"Your Favorite Pinoy Film Directors & Why"

[Felix Jimenez]

1. Chito Rono - Malawak at iba-iba ang tema(theme) ng kanyang mga pelikula, matapang, mahusay ang istilo(style). Direk, kailan ba ang susunod mong pelikula? Parang nagpapahinga ka yata ah? Naghahanap ba ng panggulat?

2. Jose Javier Reyes - kilala bilang magaling na manunulat hindi lamang sa pelikula, ganun din sa teatro, tv, lumilikha ng awit, etc. Subalit hindi nabibigyan ng pansin ang pagiging direktor. Dahil kaya nasasapawan ng kanyang pagiging isang mahusay na manunulat? Bakit kaya hindi niya subukang gumawa ng pelikula na hindi siya ang sumulat? O kaya, gumawa siya ng mga pelikulang may mga "social commentaries" kagaya ng mga dula niya. Gumawa siya ng "TORO", napanood ko sa pirated tape, nagulat ako! Kaya siguro binatikos ang pelikula dahil napaka "un-Jose Javier Reyes"! Isa pa uling ganon direk!

3. Mario O'Hara - isang henyo ng pito-pito films! Mahilo-hilo kayo sa mga de-focus na pito-pito films niya! Matatawa kayo sa continuity ng pito-pito films niya! Pero pagkatapos ng pelikula, malilimutan ninyo ang mga butas na yon, dahil nakakagawa talaga siya ng obra! Pero bakit kaya hindi siya mabigyan ng malaking pelikula, I mean hindi yung pito-pito! Kilan kaya?

4. Lupita Kashiwahara - Pero nasaan na siya? Puro tv na lang ang ginagawa niya? Ayaw na ba niyang magpelikula? Gawa naman uli kayo ng makabuluhang produksyon sa pelikula, huwag naman ho puro tv!

5. Peque Gallaga - Hindi ko malilimutan ang kanyang "ORO", "Virgin Forest", Unfaithfull...", "Scorpio...". Pero pagkatapos nun, parang puro basura na ang ginawa niya, bakit kaya? Nawalan na siya ng asim? Yung "Gangland" okey na okey sana siya visually, kaya lang bad acting yung ilang bata, lalu na yung mga villains! Peque sana mabasa mo ito, gawa ka naman uli ng matinong pelikula o!

[neth_row]

pareho tayo sa 1 and 2, chito rono and joey reyes are among today's best.....isama mo na si olive lamasan....ok din si _____(forgot her name, the director of "Rizal" and "Muro-Ami"....carlitos seguion reyna is also pretty good, there's just something about his films that i don't like....

[aLLysH*]

i'd have to agree with most of the choices earlier made: chito rono, joey reyes, peque gallaga, carlitos siguion reyna, olivia lamasan. i'm not too familiar with the works of mario o'hara & lupita kashiwahara though. let me add to the list: joel lamangan and yung director ng pila balde(?)- the movie that starred anna capri.

neth_row: marilou diaz-abaya- director of rizal & muro-ami...

i can't really say na favorite directors ko sila ( i don't think i have one. i do have favorite actors pero director or scriptwriter, sori pero wala eh... :( ) but i believe they are the better & more respected directors we have in the country.

[*Zaphne*]

I think you guys forgot somebody important----->; Lino Brocka. :)

[CesarJ]

I agree with all the names of the directors posted above. Plus Mike de Leon (Bayaning Third World). Aside from doing great work for the home market, these directors and their films bring honors to our country and our cinema in international film festivals abroad. Just check out the websites of Cannes International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, etc.

To aLLysH*: the director of Pila Balde is Jeffrey Jeturian.

Also, aLLysH*: "i can't really say na favorite directors ko sila ( i don't think i have one. i do have favorite actors pero director or scriptwriter, sori pero wala eh...".

Films are made by directors, writers and producers. The actors are hired hands taken on talent basis. It's great that you have favorite actors (and every film industry in the world survives PARTLY on a star system of some sort). But also please keep in mind that the films themselves--the stories, the telling of the stories in cinematic terms--are handled by the three other kinds of filmmakers above. So when we speak of a "good" film, I think we are responding more often than not to the "invisible" work of the directors, writers and producers. More so in film festivals abroad: the director is the star, as the film is the star, and it is internationally recognized that the film IS its director. (It's just that actors are visibly up there on the screen, so we more easily identify with or respond to them...particularly in the "good" films MADE BY the directors, writers, and producers.)

As to screenwriters, consider: JOEY REYES (he writes all the films he directs, such as TORO and his latest BUKAS NA LANG KITA MAMAHALIN), CLODUALDO DEL MUNDO, JR. (BAYANING THIRD WORLD), RAQUEL VILLAVICENCIO (RELASYON), BIBETH ORTEZA (KAHAPON MAY DALAWANG BATA), ERIC RAMOS (AZUCENA), BING LAO (ITANONG MO SA BUWAN), et al.

It's great you were interested in reponding to this topic.

[neth_row]

ricky lee is also one the country's best scriptwriters...although ngayon, parang di ko na mashado naririnig pangalan niya after Rizal yata yun....

[sheilalibs]

Originally posted by neth_row:
ricky lee is also one the country's best scriptwriters...although ngayon, parang di ko na mashado naririnig pangalan niya after Rizal yata yun....

Ricky Lee also co-wrote ANAK and MURO-AMI, but thank God he had nothing to do with DADDY-O, BABY-0!

[xywiz]

Augusto Salvador -- bombahan dito, bombahan doon. Barilan dito, barilan doon. Nuff said.

