7 films in Potchilikula

MANILA, Philippines - Last Dec. 8, Tropang Potchi started the first leg of Potchilikula: Short Film Festival for Kids 2012 through a filmmaking workshop at Studio 1, GMA Network Center.

The competition aims to look for aspiring young film makers and let them create their own movies using smartphones. Forty-three students, aged 10 to 12, coming from different elementary schools in Mega Manila joined the workshop together with the cast of Tropang Potchi and learned the basics of film making from directors Manny Angeles and JK Anicoche.

The participants got to hang out in Tropang Potchi’s tambayan which made the event more enjoyable for them. JK, being the creative director of the revolutionary Sipat Lawin Ensemble (Theater Group), started the workshop with a group activity that dealt with the kids’ imagination. This is to show the thinking process behind filmmaking, going beyond what they see. Known for his work for Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) showing the ways on how to make use of smartphones’ camera, direk Manny shared his stories on how to capture news from the streets, apart from the numerous commercials he did.

More group activities were done culminating the kids’ learning from the workshop. After a while, the commencement of the competition was announced which made the kids excited and nervous at the same time.

They were given an hour and a half to complete their works and submitted them to the facilitators and went home with their hopes high to get into the competition.

Seven of today’s known and award-winning directors came in to review the participants’ works. The roster of directors includes Ray Gibraltar (Tiangge); Ogi Sugatan (Saglit); Gino Santos (The Animals); Marie Jamora (Ang Nawawala); King Baco (Unsilenced); Pam Miras (’wag Kang Lilingon); and Gino Jose (Sa Kanilang Pagbangon).

After reading and grading all 43 entries with the assistance of a FDA representative, seven best works will be chosen to be part of the competition. Each finalist will be paired with one of the seven above mentioned directors to serve as their mentors and one from the cast of Tropang Potchi.

All seven students will be given a smartphone, which they will use for shooting their films and edit them to produce a two-minute short film to be aired in Tropang Potchi starting tomorrow, Dec. 22.

Below are the finalists: 

1. Trizhalyn Maglangit of Camarin D. Elementary School (with director Ray Gibraltar and cast member Bianca Umali)

2. Maria Juana Reyes of Malabon Elementary School (with director Ogi Sugatan and cast member Miggy Jimenez)

3. Jeziel Bulacja of Baclaran Elementary School (with director Gino Santos and cast member Nomer Limatog)

4. Karissa Mae Nievera of Navotas Elementary School (with director Marie Jamora and cast member Julian Trono)

5. Venice Carla Sarmiento of Highway Hills Integrated School (with director Pam Miras and cast member Liane Valentino)

6. Christien Abbey Esguerra of Rincon Elementary School (with director King Baco and cast member Isabel “Lenlen” Frial)

7. Kathleen Bugnos of Barangka Elementary School (with director Gino Jose and cast member Sab Man)

 The films will also be uploaded via the show’s official Facebook fan page to gather online votes that are part of the overall criteria for judging. The judges for the competition include director Brillante Mendoza, Columbia Candies officers, GMA executives and Kapuso director Louie Ignacio. The winning film will receive cash prizes for both the participant and the school represented.