Lapit na Me" for the 3:30pm slot. If only I had someone with along I would stay at CCP till the 9pm film. But I was a LONER of the day. Woohoo! Haha! Everyone was just busy with school because it was already preliminary week for some while others has classes/work. And besides I don't want to invite and force others who doesn't have an interest for this because it would just spoil the experience. Thank you CCP for having chairs on the lobby or else I'd be sitting on your stairs like a lost kid. Hehe.


SHORTS B:

Hanapbuhay - I'm about 5mins. late so I wasn't able to fully understand this story. It was only the film among the short that made the audience laugh. It kind of threaded different stories of people while the main character was a man who recently got a job. I don't even know what's the ending means.


Oliver's apartment - a scriptless film. It centered on aobsessive compulsive-compulsive American man who lives alone in his apartment. Then there's this girl who she looks out from his window every morning. This film would just let your mind do the story.


Immanuel - this entry was a bit hard to grasp in a way that I can't imagine how it would be like this happens in reality. It was all about working for survival. READ: oxygen cubes. I like how the story was built and the drama inside. It reached out perfectly.


Debut - define short. This story showed how ironic and how sad life would be for others regardless of how young.



Hazard - driving lesson between father and son that turned out to real life lesson. This film had the loudest clap, which it really deserves, among the 5 shorts. It was only a 15-20 minute film but the message it wants to show was tremendous. You know, being older doesn't mean you know much better. Doing the right thing is different from doing the appropriate thing.


Ligo na U, Lapit na Me

I never knew that this was based on a novel under the same title. It was a pseudo-gala night a while ago because the director, writer and some of the main cast were with us in the main theater. Eros Atalia the author of the novel "Ligo na U, Lapit na Me" was also there who was invited upstage to give a short message before the start of the film. I never even knew that he's a fellow Thomasian and a professor in the university, which explains some of the elements included in the story. I was even shocked with the appearance of our accountancy uniform (which btw can pass as a uniform of national bookstore and mercury drug staff) worn by lead actress while doing ... umm. =|


The film was starred by Edgar Allan Guzman as "Intoy" short for Karl * Lennon Villalobos and Mercedes Cabral as "Jen which I think did a great job portraying their role. It was already my second time spotting Mercedes in Cinemalaya with the first one where she portrayed a role as Pilipinas satirically describing our country, I forgot the title but it was one of the indie films that made a mark in me. I think she's already a veteran in the indie scene and even though she often portrays racy/sexy roles, keri pa rin! I still got respect for her. =]


This is a sex comedy film. Honestly, it kind of shocked me for the long scenes of intense love, kumbaga straight to the point, no cheesy lines or paikot-ikot, no censored parts. ow-em. haha! And that's coming from a "conservative" point of view. Hehe. The sexy scenes was at least shown in a way that it wouldn't look "super" malaswa. Ok, so enough of the sensitive parts, I can now erase it in my mind. Hehe. This might be "disturbing" for the younger ones who would watch this, strictly R-18, parental guidance is recommended. So moving on with the plot, it revolved around Intoy and Jen who acted as friends with "benefits" all the while with no strings attached. Ironic it is that Intoy's parents are even religious persons, kind of people who do Sunday service and fellowships. While Jen was a rich and quirky girl who do have tantrums and mood swings once in a while that Intoy cooly handles. Overall the film was nice, though I think some scenes were kind of dragged. It must say they made a good job in perfectly dropping the punch lines, benta lahat eh! Lol.


Now I hope AudProb would be cancelled tomorrow so I can continue this tomorrow with my classmates.


Cinemalaya has also expanded this time having a second venue at Greenbelt cinemas but still I'd choose CCP even though it would be less worry to wait for the next film at Greenbelt. Besides, Greenbelt doesn't give student discounts. =[