[Felix Jimenez]

I posted this subject 3o'clock in the morning, so when I read it today, I was so shocked because I forgot the word "living"! I mean, it should be "Your favorite living film director". Tapos ewan ko ba, walang lumalabas sa browser ko. so, yung mga nagpost ng sagot nila, paki-ulit, sorry ha?

[coZee]

lino brocka.

why? just watch his films!

[CesarJ]

I forgot to mention MEL CHIONGLO, whose SIBAK I hear was in the '94 Toronto Film Festival and whose BURLESK KING was in last year's Chicago FilmFest and this year's Berlin FilmFest.

[This message has been edited by CesarJ (edited 06-27-2000).]

[angelic_light]

I do not agree with you again, Cesarj ... or some of your choices.

Most of these directors are irresponsible.

They do not take into account their role in shaping the Christian values of our audiences. Even Lino Brocka made really horrible movies that only glorified the wrong values in the Filipino.

And besides ... I think movies like the ones made by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Mel Chionglo and Joel Lamangan ... they deal with lesbians and homos. I have nothing against them ... ha? But why put them pa in our movies? This gives a very bad example to our young people ... and it hurts me to see more and more homos around us because they think it is all right to be like that. But I have nothing against them.

I think the movies of Jose Javier Reyes are immoral. I saw this movie with Angelu ... and I think he is so irresponsible. As a Filipina, I feel insulted by the way he portrays young Filipinas as ... promiscuous. I also know he did this movie called Phone Sex because my brother was talking about it. I think that is sick!

So who is my favorite director?

Gee, I don't know.

There is yet to be one who really loves the audience to bring them enlightenment about the meaning of life.

[CesarJ]

Originally posted by angelic_light:
I think movies like the ones made by Carlos Siguion-Reyna, Mel Chionglo and Joel Lamangan ... they deal with lesbians and homos. I have nothing against them ... ha? But why put them pa in our movies? This gives a very bad example to our young people ... and it hurts me to see more and more homos around us because they think it is all right to be like that. But I have nothing against them.

Lesbians and HOMOS? What century did you come from? And "I have nothing against them" sounds like "I have nothing against blacks...some of my best friends are black". (But, of course.)

Also posted by angelic_light:
I think the movies of Jose Javier Reyes are immoral....I also know he did this movie called Phone Sex because my brother was talking about it. I think that is sick! So who is my favorite director? Gee, I don't know. There is yet to be one who really loves the audience to bring them enlightenment about the meaning of life.

I disagree. I think particularly you, angelic light, will be rewarded by "enlightenment about the meaning of life" when you see Phone Sex. Watch and learn (if anything, at least new ways of using your phone).

[This message has been edited by CesarJ (edited 06-28-2000).]

[This message has been edited by CesarJ (edited 06-28-2000).]

[sheilalibs]

Come to think of it, we are really centering on the prestige directors, hindi ba? All these directors mentioned have a relative body of works representative of the last half of the past decade and ushering in this new millennium.

But ... shall we give credit where credit is due?

Where will Philippine movies be without the masterpieces of:

a) ELWOOD PEREZ --- For who can ever forget this legendary Filipino director who even attempted to revive the career of Amalia Fuentes in a movie starring Mia Velasco?!! Remember ... it is Mr. Perez who gave us classics that can certainly surpass BIYAYA NG LUPA or ANAK-DALITA or BADJAO!

History will prove that WAIKIKI is the benchmark of modern Philippine cinema!

b) JOEY GOSIENGFIAO -- Although he is now visible all over the papers for creating the entire institutional image of Regal Films, Mr. Gosiengfiao's semi-retirement (after no one fully appreciated --- much less, understood --- his swan song, THE NIGHTS OF SERAFINA starring Georgia Ortega) has brought about more curiousity to his legendary stature. After all, Mr. Gosiengfiao brought us TEMPTATION ISLAND!

History will again prove that one of the final scenes of that movie ... where five gorgeous female semblances of flesh (Dina Bonnevie, Jennifer Cortez, Bambi Arambulo, Azenith Briones and Deborah Sun) literally started eating human flesh (the remains of Jonas Sebastian) while singing "There's a plaaaaaace for us .... somewhere a plaaaaace for us ..." will be an all time classic ... comparable to Orson Welles' whispering ... "Roooooooosebud!" :D

[Lorskie]

Carlos Siguion-Reyna - Ang galing ng movies na ginawa niya, it will leave a mark in your mind, questioning what's happening to our society and the scenes pa in the movie are perfectly shown. He motivates his actors well and makes them act very well on screen two thumbs up ako talaga :)

[This message has been edited by Lorskie (edited 07-11-2000).]

[Noel Vera]

Great LIVING filipino directors?

Tikoy Aguiluz.

He started as a documentary filmmaker, and all his films have that realism, from his gritty noir thriller Segurista, to his small-scale Rizal sa Dapitan, to his possibly great Bagong Bayani. You can't point to an Aguiluz film and say: That is fake. His is an immediate and intelligent cinema.

Mario O'Hara
Great filmmaker--Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Bulaklak sa City Jail, BAgong Hari, Condemned, Bakit Bughaw ang Langit. He also wrote two of Brocka's finest films--Insiang, and Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, AND gives a great performance in Tinimbang.

He can direct, write, and act--a triple threat.

He can do social realism as good as Brocka--witness Bulaklak sa City Jail, Babae sa Bubungang Lata, and Bakit Bughaw ang Langit? He can also do things Brocka can't do--action, for one. Ever saw Brocka's Hot Property, or the ending of Macho Dancer? Brocka couldn't do action sequences to save his life. Ever seen O'Hara's Condemned, or his great Bagon Hari?

O'Hara is more visual, more cinematic. I think he's actually better than Brocka.

