2 Stephens & 2 Mikes at the BTC 6

I just got the BTC programme sched today and yay! I really have to hold my breath now and I am so overwhelmed, more like blown away. Much of the interesting talks and lectures collide at the same hour, so I guess its really a matter of choosing where you want to be and who you want to hear from the most. For the In the Limelight series are two British directors, Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, the Hours) will be discussing the art of filmic adaptation of novels while Mike Leigh (Vera Drake, Happy-Go-Lucky) will talk about his method of improvisation. There has been a slew of biopics the past year, so I'm not surprised that there's a lecture on biographical films, in the forum would be Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity) along with French actress Sandrine Bonnaire and filmmaker, Bernd Eichinger. Also in attendance in various lectures and events are Mike Figgis, István Szabó, Alex McDowell, Gustavo Santaolalla, Julie Delphy, Maria Schrader and Wim Wenders.

The overall theme for this year is “Screening emotions”- not that I lack any, maybe it would do me some good to immerse in it =) I look forward to the lectures on the Dark Side of Cinema and the showcase on Short Films Expand Cinema.

January with Janus

The whole process of securing your visa and other travel requirements at short notice has really maxxed me out. Its a nerve wracking experience, there's a certain feeling of dread whether you're really going or not. So there is no real cause to celebrate till you have your passport, visa, plane tickets, travel insurance, pocket money and yes - a map around Berlin, completely secured.

I have found it difficult the most the last two weeks. Most of the flights to Berlin are booked, prices have soared, work tasks are left piling up and tensions run high at home. Realistically, you can't expect everyone in your life to understand what a filmmaking talent campus is and what the BTC experience would mean to a filmmaker in southeast asia. We don't have much options around here do we? the most fun would be to chug beers at free embassy sponsored screenings =)

Alongside this, I also had to really work on my script and the pitches for the one-on-one with script mentor, Franz Rodenkirchen of the Berlin Script House. I can't wait to meet him. I'm familiar with one of his script projects- Hotel by Jessica Hausner which was part of the 2004 Cannes - Un Certain Regard roster. I found this film very atmospheric and emotionally understated, like all that air of mystery is holding every emotion back. Well, what can i say? Dark corridors leave me very distressed.

---

Some Tips in Traveling for the Berlinale Talent Campus
I'm sharing this because we went through a lot just getting there and almost NOT getting there is heartbreaking enough!

When you get the email from the Berlinale Talent Campus, don't celebrate just yet, better get on the phone and book a flight.

Most of the flights near and during the festival date get fully book once mid-January sets in. Securing a seat on a flight won't cost you a penny just yet. The important thing is, you have a seat available.

The prices will vary per airline and travel agency. I would suggest Royal Travels located at Sunvar plaza in Makati Cinema Square and Caravan Travels in Ayala for the Travel Insurance. Pero kung may suki ka na travel agency, e di go for it.

Okay the initial cost, you would have to shell out would be P300-P500 bucks for a certified copy of your flight itinerary from your travel agency. You would need this document on the next step which is calling the Germany embassy hotline.

Book an appointment with the embassy.
There is a PLDT hotline for this, setting an appointment is easier now and the interviews are scheduled through a database system. PLDT will charge a hefty per minute rate with the call center agent that will take your call. Make sure you have the following with you while on the phone: NSO certificate, your valid and renewed passport (note: you can't fly if your passport is expiring in six months), flight itinerary, email by the Berlinale Talent Campus which has the details of your official invitation, contact person in germany and hostel address. Once the agent books you an interview, make sure you show up for it and take the soonest date possible.

Embassy Interview:
Never come in late, you'll lose your slot. Worst if you reschedule and you're under a flight deadline then you're pushing it. Tough luck. The visa processing would take around 2 weeks or so (if there are no problems with your records). Be nice and courteous to your interviewer =) dress properly, but don't go overboard, don't come in a tux. Bring all your necessary paper work: passport, official invitation, flight itinerary, photo IDs (to their exact size and embassy specifications, they are strict with these guidelines) travel insurance, proof that you are who you say you are (if you are an actor, bring your playbills, write-ups, press releases, cultural related materials that bears your name). Have these photocopied and submit them to the interviewer for his consideration. Also bring the exact amount of cash for the processing fee. Utang na loob, walang sari-sari store dun para magpa-barya at maawa ka sa mga nakapila sa likod mo.

