Does direk Brillante have anything against Cinemalaya?

While his colleagues have been jumping into the Cinemalaya bandwagon, now the most prestigious annual filmfest which started 10 years ago with mostly new filmmakers, Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza is doing the opposite for a reason.

Does he have anything against Cinemalaya?

“Actually,” said Brillante, “it’s not that I have anything against it. Mayroon lang kasing conflict sa ownership ng rights. I am very particular about the ownership of my films. I own most of them, especially within the Philippine territory. Out of the Philippines, I only share the rights with my international producers.”

For more than a year now, Brillante is being managed by Wilson Tieng, head of Solar Films and Solar News Channel with which Brillante also has a contract.

“He’s managing me as a talent,” clarified Brillante, “and my managerial contract with him has nothing to do with my contract with Solar News Channel. Those are two different contracts. Wilson is in-charge of all my projects in the Philippines. I consult him regarding my projects here. Outside of the Philippines, I have another manager who takes care of my international projects.”

The other day, Brillante’s international manager informed him that he has a project for the Busan (Korea) International Film Festival.

Said Brillante, “For Busan, we are first required to submit a concept to the Asian Film Market and when it’s approved, we will pitch it with different producers in October. We will discuss with whoever the producer will be how the collaboration will be done.”

He might also do a project in France after the concept that he has submitted was accepted.

“I am talking to different producers for different projects,” added Brillante. “The two films will have to be shot in the Philippines. But they will be distributed internationally.”

Asked which is easier to negotiate with, the local producers or their international counterparts, Brillante said it’s the latter.

“Their market for my films is different,” said Brillante. “They know that my films have a market abroad. Here, I find it harder because you have to compromise with the producers. Ang market dito ay iba naman. My films are not ‘mainstream,’ more of independent at more of art house ang audience ko. Eh, wala tayo ganoong kalaking audience dito. There’s Cinemalaya but it’s good for only 10 days.”

In his effort to create an “art house” kind of market, Brillante has been conducting nationwide special screenings of his films in schools where he holds film-appreciation lectures.

“I’ve been doing it for four years already with the help of SM. The program is attracting more and more audiences, mostly students, and I’m happy with the enthusiastic response, very positive. Interested sila sa Q&A about the behind-the-scenes and the filmmaking process.

“In September, my schedule is full. I’ve been to all branches of SM around the country…sa Cagayan, sa Naga where I held it three times already. I cannot do this kind of program if I am tied up with a local producer. I can do anything with my films because I own the rights to them.”

His other project is a four-part TV show titled One Small Act, airing on the Solar News Channel for four Sundays starting at 9 p.m. Launched in June 2012 in time for the country’s 114th Independence Day, it’s called One Small Act for the Philippines, which is the channel’s campaign to awaken the spirit of nationalism of every Filipino. It’s so-called because no matter how small or how big the act is, it’s all about making a difference that will help the community and the country.

Each of the 20-minute episode dramatizes heroic acts of “small” people such as Joon Baltazar (first episode), a person with disability who performs on the streets in the hope of inspiring people in the same plight; Lords Hernandez (second episode), a fireman who saves animals during fires and in hazardous situations; Crisanto Gumilac (third episode) who produces paintings in large quantities and sells them in the Malate area not so much for the money but to share his passion with the masses; and Michael Quiambao (fourth episode) who offers free rides to kids and the elderly on his karetela. (For more info, visit www.onesmallactph.com)

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