Other directors--

Mike De Leon--has yet to make a bad film. He has one great one--Kisapmata, influenced by, but I think is superior to, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. He's more than intellectual, he's our ingrown, overstrange, not a little insane cinematic artist.

Celso Ad. Castillo

He did Burlesk Queen, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pagitim ng Tagak, and Julian Makabayan. He's even more inconsistent than Brocka or O'Hara, coming up with a great chase sequence in his Pinkamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa remake, while the rest of the film is trash. His Lihim ni Madonna is some kind of great film--what exactly, I'm not sure. It's crazy, and inspired.

Promising directors include:

Lav Diaz, whose Kriminal ng Barrio Concepcion was Dostoevsky in a Phil. setting, and Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan, which went to Berlin Film Festival's prestigious Forum section.

Jeffrey Jeturian--his Pila Balde is a lighter, more humorous Insiang.

Raymond Red--winner of the Golden Palm at Cannes, the ONLY filipino to do so.

I also agree about Joey Gosengfiao and Elwood Perez--camp directors, and they were very good at it.

Writers? Racquel Villavicencio, Pete Lacaba, Clodualdo Del Mundo, the very underrated Amando Lao (he did Pila Balde), and of course, Mario O'Hara.

[ProudPinoy]

Mr. Vera,

Agree ako lahat sa mga sinabi mo. Except lang kay Tikoy Aguiluz. Ano bang masasabi nating ginawa niyang puede nating ikarangal after "BOATMAN"? Rizal sa Dapitan? Kung saan isinakrapisyo niya ang production design magawa lang ang pelikula? At nanalo pa nga ang designers nito bilang best prod. design sa isang award giving body? Albert Martinez, the most underrated overrated actor? Amanda Page, with her english accent? Saan ba nanggaling si Josephine Bracken? SEGURISTA? Na parang fashion model si Gary Estrada? Magkakarugtong na eksena ay nag-iiba-iba ang damit? BAGONG BAYANI? Well, better talaga ito than F. Contemplacion ni Joel Lamangan?

Hindi pa rin ako naniniwala na kailangang ipasintabi natin ang ilang kakulangan sa pelikula upang matawag natin itong matino or maayos! Magaling si Tikoy, isa sa "straight" directors natin! Pero may dapat pa siyang patunayan!


*removed libelous content*

[Edited by Ada on 02-08-2001 at 04:28 PM]

[bLaCk]

LINO BROCKA---classics never die
PEQUE GALLAGA---santa claus never runs out of gifts... napaka-galing..

i find UP's Raymond Red very promising. we should start supporting independent and short films...

OLIVIA LAMASAN--girl power!

[bubu]

mike de leon.

i think the ones who should be showing up are indie film directors who live with passion.

films today should uplift the filipino culture, state of mind, and be not just a source of entertainment, but a means toward a better country. hindi lang puro sex...

[Noel Vera]

"Agree ako lahat sa mga sinabi mo. Except lang kay Tikoy Aguiluz. Ano bang masasabi nating ginawa niyang puede nating ikarangal after "BOATMAN"? Rizal sa Dapitan?"

Actually, I can't consider myself objective on that film--I worked on the screenplay.

But yes, I think it's a truer, more accurate film than, say, Jose Rizal. But NOT my favorite Rizal film.

"SEGURISTA? Na parang fashion model si Gary Estrada? Magkakarugtong na eksena ay nag-iiba-iba ang damit?"

This sounds a bit like nitpicking. The realism in that film is better than in practically 90% of other Filipino films, I think.

"BAGONG BAYANI? Well, better talaga ito than F. Contemplacion ni Joel Lamangan? "

Definitely. Ever really looked at Lamgangan's version? There are inaccuracies there, on story, on realism, etc.

"Kung isasantabi muna niya siguro ang pagiging producer at baguhin niya ang masamang ugali niyang pagtrato sa mga taong katrabaho niya at nakatrabaho niya."

This has nothing to do with his virtues as a director, though...

"I respect him as a director, but I don't respect him as a person."

And that's a perfectly valid opinion. I've worked with him, I know his flaws, we've had shouting matches, and yes, he still owes me money, but it doesn't change my opinion of him as a filmmaker.

[tough_guy]

For me, Gil Portes and Raymod Red.

I guess they are our most underrated directors.

With measly amount of budget, it takes a genius to come up with a rea nice work. And I know that these two directors are known for this.

For that, I think they are our best.

[colet]

marilou diaz-abaya - deep, perfectionist and kikay sa set.

carlitos siguion reyna - so perfectionist, mabusisi. ganda mga paeffects sa films niya.

[Noel Vera]

Raymond Red

And who could forget him? The man did his first short at the age of 17, a 25 minute masterpiece called "Ang Magpakailanman." His other shorts were seen by British film critic Tony Rayns who called him a mix of Kafka and Jorge Luis Borges--and that he was a talent of almost Wellesian proportions--before he was twenty, he could direct, shoot, and edit a film. He went to the Berlin Film Festival, and COMPETED in the Tokyo International Film FEstival, long before other filmmakers even considered entering their films.

Actually, he's spent more years making films than most Filipino filmmakers working today.
And what is this ******** that he's only good at shorts? As if shorts were an inferior form of art compared to feature films? They're two kinds of films, and one has challenges totally different from another--in a feature, you sustain a story for at least ninety minutes; in a short, you tell your story in twenty minutes or less.

Is Guy De Maupassant a lesser writer than John Grisham, because he wrote short stories and Grisham wrote novels? Is Jean Vigo a lesser filmmaker than, say, Joel Schumacher, because Vigo's output comes up to only three hours, while Shcumacher's amounts to twelve or so hours of pure crap?

