Giving digital films a chance

It was a dream come true for Rica Peralejo. Suddenly, she was not pressured to visualize herself the star of a movie that would send the box-office ringing merrily from Aparri all the way to Jolo. Cinema One, producer of Dilim, doesn’t care so much about raking it in than giving an audience thirsty for quality digital films just what they want. To top it all, shooting under young but talented Topel Lee didn’t take all of one month but only a few days.

"I’ve been doing commercial films for 12 years. I was getting bored and my life was starting to becoming routine. I can’t get into theater because of my packed schedule. So Dilim, my first digital film, is the nearest I can get to theater," relates Rica.

She admits that there’s nothing to be proud about where money is concerned. Just like teaching, digital film work does not pay. But just like teaching too, the psychic reward is immeasurable.

"I’m happy just working with artists. I don’t want to work for the money alone," Rica explains.

She may well be speaking for fellow festival performers like Dilim co-star Emilio Garcia, Albert Martinez (Sandalang Bahay), Christopher de Leon, Gina Alajar, Phillip Salvador and Bembol Roco (Ang Anak ni Brocka), China Cojuangco and Ryan Eigenmann (Jon Red’s Anak ng Tinapa) and Chanda Romero and Lou Veloso (Sitak).

Collectively, these films are called Cinema One Originals, which will be shown in a digital film festival of commissioned works at SM Megamall Cinema 1 from July 8 to 10.

The young directors are just as upbeat about the festival. Topel Lee, director of the action-thriller Dilim, looks at the festival as the key that will unlock the door of opportunity for young performers who want to take the road less taken: acting for independent films.

"When we talk of actors in independent films, we are usually limited to Epi Quizon, Yul Servo and a few others," Lee observes. Too much young talent is wasted on formula acting. The festival, Lee hopes, will encourage young performers to go beyond the box and explore the width and breadth of their talent by acting in independent films.

Who knows, these films can even be good enough to enter into international filmfests. After all, they are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the best of 300 proposals submitted to the Cinema One screening committee last September. The chosen ones were not announced until December, or three months after. This means the scripts went through the eye of a needle before they were finally approved for production.

Opening the festival on July 8 (8 p.m.) is Dilim, followed by Anak ng Tinapa on July 9. The Jon Red film is based on Ogi Sugatan’s Palanca award-winning screenplay Fish Crackers.

Then there’s Sitak, the story of a corporate man-turned-taxi driver’s emotional journey. The drama Sandalang Bahay is a fresh take on tales of betrayal and tragedy with three sisters escaping a painful past. Dennis Marasigan brings years of experience working with Regal Films in Sa North Diversion Road, with wife Irma Adlawan and John Arcilla. The film is about a traveling couple carrying – what else? – an affair.

Rounding up the line-up is Ang Anak ni Brocka, an intriguing semi-documentary of a young man rumored to be the late Lino Brocka’s son. This one has the heaviest cast, consisting of Christopher de Leon, Gina Alajar, Phillip Salvador and Bembol Roco.

They are brave enough to step out of their comfort zones and venture into the untried and un-lucrative world of digital cinema. Maybe the viewers can take the cue from them and give these films a look-see, too.