Wait a nail-biting two weeks for the result- if you get a visa or not. Let's say you do, then it wouldn't be so embarrassing to tell your friends that you are leaving for the Berlinale Talent Campus! BTW, the flight will cost around P60k-65k up for a round-trip fare on economy class (2008 rate)

Hey congratulations! not everyone makes it this far, every year out of thousands they will only select 300 or so and only 4-5 from our country. That's gotta mean something =)

So make the most of your time there, attend all the sessions you can! if you have questions, email me lang.

A Merry Caffeinated Christmas

I got my acceptance letter from the Berlinale Talent Campus three days ago. A day later Miss Marcie Jost emailed me back and whoppeee! I'm in for the Berlinale Script DOC too. It was a long shot and pretty much sheer luck that they like the storyline. Now I'm translating my script into English nonstop, I hope it sounds a lot better figuratively. I've skipped the merry making and the baking too. Spending the holidays caffeinated isn't what I had in mind. I was thinking more like drunk on margaritas and sleeping like a cow on the couch would be a fantastique holiday. Now i'm just soo riled up writing and translating, must make the deadline by vacation's end. Now that's a Christmas rush.

My mom's like so unbelievably happy for me, but she doesn't even understand half of what's going on. I can't even tell her how much sacrilege and vulgarity I've put on into that script, it'll freak her out hehe. Well I guess that's how moms are.

I wonder who the others are? I'm sure there are other pinoy filmmakers going to the campus. But there's no word yet, maybe after new year.

Quentin Tarantino's Talk in Cinemanila 2007 - Part I

I'm thankful I got a seat to see him do his lecture/talk. I think its just downright wonderful of the man to go all the way out here wanting to do a talk for film students.

Though he did point out no to mobile cameras and explicitly told us "Its either you were here or you weren't" for the talk. I do want to post what he did say, for the curious and those who apparently missed it because of the weather. In his element, this is what he had to say...

On Characters

- Dazed & Confused is the best hang-out movie ever made. Yes there's a plot, but more important to it are the people. You hang out with the characters. You get to like these people like they're your friends. Jackie Brown is my "hang out film"

As a Writer-Director

- I have no problem being both because its my material.

- Its important that the piece start with a blank page that I'm able to create celluloid out of nothing. A blank page.

- Where I'm come the process that is closest to writing is editing... Sally Menke... I only work with one editor. This is how my cinema is. The last draft of the script is the first cut of the movie.

On Planet Terror

I grew up loving these kinds of movie. I wanna give back to the people who love them as well. Also to give the theatrical experience with these kind of movies to a new audience. To give our obsession back.

On Casting

- I try to get to know that I get of sense of them (the actors). Have dinner and hang-out.

- I had to learnover the course of time, its all about my characters. I'm proud of them, they're my babies. I love my characters more than my movies. They're real to me. I'm God and they're my subjects. But they're me. They become my humanity.

- The actors at the end of the day, they have to live up to my characters. I'm in the business of finding the actor that will make the character come alive..

- Sometimes they're so intuned into the characters, I no longer see my words but I hear the actor's voices.

- At casting an oddball comes in... interesting... exciting artistically. I have a crush on them. Its gotta be the right one... If I get turned on by their uniqueness or quirkiness. Sometimes you cast the actor, not the character... If i didn't holdout for the perfect actor, he's not the character.

On being a Writer

I'm coming from a serious writer's place. I'm not saying I deserve it, but that's what I want. I want to be one of the greatest writers in the 20th century.

How do I reinvent myself?

I just come up with the next story I want to tell. I fall in love with the next story, there's never a question. about it. You're in love then you're in loive. That's just the joy! I'm in such love I'm able to commit to what I should do.

On Budget

- For anyone who produces I wanna be a good investment. I don't want you to lose money. But if it happens, its not ideal. Hopefully I can give you $2 back for every dollar.

- Some movies have small audiences. They touch a nerve, I got that with Pulp Fiction. It made $8 million at the time.