Red DESERVES his Golden Palm. He's a fine filmmaker, one of the best in the Philippines.

[ProudPinoy]

Mr. Vera,

Tama ka sa lahat ng sinabi mo about my comment regarding Tikoy! Talaga lang kumukulo ang dugo ko everytime naaalala ko yung ginawa niya sa amin. But he is really a good director. But I cannot still consider him as "outstanding"! Goodluck to you and we hope to see more of your collaboration with Tikoy Aguiluz!

Meron din akong mga tanong sa pagiging mahusay na director ni Raymond Red. Marami kang binanggit na pangalan at pinagkumpara mo sila, isang nobelista at isang short story writer, isang short filmmaker(?) at full length filmaker(?), etc. Parang hindi ako sang-ayon sa sinabi mo, parang nakikita ko kasi na magaling talaga si Raymond bilang isang short filmaker, pero may dapat pa siyang patunayan na makagawa ng isang katangi-tanging full length para masabi talaga nating isa siyang magaling na filmaker.

Maiba ako, bakit ang mga taong gumagawa ng short films, ang tawag ay filmakers? Hindi ba ito puedeng itawag din sa mga gumagawa ng full-lenght na nasa mainstream? Or tinatawag kang filmaker kasi ikaw ang sumusulat, nag-iilaw, nagdi-direk, nag-e-edit ng sarili mong pelikula? At kapag gumawa ka na ng full-lenght bilang director at may collaboration ka na with your designer, cinematographer at editor, eh hindi na filmaker ang tawag sayo? Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan kapag naririnig ko sa mga shorts makers kapag sinasabi nilang filmakers sila, tapos iyung mga nasa mainstream, hindi naman nila tinatawag ang mga sarili nilang filmakers. Sana matulungan mo lang akong malinawan ko ito! Salamat!

So, balik kay Raymond. Kagaya ng sinabi ko, dapat makagawa siya ng isang katangi-tanging full-lenght para masabi nating isa talaga siyang mahusay na direktor, hindi lang nang shorts. Naniniwala kasi ako na "it doesn't follow, or it doesn't apply" to everybody, na kapag magaling kang short filmmaker ay magaling ka na rin sa full-lenght. Hindi ba mas mahirap sumulat ng one-act play kaysa sa plays with acts? Ang magagaling bang fashion designers na gumagawa ng RTW ay magiging magaling din sa couture? Ang magagaling bang theater directors or tv directors ay magiging magaling ding Film directors? Sa tingin ko, case to case basis yan eh. Lahat ng itinanong ko ay posible, pero hindi ito mag-a-apply sa lahat ng tao!

Sa tingin mo, bakit kaya ang isang mahusay na Director na kagaya ni Mario O'Hara ay hindi nabibigyan ng film project? :)

Pinoy Magbago Ka!

[RAinCLouD]

mike de leon: bayaning 3rd world and batch 81 coz of his cinematic shots

lino brocka: maynila sa mga kuko ng liwanag coz of his themes

ishmael bernal: manila by night and nunal sa tubig

[Noel Vera]

Raincloud: sabi daw ay living directors. Sina Lino at Ishma ay patay na...unless you've heard otherwise. :)

Proudpinoy--you've had a painful experience and I sympathize. I'm also glad you're able to separate the person from his work. It's difficult to do, which makes it all the more admirable when people can do it.

On shorts vs. features--I can't agree, quite. I think many short filmmakers cannot do features, but I also think the opposite is true--that many feature filmmakers will not be able to do short stories (Graham Greene's best works are not his short stories). As you said, each format has its special, unique challanges.

I don't think Raymond has to prove himself as a feature filmmaker; I think it's enough that he's a great short filmmaker. But in this world, of course, I recognize that features hold more heft and significance to people, and that Raymond would naturally want to prove himself. I think he did, partially--his Bayani is not a great film, and not always a moving one, but it's a lyrical, highly cinematic work of art.

More power to Raymond, then. But he has nothing to prove to me.

[yehveybey_14_gsmb]

MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA-she is the BEST [for me] ang galing nya talagang mag direk! kitang kita naman siguro sa JOSE RIZAL AND MURO-AMI! grabe...ang galing talaga!

[ProudPinoy]

I agree with you about Raymond! Wala naman talaga siyang dapat patunayan! Actually, wala naman tayong dapat patunayan sa mga tao para lang masabi nating "magaling" tayo or something! But siempre, deep inside us ay nag-uumalpas iyung objective natin na ma-appreciate naman san iyung mga gawa natin. Sa kaso ni Raymond, mahihirapan talaga siyang tanggapin dito bilang isang mahusay na direktor. Puede pa na isang "mahusay na short filmaker". At ako ay naniniwala na talagang mahusay siya! Ang kakapal na lang talaga ng mga mukha ng mga Pinoy na magsasabing "bobo" ang mga hurado sa Cannes!

Mabuhay si Raymond!

Pinoy Magbago Ka!

[jethro]

lino brocka of "maynila sa kuko ng liwanag"...

abaya's rizal! okey sana but i never believed the scene where rizal holding a rosary before his death...he never retracted!

peace!

[Noel Vera]

As said before, I think the thread is asking for living film directors.

I don't like Abaya's Rizal for many reasons...one of them being, if Rizal retracted, that means one thing, and the film should have told Rizal's story that way; if he did not retract, that means another thing, and again, the story should have been told accordingly.

That said, I do like one of her films, May Nagmamahal sa Iyo, about a mother looking for her child, which she had given up for adoption. I think her feelings as a mother come through in that one.

