6 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010
Erik Matti
“I MAKE movies to
tell stories … to
engage the audi-
ence, to let people know
what I think and how I
feel about things that
matter to me. I make
films that I myself would
want to watch,” says Erik
Matti.
His latest film, “The Arrival,”
represented the country in fes-
tivals in Italy, Germany, Hong
Kong, as well as in New York
and Hawaii. It received eight
Urian nominations. Francis de
Veyra, who composed the
sound track, won the 2010
Gawad Urian for Best Music.
Erik is currently working on a
number of projects under his
company, Reality Entertain-
ment. One of these is “OJT.”
“It’s a character-driven, hard-
boiled movie like ‘Heat,’ ‘Ameri-
can Gangster’ and ‘The Depart-
ed.’ It’s a mentor-protégé paral-
lel story of two hit men from
prison,” Erik relates. Actors Pio-
lo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz,
Francis
Xavier Pasion
R
EQUIRED to com-
pose a letter to a
possible employer
in a high school typing
class, Francis Xavier Pa-
sion had written to Lily
Monteverde, matriarch of
Regal Entertainment.
“But that’s not what led me
to filmmaking,” says Francis,
who graduated cum laude in
Communications from Ateneo.
His first job was as wardrobe
assistant on the set of director
Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Muro-
Ami.” He recalls: “She was my
teacher in Ateneo, and my first
employer. She would get my
salary from her salary.”
Francis describes his “Muro-
Ami” stint as a “priceless” expe-
rience. “I worked with the best
people in the industry. I learned
a lot.”
In 2003, he co-wrote “Crying
Ladies” and was a script consul-
tant for “Kung Ako na lang
Sana.” Then he wrote the script
of the TV series, “Sa Piling Mo”
in 2006 and later became head
writer and producer of the pub-
lic service program “Nagmama-
hal, Kapamilya.” In 2008, he
worked as scriptwriter on the
mini-series “Volta.”
That same year, he wrote and
directed “Jay,” about a filmmak-
er who makes a documentary on
Jerrold Tarog
“T HERE IS no
new wave.
There is only a
bunch of people doing the
same thing at the same
time,” Jerrold Tarog says of
the current “indie” scene.
The director of award-win-
ning films “Confessional” and
“Mangatyanan” cautions
against “allowing trophies and
medals from foreigners to fool
us into thinking there is a
movement of sorts here. The
impact of important Filipino
films from the past five years on
Philippine society is weak at
this point. Cinema institutions
that still hold the most influ-
ence are those that encourage
mediocrity, and overtly refuse
to let their audiences grow.”
INQUIRER ENTERTAINMENT
Richard Gomez and Joel Torre
have expressed interest in the
project, he adds.
Erik’s other noteworthy
films: “Scorpio Nights 2”
(1999), “Ekis: Walang Takas”
(1999), “Pedro Penduko”
(2000), “Sa Huling Paghihin-
tay” (2001), “Prosti” (2002),
“Mano Po 2” (2003), “Gagam-
boy” (2004), “Pa-siyam”
(2004), “Exodus: Tales from
the Enchanted Kingdom”
(2005).
He is thrilled about what he
calls “a newfound democra-
tized filmmaking revolution.”
Anyone who has a story to tell
can just borrow a camera and
make a film, Erik notes. “[This]
liberation from the clutches of
those we deem powerful in the
business has opened the gates
to a surge of ideas from the seri-
ous, quirky, crazy, gay, preten-
tious, poignant, deep, mundane
to any idea deemed ‘filmable,’”
he says.
He stresses a need for pro-
ducers, “who are not con-
cerned only about tricking the
audience or cashing in on
FRANCIS XAVIER PASION:
“There is no more excuse
not to be a filmmaker.”
the life of a murdered teacher
and, in the process, solves the
crime. It won Best Picture at
Cinemalaya 2008.
“Jay” has since been
screened in 28 international
film festivals, premiering at
the prestigious Venice Inter-
national Film Festival in
2008. It won honors in festi-
vals in Mexico, Switzerland,
Spain and the United States.
Francis served as a mem-
ber of the international jury
at the 2009 Vladivostok In-
ternational Film Festival in
Russia.
His second film, “Sampa-
guita, National Flower”
“JAY”
Jerrold directs, writes, edits
and scores his own films. His
feature film debut, “Confes-
sional,” which he co-directed
with Ruel Dahis Antipuesto,
collected 13 major awards, in-
cluding Best Film at the 10th
Osian’s Cinefan (India). It pre-
miered at the 2007 Cinema
One Originals Film Festival,
where it won seven awards. It
also won Best Film in the
Southeast Asian category of
the 10th Cinemanila.
His second film, “Man-
gatyanan,” was a finalist in the
full-length feature category in
Cinemalaya 2009, where it won
two awards, including Best
Editing for Tarog. Che Ramos,
received an Urian Best Actress
nod for the lead role.
Jerrold also maintains a career
TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD
“THE has made money in the past.”
