This year's Manila Art has been beautiful in my opinion. I feel so smart. Why? because I stand around each painting for more than 30minutes trying to figure out the message within the image that is shown! I feel I developed critique's eyes. Somehow one way or another, I can't seem to just stare at the artworks, mostly I would just think and think and think... I don't even like Art Exhibits before... but recently, I've been enjoying it ;)

Thank you Sir Rondina!

Storyline

Cinemalaya was introduced to me during it's sixth year and the sense of this festival was still a blur to me. I quite comprehended that this event was organized to advocate for Independent films. But you see my perspective of Independent cinema was raw that time. I used to see Indies as boring, and mature films. My expectations did not fail me. Then again, it's not only my expectations that plays around my head. I also have some knowledge on how to read a film, thanks to our subjects and Professors, Film Appreciation (Jonathan Rondina) and Writing for Mass Media (Dennis Marasigan) respectively. Cinemalaya starts by July which means the semester has just begun, and my respective Professors still have yet to teach us more about Film, and Writing. So you can understand why my reaction was that broad (see the video below).


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So yeah, I gave Indie a try, on the following year, Cinemalaya 2011, I came from a very different approach unlike the first time. Shortly after the 6th Cinemalaya film festival, actually, month of Feb. 2011, I joined the 1st Halo Halo festival, where in we participants must submit a 7mins. short film of any topic to be exhibited on the day of the event. So, fortunately mine got in, its really amateur, nothing to brag about, but at least I did it.
Peronally, I like the trailer more, but here goes my first amateur short film. Bare with me on this, the production itself was a one man/woman show.


Moving on, I was motivated to watch all the entries and know the Directors of this 'art films'. Yes, you read right! I said "ART" films... Now my perspective is more informed. Since I was teased to submit a short film script by our professor to Cinemalaya, I've been bothered by it yet again until recently when I saw my professor again at Cinamalaya. Straight to the point, he told me "ipasa mo na yung script mo, gawin na natin yan..." and I thought he forgot about it, I mean, I forgot about it. I've asked a few of my friends on this, if I should, and they affirmed. What's wrong if I submit it? right? I guess I never got contented with the thought that "I should submit it..." and hope for it to pass etc. Maybe the reason why I keep coming back to Cinemalaya, is to continue to discover what it is, and what it serves for. Especially the subject of Indie films. I've started talking to various Directors in last year's 7th Cinemalaya, and because of that, I learn little by little, not to mention being given tons of perks whether introduced to actors/actresses, or invited to movie premieres, slowly I learn things far beyond what the four walls of education can give. So for me, Cinemalaya has contributed a lot for communication students/film enthusiasts like me and eight years still are not enough to define what it is about, because it continues to change each year, developing, transforming, for something more far than it has gotten.

Eventually, I've grown tired of Cinemalaya, don't take it the wrong way though, tired in a physical way. I've been running around to there and there, continuing my personal research on films, continuing to develop bonds with the Directors, learning from every film, acknowledging them film makers, trying to develop a kin sense, critical viewing of these films. Everyday feels like "wow" to men that's why sometimes I feel like I want to explode especially whenever I get home 12 midnight because of 9pm film which got delayed for some reason, isn't that tiring?!
I still go by the saying of "Slowly but surely, whatever goal you want to achieve, and no matter how rough the road you travel may be, you'll eventually get there..."

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The objectives of this Independent Film Congress is as follows:

• to define the characteristics (a.k.a alternatives) and mainstream film making, and clarify the relations between them.
• to see how indie and mainstream film making can benefit from each other of at all; and
• to establish how each can contribute to the development of Philippine Cinema, either together or independently of each other.

On the first day, July 24, Sir Raul Sunico Ph.D. the President of Cultural Center of the Philippines stated his welcome remarks, and followed by Congress Director Nicanor Tiongson Ph.D. for the presentation of congress program and objectives (as you can read above). The keynote address was held by film maker and scholar Mr. Clodualdo "Doy" Del Mundo Ph.D. Some of his statements included the following:

• The 1960's cheap film producing which was the "dead film era" in the Philippines.
• Mike de Leon's "Itim" and "Maynila" films.
• Gerardo de Leon and Lamberto Avellana's "G" films.
• Lino Brocka "do good story telling, three dimensional, make socially involved films..."
• 1970's Sine Manila Film Festival
• Commercialism still prevailed in the 1970's (e.g. the number of Nora Aunor (20) and Vilma Santos (22) films). Therefore the 1970's  did not improve because of commercialism and the informal production of films
• However, the 1980's New Wave Films subsided
• Ishmael Bernal slowdown in film making
• Only Lino Brocka made his films until he died 1990's, the new wave ended.
• compromised 90's films are even more commercialized history of footnotes, did not develop that much
• the advent of new technologies (New wave, New Millenium)
• Ditsi Carolino Documentaries
• Cinemalaya started 2005, and phenomenal Independent films prevailed
• Distinction from Mainstream and Indie: Mainstream (Generic, Commercialized, dictated by corporations, genre movies, in studio production) Independent or Alternative, (1)takes risks, (2)anything that the mainstream is not, (3)not generic, (4)can be as short or as long, (5)independent from something mainstream, (6)commercial system is not needed, (7)how to market films and build audience.
• "Build great audience, before great film" by Lino Brocka
• (1) Appropriation then (2) Re-Invention (more exciiting, coming&changing)
• Mainstream hopefully would see wisdom to give freedom to new film makers
• Mainstream and Indie will remain separate. This is how should be.

The first panel included the following persons:



from UP Film Institute
 Moderator: Patrick Campos
.."Bigyan ng matalinong pelikula ang Pilipino"

translation: "Give Filipinos 'smart' films"


Speakers:


recent films produced for Cinemalaya are "Amok" (2011) and "Posas" (2012).

 Lawrence Fajardo

....."Gagawin ko yung pelikulang para sa akin ay   gusto ko..."

trans: "I make films the way I wanted it.."


film mixer and film sound recordist

Mike Idioma

•  "we don't go for mediocrity, if you do film you have to do it with standards.."
• "going to mainstream, you have money, Indie goes for socially relevant/educational films."

journalist, and educator.

Lito Zulueta

• "Alternative films have spirit, freedom, and independence..."
• "for me indie is educational, and an advocacy"
• "film makers should guard themselves from commercialism.."
• it's healthy to maintain terms & definitions for distinguishing the mainstream & independent films which give advocacy/freedom..."

Philippine Star, Free Press, and Twitch correspondent

Oggs Cruz

> "audience are catered from what they comprehend"

> "there are good films made from indie but they are limited to the acknowledgement they desire... we are creating a poor unhealthy cinema..."



Award winning mainstream Director

• "in mainstream, you agree with the rules of the film, may pananagutan ka parin..."
•  "television acting ruins an actor, because they are required to act 'acting'..."
• "Break the film grammar, then make a new film language/grammar..."
• "the term 'Indie' has been misused & abused during the past time... misbranded as (1) kabaklaan, (2) mahirap intindihin..."
• "In mainstream, inaassume nila na 'bobo' and tao/audience.. there are also creatives who intervene in making films in mainstream, sa indie, wala, kung ano naiisip mo as film maker it happens..."

Theater and Film Actress
Shamaine Buencamino

• "it's different if you act in camera, it's scenes are not continues, you need to cut, retake, etc. when you're on stage you project your emotions, but in camera you don't show that much you hide it a little bit, mainly the camera shows it for the audience (camera angles, etc.)"
•  "to be an actor/actress in mainstream, i think you basically need marketable ability, and fan base..."
• " most of the Indie film makers love the art of film making..."

Producer of Here Comes the Bride and Ang Babae sa Septic Tank
Joji Alonso

•  "more actors are valued in Independent films.."
• "I have been very fortunate, I treat all my films like my baby, I'm so involved in it..."

Actress
Glaiza de Castro

• "in mainstream, were given typical 'tested' roles, supporting roles, I was given a different role with Indie where in I had the chance to explore more with my acting skills..."
• "in Indie, it's not T.V. acting, the hardest acting is not acting..."
• "bilang artista, gumagawa kayo ng karakter on your own, not just the one based on the script.."
• "indie is getting exploited by large corporations that make a Digital film subsidiary from the parent prod. company and produces cheap films and making it 'indie'..."

For Panel 3, they tackled the second objective where you defy how Indie, and Mainstream can benefit from each other. 

Moderator: Mario Hernando, Film Critic and Journalist

Speakers:

Teng Mangansakan III, Moro film maker

Tammy Dinopol, Star Cinema's Creative Department for more than 10 years.

•  "mainstreams are based on consumption..."
• "i have learned to 'live and let live'..."

Diwa de Leon, professional composer, arranger, all-around musician.

• "(1) money, (2) audience pace, largely dictates what films to make"
• "sometimes, audience doesn't know what they want until you give it to them", Steve Jobs.
• "audience are hungry for more..."
• "Directors are the boss in Indies.."

Executive Producer of Regal Entertainment Inc.
Roselle Monteverde

• "Indie has immersed new film makers and talents..."
• "one cannot do without the other..."

Film/Commercial Director, Writer, Producer
Chris Martinez

• "mainstream and indie are friends and allies... my enemies are hollywood films.."