[jethro]

noel,

hehehehe! not 'nuff time to watch pinoy movies here eh, besides the scarcity of pinoy films..

neways i think, i'll go for peque gallaga in his film "oro, plata, mata"

mike de leon's itim a gem in his era but again "kuko" is a classic! hanggang ngayon "kuko" is prevalent in the metro

i read very good reviews about carlitos, red and jeturian but not keen about lamasan and other abs-cbn hyped film makers...am biased???

peace!

[sardonic wench]

myself, hands down!
(not really, my films are crappy and i dont like directing anymore. always did films for school requirements.)

seriously, wala naman akong fave sa kanila. i like watching ...

carlitos s-g's films - because of the texture of the film. iba yung screen qualities ng film niya eh. saka maganda ang production values!

brocka and de leon - how they depict filipino life although a bit surreal. they make you think if such a life exists.

yung mga bagong directors? hmmm. depende. gusto ko yung mood ng pelikula ni raymond red yung nanalo sa cannes. maganda din ang texture. as for mainstream, yung may mga jolina at marvin, wag na lang. nakakaaliw yung palabas but it aint worth paying 40 bucks for. hintayin niyo na lang sa cable.

in fairness gumaganda ang production values ng star cinema. pero yoko magtrabaho dun. di maganda work atmosphere.

ayoko din yung kultura dito sa pilipinas na porket nag aral sa NYFA or NYU summer course yung mga artista (like richard gomez and lorna tolentino) ay mag di-direct na sila. there's more to directing than an short course.

[Noel Vera]

"hehehehe! not 'nuff time to watch pinoy movies here eh, besides the scarcity of pinoy films.."

Sayang. It's worth it to search them out.

You can read my articles for a quickie guide :)

"neways i think, i'll go for peque gallaga in his film "oro, plata, mata""

Have you seen it recently? The characters don't develop. Great beginning, worthy of Bertolucci's '1900.' Then they're frozen in the long middle part. By the end of the film, a bloodbath taken from 'The Wild Bunch,' you're just grooving to the killings, without caring who lives or dies.

Peque's best work--and he admits this himself--is 'Scorpio Nights.' Two people, in what feels like the end of the world, literally ******* themselves to death. Great film.

"mike de leon's itim a gem in his era"

It's very well done and brilliant, but I think it's an exercise in preparation for his masterpiece, 'Kisapmata.' Mike makes the mistake of having his father figure, Mario Montenegro, paralyzed; it paralyzes the film, makes its central figure passive. No such mistake in 'Kisapmata'--Vic Silayan's father is one of the greatest male performances I have ever seen.

"but again "kuko" is a classic! hanggang ngayon "kuko" is prevalent in the metro"

I won't argue with you there.

"i read very good reviews about carlitos, red and jeturian but not keen about lamasan and other abs-cbn hyped film makers...am biased???"

As I've said, no...you're being intelligent. Do try Jeturian and Red, however; I think they are great.

[Noel Vera]

"[B]myself, hands down!
(not really, my films are crappy and i dont like directing anymore. always did films for school requirements.)"

What shorts did you do? I'm curious.

"brocka and de leon - how they depict filipino life although a bit surreal. they make you think if such a life exists."

Brocka surreal? I don't know what you mean. He's the most realist of directors.

And he makes sure you know that such life does exist. The great thing about 'Maynila sa Kuko' is that it looks like it was shot just outside the theater and brought inside for you to watch.

"yung mga bagong directors? hmmm. depende. gusto ko yung mood ng pelikula ni raymond red yung nanalo sa cannes. maganda din ang texture."

Agreed.

"in fairness gumaganda ang production values ng star cinema. pero yoko magtrabaho dun. di maganda work atmosphere."

You said it.

And production values are overrated. Story, imagination, acting are the prime values. Production value is just a lot of money thrown at the screen.

"ayoko din yung kultura dito sa pilipinas na porket nag aral sa NYFA or NYU summer course yung mga artista (like richard gomez and lorna tolentino) ay mag di-direct na sila. there's more to directing than an short course. "

You said it.

[sardonic wench]

[B]
questions of noel vera:
1. What shorts did you do? I'm curious.
2. Brocka surreal? I don't know what you mean. He's the most realist of directors.
[B]

answers:
1. i did animation for my thesis (i weirdly won something for that, but i want to do it again to join film festivals. i like the whole concept and story A LOT, sama lang ng production kasi minadali ko lahat and i had to do it on a pentium 1.33 because it's what i still have) i also did a documentary about the star circle auditions which would have been better if i had all the resources and a few excercises for my basic production class.
i want to do more docus but i dont have the money to do it yet. animation? i'm doing that for a living already. maybe do more of my own when i get the ideas.

2. brocka's kinda surreal to me because of manila by night. surreal kasi everybody is connected to everybody else in a small scale. it even crosses social classes. though i agree to the premise that we live in a small world, the world they revolve in is a little bit too small for my taste. (hehehe) but i love his films except for sister stella l. because i cant stand all the politics in the movie. i havent finished watching it yet.

as for itim and kisapmata, i totally agree with the passivity of mario montenegro. pero he's not too much of a disappointment really.
vic silayan's performance is much more stirring and annoying because he had a psychological problem. mario montenegro just had a secret to keep.

biased sa hype ng mga abs-cbn directors? no you're not. i dont like them, period. they'd have to pay me a load of money to work for them. hehehe. it's quite amusing once you realize how much of showbiz politics and palakasan they had to endure just to get where they are now. they could be good but just the same, they had to kiss ***. =)

[starz]

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/angel.gif
Raymond Red!!! He's really talented, and his works are short, but they can make you think more than a 2 hour movie. It's just sad that he got the Filipino's attention AFTER winning an international award, 'coz we should be aware of this stuff!!!
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/silly.gif
Mabuhay ang Pilipino! hehehe...
http://www.pinoyexchange.com/angel.gif

[Noel Vera]

"i did animation for my thesis...i also did a documentary about the star circle auditions"

But titles? Your real name, maybe? I'm interested. Email me if you don't want to post it.