ARRIVAL” Erik calls on aspiring film-
makers to be honest in what
they do. “Don’t second-guess
critics,” he says. “Half the time
they don’t know how to watch
ANDREW TADALAN
ERIK MATTI: movies—check out some of the
“If your movie reviews of ‘Sa ’Yo Lamang.’
is good, festivals Don’t second-guess festivals. If
will ask for it.” your movie is good, they will
ask for it. Don’t be impatient.
Learn the medium first.”
their ignorance.” movies,” he says. [output], though half of them ac- There is no excuse for bad
Erik believes there is an au- There is a need to unite the tually wish their movies would filmmaking, he says, no matter
dience for local films. “This is mainstream and independent make it to mainstream.” On the how good the intention. “This
evident during the annual film camps, he adds. “The indie other hand, he says, “The prob- country has gotten so low on
Metro Manila Film Festival, people have become snooty. lem with mainstream producers principles that we easily hail
though we constantly hear the They think their films are more is that their notion of what’s mediocre work with good in-
same clamor for better relevant than the mainstream commercial is limited to what tentions.” Marinel R. Cruz
JIM GUIAO PUNZALAN
Jeffrey Jeturian
AUGUST DELA CRUZ
JEFFREY JETURIAN:
“If you want it bad
enough, your passion
will see you through.”
H
E IS a true child of product of the so-called pito- competed in the Cinema del
pito (literally, seven-seven) film Presente section of the Venice
cinema, having
worked his way up movement in the 1990s. Lily International Film Festival. Five
chronicles the journey of the Monteverde allowed indepen- years later, Jeffrey scored a per-
sampaguita garland, from from the ranks, starting as dent-minded filmmakers to do sonal best with his seventh
the time the buds are plucked production assistant, then their thing—if they could finish work, “Kubrador.” It won crit-
in a farm out of town to the production designer and shooting in seven days and ics’ prizes in the Brisbane, Cine-
time the finished products
are sold in the city. The story
assistant director. post-production in another sev- fan (India), Moscow and Val-
Jeffrey Jeturian recalls en days. ladolid (Spain) Fests.
is told by the children in- One such movie was Jeffrey’s “Kubrador” also won for lead
watching Susan Roces movies
volved in the different stages. “Sana Pag-Ibig Na” (1998). star Gina Pareño a string of Best
at age 6, and having a “magical
It won the Special Jury Prize This modest debut was fol- Actress trophies from Amiens,
experience.” But seeing Lino
at Cinemalaya 2010. lowed by a quick succession of Cinefan, Brussels and local
Brocka’s “Maynila sa mga Kuko
Francis counsels aspiring six thoroughly indie films—all award-giving bodies as well.
ng Liwanag” in high school
filmmakers: “Watch as many acclaimed and award-winning, Straddling the mainstream
rocked his world.
Filipino films as you can, even here and abroad. and indie scenes has given Jef-
He told himself, “Movies
the bad ones. The biggest sin His second movie, “Pila frey a fuller view of the land-
have the power to move audi-
you will ever commit as a Fil- Balde” won at WorldFest Hous- scape. “The local industry was
ences … I wish I could be a
ipino filmmaker is not direct- ton (Texas) in 2000 and was already pronounced dead.
filmmaker someday!”
ing a bad film, but directing a shown at the Bogota Film Fest Then, this boom in indie film
Like another INQUIRER hon-
copy of a Hollywood film and in 2001. Also in 2001, “Tuhog” production,” he recalls the last
oree, Lav Diaz, Jeffrey was a
calling it Filipino.” five years. “We are in the midst
He adds: “If you really “TUHOG” of a golden age. In terms of out-
want to direct [at this time], put alone, we can see a com-
you are probably already on bustion of creative energy.”
a film set, or in a film school, The next challenge is to sus-
or have a huge collection of tain the world’s interest and at-
DVDs. You don’t need advice tract a wider local audience at
from anyone because passion the same time, he says. “We can
requires no advice. If you are do this by depicting what is true
in a call center, quit and be a and real in our cultural and so-
production assistant. One di- cial experiences as Filipinos.”
rector told me once, ‘Choose His advise to neophyte film-
your passion; the money will makers: “Pursue your dream.
follow.’ Act now; there is no “If you want it badly enough…
more excuse not to be a film- your passion will see you
maker.” Marinel R. Cruz through.” Bayani San Diego Jr.
JIM GUIAO PUNZALAN
JERROLD TAROG: “CONFESSIONAL”
“Have something
worthwhile to say
and say it well.” for exploration. I also think they As a filmmaker, Jerrold is
disseminate cultural wisdom pleased that, “in spite of every-
faster than anyone else.” thing, there are still people try-
as composer for feature films, with ment of the middle class, he He adds, “On the marketing ing to make movies that have
critically-acclaimed titles under his opines. “I’ve always believed side, we need help from some- respect for the audience.” He
belt, like “Kaleldo,” “Foster Child” that the nation’s power comes one intelligent, passionate and tells aspiring directors to “have
and “Kubrador.” from the middle class—the Edsa powerful in the mainstream something worthwhile to say,
Building a local audience for revolutions being cases in media to get indie films the au- and say it well.” Marinel R.
indie films requires the involve- point—so I think it’s a rich field dience they deserve.” Cruz