Even if the odds are stacked against their favor, Vince Tanada’s “Katips: The Movie” is ready to battle heavyweight “Maid in Malacanang” backed by Viva Films. Both films open on August 3.
Compared to the star-studded Darryl Yap-directed film, “Katips: The Movie” is smaller, but Vince, who wrote and directed the film, has much to say in terms of content.
Vince is undaunted by the strong opposition he is facing. He even concedes that “Katips: The Movie” does not stand a chance against the film on the Marcos family but he wants the audience to see another side of truth.
He wrote the film with the help of a historian to make sure the chronological accuracy of the events is given justice. “I am against history revisionism as a parasitic fiber that continues to gnaw at society today, especially the young,” he shares.
Vince said the screenplay underwent revamp without affecting the narrative. He did this to make sure the film remains neutral in its political stand and only continues as a statement of facts about the realities of the ‘70s until the latter ‘80s through the eyes of fictional students who might have been real people in the guise of different names.
As a director, Vince decided to shoot a musical using various styles. He said the film is incomparable to any historical musical that has ever been done in the country so far. Using pseudo-realistic techniques and metaphors, the movie is an exploration on how vast a filmmaker can make use of music, lights, costumes, visual effects and symbolisms in order to deliver a story as poignant and as life-changing as reality, experienced first-hand by viewers.
“We are being challenged by ‘Maid in Malacanang’ that’s why Direk Joel Lamangan reacted and said he will also do a movie to show what happened during Martial Law,” said Vince.
“Pero siya gagawa pa lang but I already have a finished film and I am going to show it so that the people will see a different side of the story. If the Marcos family is saying that the movie is how they felt before being exiled to Hawaii, this is the story of how we felt when they were still in power.”
Vince added that they only have a few theaters since the decision to release “Katips: The Movie” in cinemas was spur of the moment.
But he is willing to show “Katips” to Senator Imee Marcos since his film doesn’t have anti-Marcos content.
He is likewise thankful to FAMAS for giving the film 17 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, as well as Best Actor for him and Jerome Ponce. But Vince hopes to win the award for Best Director.
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The Rotary Club of QC Media Tech 3780 is a different kind of a rotary club since most of its members are involved in media and technology. This what sets them apart from the usual Rotary Clubs although service for their fellowmen is still their priority.
Heading the group is its president, Meric Mara, who is also the Chief Technology Officer of Mulat Media while Sec-PE Sophia Quin Mara is the CEO.
One of their signature projects is Cyberteach in which they aim to provide online help to their adopted barangays for profiling their constituents. With the right data collected by the barangay, they can identify people and communities and the kind of help that they need.
“Since we just started a new rotary year and part of our group’s expertise in cyber technology, we want to help our barangays do a profiling of their residents,” said Mr. Meric. “We want to make use of our knowledge in technology to help our adopted barangays.”
The Rotary Club of QC Media Tech would also like to reach out for possible partners who can help them in their signature projects.
“The Rotary Club is a service-oriented organization. All we do is provide help and assisting is in carrying out our goals are our governors and fellow presidents of other Rotary Clubs. We have bonded ourselves together so that the service we give will have more impact,” said Mr. Meric.
He added that if they will be able to provide a profile for the different households in the barangay that will come very handy in preparing programs that the people really need.
And since they adopted barangays in every rotary club, they can promote meaningful signature projects for the good of every one.
The Quezon City MediaTech D3780, together with Mulat Media, ATGC Channel 31, TVC Channel 8, M Entertainment Media Group and Supremo R&M Productions is presenting K-Top Fashion Week, a first of its kind in the Philippines from July 25 to 31. The event features nine top models from Korea.