"brocka's kinda surreal to me because of manila by night."

That's by Ishmael Bernal. Yes, he can be surreal. Actually, I think Brocka's too single-minded to do a Manila By Night or Himala, though for some strange reason, I prefere Brocka over Bernal (both are great, mind you). It's the directness, the passion.

"(hehehe) but i love his films except for sister stella l. because i cant stand all the politics in the movie. i havent finished watching it yet."

I think you mean Mike de Leon here. I also don't like Sister Stella L. It's overrated, and I think it shows that Mike wasn't really interested. The only scene that comes to life in the film is (what else, in a Mike movie?) the torture of Tony Santos Sr.

"vic silayan's performance is much more stirring and annoying"

Annoying never came to my mind. Try threatening, intimidating, terrifying. Great perforamnce.

"biased sa hype ng mga abs-cbn directors? no you're not. i dont like them, period. they'd have to pay me a load of money to work for them. hehehe."

Hehehehe.

"it's quite amusing once you realize how much of showbiz politics and palakasan they had to endure just to get where they are now. they could be good but just the same, they had to kiss ***."

And that's what the industry is all about today.

Notice I'm not a very well-known film critic.

I don't find myself picking pubic hair from my lips very often. Only from filmmakers I admire, and not always. He he.

And re: Raymond Red--it IS sad it took a Golden Palm to get Raymond noticed. But I've had my eye on him for years now...

[sardonic wench]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Noel Vera:


That's by Ishmael Bernal. Yes, he can be surreal. Actually, I think Brocka's too single-minded to do a Manila By Night or Himala, though for some strange reason, I prefere Brocka over Bernal (both are great, mind you). It's the directness, the passion.

sorry. i normally mix up directors. me and my big mouth.

"(hehehe) but i love his films except for sister stella l. because i cant stand all the politics in the movie. i havent finished watching it yet."

I think you mean Mike de Leon here. I also don't like Sister Stella L. It's overrated, and I think it shows that Mike wasn't really interested. The only scene that comes to life in the film is (what else, in a Mike movie?) the torture of Tony Santos Sr.


sorry ulit.

"vic silayan's performance is much more stirring and annoying"

Annoying never came to my mind. Try threatening, intimidating, terrifying. Great performance.

annoying kasi naasar ako dahil hinde talaga nanalo si jay ilagan. kampi kasi ako kay jay eh. hehehe.

[uhog]

since legends and living legends have been raking praises from you people, let me turn the spotlight to the new filmmakers who have made priceless contribution to Phil cinema. first and foremost is, of course, Lav Diaz. His film "Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan" was invited to the Berlin Film Festival Forum Section. This section invites films from different countries which are deemed experimental. A lot of the films from our country go to the competition section or panorama section which means that they go there just to be exhibited. Meaning anyone could do it. But Lav Diaz' film was invited in a category, if i'm not mistaken, some of godard's films went. Lav Diaz rules

[Bobby]

Chito Roño - sophisticated ang dating ng mga movies pero malapit pa rin sa masa.

Jose Javier Reyes- Writer/Director in one. Nakakaaliw yung Hiling. Nakakatawa yung Bakit Pa? Nakaka-touch yung Batang PX, at marami pang iba.

Carlos Siguion-Reyna - Kakaibang mga topic ang kanyang tinatalakay. Sophisticated ang kanyang mga camera shots at mukhang planadong-planado talaga ang buong pelikula. Kahit malalim na tagalog na ang sinasambit ng artista ay natural pa rin ang dating.

Raymond Red- Galing nung Anino.

Marilou Diaz-Abaya - Sino ang hindi makakakilala kay Ms. Jose Rizal at Muro-Ami?

Olivia Lamasan- May puso ang mga pelikula. Simple ang dating pero nakaka-touch at magaling din ang mga shots.

Rory Quintos - Maganada ang pagkakagawa niya ng Anak. Nakakaiyak, may puso.

Mel Chionglo - Minsan lang gumawa ng pelikula, pero de-kalidad naman at mayh tama sa puso.

Gil Portes - Dami ngang nagustuhan ang Saranggola e. Yung Miguel/Michelle din, maganda.

Jerry Lopez-Sineneng - Unti-unting gumagaling. Kailangan lang nya ng magandang materyal at maayos ang kalalabasan ng kanyang mga pelikula.

[ricsan]

pinoy directors we can be proud of :

1. Lino Brocka - for Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag, Bayan Ko, Orapronobis - his movies speak of the harsh realities of life in our country, too bad nobody is fulfilling his shoe now, when it is highly needed.

2. Marilou Diaz-Abaya - for Jose Rizal, Sa Pusod ng Dagat, Muro-Ami, that movie starring Lorna and Ariel - all beautiful films.

3. Carlitos Siguion Reyna - for Ligaya, Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya, that movie starring Richard and Maricel - likes his choice of topic and location

4. Tikoy Aguiluz - for Segurista, that movie on Flor Contemplacion

5. Chito Rono - for Lahar, Dahas, that movie starring Rosanna Roces.

6. Gil Portes - for Miguel/Michelle

[ricsan]

forgot the following :

7. Raymond Red - for Bayani, Sakay

8. Joey Reyes - for Batang PX, May Minamahal

[lucas]

MIKE DE LEON!!!!!
For me, This is the man! my only favorite! I think Mike's film has it's own character it's own flavor...if you haven't seen "Kisap Mata"& "Itim" well, this is a must see movie! I tell u, the best sa lahat ng perspective! sa sound, sa cinematography, sa acting, at of course sa directing. maganda rin ang "Kung Mangarap Ka't Maggising" (1977)
Bayaning 3rd World.

