Lav Diaz, one of two indie film makers at the venue

I was at Marikina City yesterday to check out Sine Barangay, the pilot experimental project of Cinemanila that opened the other day with a workshop by Raymond Red. After finally finding my way to Kapitan Moy, independent film makers Lav Diaz and Raya Martin were already entertaining questions from the audience mainly composed of students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina.

I love films. It is one of my most preferred past time and the cinematography feeds me more than looking at picture books. I am mesmerized with good and great works and would prefer World Cinema than the usual Hollywood fare. In the country, I patronize independent films and at the same time shake my head in disappointment at those produced commercially.

I’m intrigued with the current crop of Philippine indie cinema. Digital moviemaking is making it possible for underfunded but young and very talented directors to make the stories they want to tell. While they are reaping awards, getting favorable reviews and admiration from foreign audiences, sadly, most movie goers in the country still prefer the formulaic ones being churned out by the big local studios.

Tikoy Aguiluz, Cinemanila festival director, thus made it clear that Sine Barangay is bringing to the people this new Philippine cinema. That moviegoers should help in the struggle of Philippine independent film makers by buying and promoting their work. And this is what attracted mo to this project.

This is the reason that I found myself coming a long way from Makati to this clean and orderly city. While I have a general idea of what to do, I am currently assessing and observing this activity in order for me to know how to go about doing it and may include it as one of the proposals for my Diploma in Photojournalism course final project.

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19 November 2008