-To fashion the budget appropriate to the story I want to tell

On Pulp Fiction

- It gave me a place, a position in this business I'm fortunate to have. I'm lucky in a highly competitive, commercial industry I'm an artist in residence.

- I had a complete smash in a quirky smash, my thing and I was completely rewarded by it.

After much anxiety shooting Walang Paraiso, finally it'll be seen on screen on Cinemanila. I couldn't be any happier about it =)

Endless months of pre-prod and storyboarding with enzo. The daily location hunt, casting calls are the sweat, blood and tears of Elisse our PM. Nerissa's very steady wrangling on set was crucial and the two are just great! The principal photography was a juggling act but well executed by the three: Albert, Maisa and Ruel. Albert bringing on so much luck at the MRT sequence, the whole scene was an experiment in serendipity including the guerilla shoot in downtown Manila at almost midnight. Joy who arguably wanted to kill me between days for providing her a measly budget for PD surprisingly delivered more: a full-functional wardrobe team, set design and tons of props. So lucky!

But after 27 hours together, energies and tempers just languishing, the actors are still riled up for their scenes. Perry seems to be on so much adrenaline, I dunno, he never gets tired at all and easily slips into character like second skin. Therese is just funny, she's so wind up, she's so madaldal! my gosh! like an energizer bunny between takes. and Rham? well everybody just agrees, Rham is just intense! Kuya Amante is so consistent and seriously, he's not the guy you should cross, he brings on the pretty serious stuff on set. Just back from a funeral from an 8 hour road trip and still he's ready for anything.

Now the whole project of finally getting to shoot your first short is not for the fainthearted. This is the result of years being behind-the-scenes fervently waiting for the right time. It will really strain a number of relationships, burn holes in your pockets (not just yours) and emotionally drain your whole being. Friends will fight for you, linger around or just pat you in the back and say "I hope you know what you're doing now." I think what is crucial is getting a good team of people who believe in the project you're doing. And in the end, all the hardwork is worth every notion of a dream realized.

The Official Selection CineManila Young Cinema Programme 2007.

August 8 to 19 2007 at Gateway Mall Cineplex 10 in Araneta Center, Quezon City August 17 to 19 Boracay

COMPETITION
1. Libingan (Ramon del Prado)
2. The Calling (Christopher Gozum)
3. Three Boys (Ming Kai Leung)
4. Delusions (Ernest Michael Manalastas)
5. Parang Sirang Plaka (Real Florido)
6. Bingit (Michael Christian Cardoz)
7. Kasila (Sherwin Desierto)

EXHIBITION
1. Afterbirth (Reginald Vinluan)
2. Umbilical (Jason Joven)
3. Sa Kanlungan ng Impyerno (Milo Tolentino)
4. Ambulancia (Richard Soriano Legaspi)
5. Qwerty (Paolo Dy)
6. Walang Paraiso (Ivy Tayag Baldoza)
7. Tres Pas (Janus Victoria)

Yay!

All-Indie Film Festival @ TitusBrandsma

“Walang Paraiso” was screened last night at the 10th year Anniversary and the yearly All-indie film festival of Pelikula @TitusBrandsma, the highlight of this year's event is Nerissa Picadizo's music video “Nice”. A dear tribute on the first year death Anniversary of actor/filmmaker Kuya Elmo Redrico. Ka Elmo in particular gave a memorable and extraordinary performance in Tad Ermitaño's Local Unit.

Among the films screen, I love the Calling by Christopher Gozum which is in Competition this coming CineManila Int'l Filmfest. An atmospheric short that deals with an OFW working in a factory in Pusan who has to heed the Calling of his Visayan grandmother to return to his town and assume his destiny as a healer. The short is technically and visually stunning and evokes the filmmaking clarity of Kim Ki-duk. Chris Gozum is last year's alumni and Philippine representative at the Asian Film Academy which funded and produce his short.

Other films of interests, the whimsical and heartwarming short Babae by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo. How can you compress so much Life in a 25 minute short? It feels like a full-length feature and a tongue-in-cheek documentary that just rolls out the punches. The visually curt and direct Boy Who Loves Flowers, insightful considering its length. The intense and cautionary tale of Lunes ng Hapis by Nick Joseph Olanka is unforgettable in its own right.