Pero the best din ang team up nina Lino Brocka and Mike De Leon sa "Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag" Lino Brocka sa Directing/Mike De leon sa Cinematography>;>;>;>;never na itong nangyari and I am proud of this film (Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag")

[Noel Vera]

Originally posted by ricsan:
forgot the following :

7. Raymond Red - for Bayani, Sakay

8. Joey Reyes - for Batang PX, May Minamahal

I would add the following:

Laurice Guillen, possibly the best female Filipino filmmaker

Celso Ad Cstillo--no balls barred filmmaker of Burlesk Queen, Julian Makabayan, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pagitim ng Tagak.

Mario O'Hara--Condemned, Bulaklak sa City Jail, Bagong Hari, Babae Sa Bubungang Lata, Sisa, the great Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos. Perhaps the best of the lot, better, I think than even Brocka.

[CesarJ]

Originally posted by uhog:
since legends and living legends have been raking praises from you people, let me turn the spotlight to the new filmmakers who have made priceless contribution to Phil cinema. first and foremost is, of course, Lav Diaz. His film "Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan" was invited to the Berlin Film Festival Forum Section. This section invites films from different countries which are deemed experimental. A lot of the films from our country go to the competition section or panorama section which means that they go there just to be exhibited. Meaning anyone could do it. But Lav Diaz' film was invited in a category, if i'm not mistaken, some of godard's films went. Lav Diaz rules

Excuse me?

A lot of the films from our country go to the panorama section, it's true, TO GET EXHIBITED because that is the nature of a panorama section anyway. But those who go to the Berlin Festival's Forum Section--such as Lav's film did--go there ALSO TO GET EXHIBITED because the Forum is also "just" an exhibition section. Our films that enter the competition section go there TO COMPETE (which means they of course will also GET EXHIBITED).

You assert that "anyone could do it [enter the competition or the panorama]". As anyone in the know will tell you, the competition is always the toughest section to get into. And the panorama is not easier to crack than the Forum. In fact, the Forum might even be "easier" (if there is such a thing, and only if comparisons are to be made) to enter than the panorama. Why? Because slots in the Forum are "competed for" only by new or "experimental" films--admittedly much less numerous than "non-experimental" films--while slots in the panorama and the competition are "competed for" by ALL kinds of feature-length films, be they mainstream, independent, "experimental", or whatever.

As to your claim "But Lav Diaz' film was invited in a category, if i'm not mistaken, some of godard's films went", what is your point? While I do not presume to likewise make the point I think you are making, let me state that all our other filmmakers that COMPETED or got exhibited in the panoramas of such festivals as Berlin, Toronto, Cairo, Chicago, Brussels, Singapore, Hongkong, Fukuoka, Shanghai, Moscow, Mar de Plata (Argentina), Seattle, etc. found their films in the same sections as the works of Volker Schlondorff, Istvan Szabo, Walter Salles, Gus Van Sant, Todd Solondz, Woody Allen, Fernando Trueba, Pedro Almodovar, Sam Mendes, Regis Wagnier, Lars Von Trier, Lasse Hallstrom, Barry Levinson, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Wong Kar Wai, John Woo, Hou Hsiao Hsien, Charles Burnett, Deepah Mehta, Olivier Assayas, Agnieszka Holland, Theo Angelopolous, Tsao Min Liang, Benoit Jacquot, Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, Peter Greenaway, Goran Paskaljevic, Emil Kusturica, etc.

And yet, I would be the first to say SO WHAT? I do not presume to compare--favorably or unfavorably--our other filmmakers' works with these foreign directors' films, as I think you are doing with regards to Lav and Godard (though you are perfectly free to air your opinion). I do not NEED to compare them as I KNOW our films are as good as anyone else's in the world, period.

Finally, I respect Lav's accomplishments, as well as other new filmmakers like Jeffrey Jeturian, as I do our other filmmakers', whether or not they have played in whatever section of any festival. I do think that the continuing invitations for our films to compete or to get exhibited in whatever section in the major filmfests of the world clearly indicate the growth of Philippine cinema and the deepening worldwide recognition for it. For that, I am proud. But for your divisive hair-splitting among Philippine filmmakers and festival sections they attend--GIVEN THE ALREADY EXISTING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR CINEMA REGARDLESS OF INDUSTRY-, OR MAINSTREAM-, OR INDEPENDENT-, OR "EXPERIMENTAL"-ORIENTATION--I am ashamed.

Lav Diaz doesn't "rule". Philippine cinema rules.

Tama na ang pananalangka.


[This message has been edited by CesarJ (edited 07-27-2000).]

[Noel Vera]

Interesting post.

Berlin's Forum section IS more prestigious than Panorama...but the essential point is still valid: when all is said and done, it's the movies that are important, not the venues they participate in.

[ProudPinoy]

Originally posted by Noel Vera:
Interesting post.

Berlin's Forum section IS more prestigious than Panorama...but the essential point is still valid: when all is said and done, it's the movies that are important, not the venues they participate in.

I've been to the Berlin film Festival, hindi po ako magyayabang dito, magpapaliwanag lang po. From experience, I don't think that the word "prestigious" is the right word to describe "Forum", it's "exciting", maybe that's the best word to describe that section. Why? Dahil marami kang nakikitang bago, bagong director (of course), bagong istilo, at kung ano-ano pang bago, dahil ang section ngang ito ay para sa "bago". Kung tutuusin nga, compare sa "in competition", mas marami ang nanonood sa "panorama", sa kadahilalan na rin siguro na parang "snob" din iyung iba sa ibang film na feeling nila ay hindi naman dapat napasali sa section na iyon! "The Beach"? In Berlin Competition? Dinumog ang opening night dahil kay Leonardo pero marami din ang hindi interesado.

