Digital movies: The inevitable medium

Last week, I was invited by Dr. Nick Tiongson, former Cultural Center of the Philippines president and professor at the University of the Philippines Film Institute, to be the moderator in the actors forum, part of the Cinemalaya Film Congress where Dr. Tiongson sits as congress director. Gina Alajar, Irma Adlawan, Jaclyn Jose and Ronnie Lazaro who were the panelists, discussed and argued about acting on independent films. Gina once described by director Lino Brocka as "enigmatic," is now into directing telecines and once in a while dabbles in acting for the indies. Irma has earned the moniker Queen of Indie Films which according to her makes her uncomfortable. Her husband, Dennis Marasigan, who is with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, also dabbles in indie film as director. Jaclyn is no stranger to independent films. She played a part in Sarongbanggi, one of the entries to Cinemalaya last year. And in this year’s Cinemalaya, Jaclyn is cast in Donsol. Ronnie played the role of a photographer in Raymond Red’s Anino which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Gina, Ronnie and Jaclyn have done movies under the helm of the industry’s most notable directors such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Laurice Guillen, Marilou Abaya, among others.

At the Cinemalaya Film Congress, we had a very interesting and insightful discussion on independent filmmaking from the point of view of actors. The panelists were one in saying that working on a mini-DV or digital costs less. It allows experimentation. Brilliant actors like Gina continue to learn her tricks from brave, undaunted young filmmakers. Despite the almost harsh realities of working on a tight budget, Ronnie who stayed in Batad, Banaue for four straight days, says "hindi ako makapagreklamo dahil walang nagrereklamo." Jaclyn, on the other hand, vows that she will never leave independent movie-making. "Maliliit na pelikula ang pinagmulan ko. Dito ako nanggaling at hindi ko ito iiwan."

Cinemalaya Foundation was launched last year "to help develop and support the production of cinematic works of independent filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity; to discover, encourage, support, train and recognize gifted Filipino independent filmmakers, promote Filipino independent films locally and internationally; and to establish a network for exchange, communication and cooperation among members of the independent film sector."

The Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, Cinemalaya Foundation’s main project, "provides financial grants to the production of 10 full length feature films while recognizing the work of short filmmakers." The Cinemalaya Film Congress, on the other hand, provides a venue for interaction and dialogue between alternative filmmakers and mainstream moviemaking. One of the most outstanding films last year was Aureus Solito’s Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros which won film honors in festivals abroad.

Cinemalaya continues to present a new crop of young talented independent filmmakers who will hopefully help revitalize the movie industry and perhaps elevate it to higher grounds. Laurice Guillen, chairperson of this year’s Cinemalaya competition, says, "Cinemalaya’s continuing exploration of the Filipino identity through independently- produced digital films has come up this year with an exciting harvest of works with greater variety of themes and subject matter."

Eight full length films and 10 shorts joined in this year’s Cinemalaya. Winners include Michael Sandejas’ Tulad ng Dati which won Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Sound. Batad Sa Paang Palay by Vic Acedillo Jr. and Benji Garcia won the Special Jury Award, as well as the Best Actor for Alchris Galura, Best Production Design and Best Screenplay. Angel Aquino who played a cancer stricken patient in Donsol, won the Best Actress award. Donsol also won the Best Cinematography award. The movie Rotonda got two awards – Best Director for Ron Bryant and Best Musical Score.

In the short film category, winners were Rommel Tolentino’s Orasyon which was adjudged Best Film. Kwarto by Jose Emmanuel Taylo won the Special Jury Prize. Best Director award went to Jeck Cogama for Putot, while Hubert Tibi won Best Screenplay for Parang Pelikula.

There is a surge of low budget films using mini-DVs. Even in Hollywood, some big time directors are already working on digital films. And the trend is moving towards digital filmmaking. Steven Soderbergh (who directed Ocean’s Eleven and the movie’s sequel), Jean-Luc Godard, Lars von Trier and George Lucas are into digitals. On the other side of the fence, or those who maintain movie making is still best with 35 mm cameras are Milos Forman, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, among others. Spielberg says that digital is the inevitable medium. However, he says that "I may be the last director to accept it, but I certainly will not be the last person to accept it as someone who runs a film company." Spielberg owns Dreamworks.