Hindi madaling mapasali ang isang pelikula sa "panorama"! Like this year, there were 300 films screened, and only 60 made it, kasama nga ang ating "Burlesk King" at "Toro".

And this is for the record, alam kong hindi na lamang ito nakarating dito for delicadeza, Burlesk King open the Panorama night, but sad to say, the review was so bad! Halos lahat ng nakausap ko ay naging polite lamang sa kanilang pagsagot pero alam mong hindi nila gusto ang pelikula. I felt bad, siempre Pinoy ako, but then, kahit ako naman ay hindi ko rin gusto ang pelikula.

Maganda ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa TORO. Punong-puno ang opening night nila. Siguro curious ang mga tao, sa Burlesk King nga naman ay nagpista ang kanilang mga mata sa katawan ng mga lalaking Pinoy, baka dito naman ay magpista sila sa mga katawan ng mga Pinay. Dissapointed ang mga naghintay ng hubaran, pero hindi sila dissapointed sa pelikula. Walang nag-walk-out. Second night, puno pa rin, wala pa ring nag-walk-out. Iyung pangatlong gabi ay hindi ko na pinanood at pumunta muna ako ng ibang bayan. According to my German friend who worked with the Festival, out of 60 films in the Panorama, Toro was no. 18. It was not bad.
Toro was not that very great! But I think it's one of the great Pinoy film I've seen. Nakakagulat ang isang Jose Javier Reyes sa pelikulang ito!

Wala pang 20 ang nanood ng "Hubad" sa opening night niya, malakas kasi ang ulan in the middle of the winter, at sa isang patakbuhing sinehan ipinalabas. Ewan ko nga, I felt so dissapointed. Pero ng napanood ko ang pelikula, aba, nagulat ako, ang alam ko kasi ay pito-pito and pelikulang ito, pero malinis ang pagkakagawa ni Lav Diaz. First time akong makapanood ng pelikula niya at naging instant fan niya ako. Iyung iba pa nilang "nights" ay hindi ko na napanood, kaya hindi ko rin alam ang naging resulta.

"Hit" ang mga Japanese at Chinese directors/films sa Berlin. Sana someday ang Pinoy Films naman ang "pag-initan" sa Berlin at kung saan mang festival!

Pinoy Magbago Ka!

[Noel Vera]

"I've been to the Berlin film Festival, hindi po ako magyayabang dito, magpapaliwanag lang po."

Unfortunately, I have not. Nada dinero :(

You sound familiar, sir; do I know you? Just curious.

"From experience, I don't think that the word "prestigious" is the right word to describe "Forum", it's "exciting", maybe that's the best word to describe that section."

Granted. It's possibly the most exciting section of the festival.

"Burlesk King open the Panorama night, but sad to say, the review was so bad! I felt bad, siempre Pinoy ako, but then, kahit ako naman ay hindi ko rin gusto ang pelikula."

I too feel bad, though I have not seen the film. I think the New York Times had a flip-flop review of it.

"Maganda ang reaksyon ng mga tao sa TORO"

May consolation naman.

"But I think it's one of the great Pinoy film I've seen."

We may not entirely agree...but I'm happy for the reception.

"Pero ng napanood ko ang pelikula, aba, nagulat ako, ang alam ko kasi ay pito-pito and pelikulang ito, (Hubad) pero malinis ang pagkakagawa ni Lav Diaz. First time akong makapanood ng pelikula niya at naging instant fan niya ako."

Glad to know. I don't exactly like the film, but it is very different, and Lav is a director to watch.

""Hit" ang mga Japanese at Chinese directors/films sa Berlin. Sana someday ang Pinoy Films naman ang "pag-initan" sa Berlin at kung saan mang festival!"

Let's see.

[Noel Vera]

I keep forgetting to add Laurice Guillen--her 'Init sa Magdamag' is one of the most erotic films I've ever seen--and without nudity, at that.

Also, Celso Ad. Castillo; his 'Lihim ni Madonna' is almost a good film, and he still comes up with near masterpieces (his remake of Virgin People is irritatingly fascinating).

This is the filmmaker, of course, who gave us Burlesk Queen, Pag itim ng Uwak, Pagputi ng Tagak, and Julian Makabayan.

[frenzy]

Arsenio 'Boots' Bautista and Elson S. Montalbo

Both became my professors. Sir Boots became my professor in Audio-Video Procedures and Critical Writing, while Sir Elson taught RTV Production, RTV Performance, Communication 100 and Communication 110.

[Noel Vera]

Really? Was this in UP or La Salle?

[Johnston]

This should be moved in the Movies section. :)

[Aliasmarq]

Up ko lang para may makatuturan naman tayong thread.

And for the record, I will not mention Joanlyn Viray's name in this thread.


Never.

Promise.

[FutureFilmMaker]

i will. :)

1.) Joey Reyes- unapolegetic approach. Love him!
2.) Peque Gallaga- nobody does it better
3.) Joyce Bernal- guilty tripping

[-=+cZaRiNa+=-]

Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon and Laurice Guillen

[Aliasmarq]

[QUOTE=Aliasmarq;17925419]Up ko lang para may makatuturan naman tayong thread.

1. Mike de Leon
2. Ishmael Bernal
3. Lino Brocka
4. Marilou Diaz Abaya
5. Jeffrey Jeturian
6. Jose Javier Reyes