Picture Editing of Spring Rhapsody Finalized

Janus Victoria’s “Spring Rhapsody” – her documentary in the making with lovely images she herself shot – was finalized yesterday. Started editing it a few weeks back. — with no script to follow. A tedious but challenging task as a film editor, but one I consider common. Tikoy Aguiluz’s “Father Balweg, The Rebel Priest,” also a documentary, shaped and formed in the same way too. In Spring though, after the images were lined up, and the structure was formed, Janus wrote to narrate her experiences during the trip. We then hear the interviewees mostly off-cam in between. Another friend of Janus cutely named Silver added shots and is responsible for the sound design and music. Nice one, I should say…

The docu is a visual essay dealing with a topic Janus wants to make into a feature film — the journey she took in Japan, the people she met to see for herself, better understand and have a deeper insight of the “kodokushi” or the lonely death phenomenon Japanese people have as part of their culture. Interesting subjects were interviewed, featuring an amazing woman artist named Ami, a photographer, a musician in the park, an elderly woman who wishes a painless death, and most importantly, the kodokushi cleaners.

Setting is Japan.

Journey ni Janus. That is how I describe it. Kodokushi segments maybe culturally shocking to some though; with life and death metaphorically paralleled with spring and autumn. However, journeying with Janus will surely be a wonderful and memorable experience.

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“The Sublime Paralytic” in Tanauan

One of our film posters; The docu is about the First Prime Minister and First Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the First Philippine Republic

It is July. In Tanauan City, Batangas Province, the celebrations of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week which culminates on July 23, birthday of Apolinario Mabini, subject of my current documentary is very well observed. Despite the declaration of July 17 as a national holiday, the people of Tanauan proceeded with their scheduled event. We went there to preview the docu. Ms. Pelagia Mabini and another kaanak watched the film. Despite the busy schedule, the accommodating curator of the shrine Ms. Olga Palacay, who was also interviewed for the docu managed to see the segment where she is in. Responses were quite positive.

Scene on the way to Mabini Shrine in Talaga, Tanauan Batangas – July 17 – a PWD Race

They were actually coming from the grounds of Mabini Shrine, in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas, our destination…

…Where my docu “Apolinario Mabini: The Sublime Paralytic” was previewed for them

Guests Line up to Register

Tanauan Film Viewers in the Audio-Visual Room of the Mabini Shrine-Tanauan

These three ladies were victims of polio. They came all the way from Cainta to celebrate with the PWDs of Tanauan.

A PWD is being Readied for the Duyan Race

The People Manning the Event; Shrine Curator, Ms. Olga Palacay [Standing 2nd from Right]

Mga ka-field trip and members of the production team: [Front]: Janus Victoria, co-writer; Febe Sevilla – Filipino Sign Language interpreter, and Bert de Santos – Sound Designer

The first two shots were taken by Janus Victoria; the photo below by Bert de Santos; I shot the photos in between them.

While testing the sound and picture projection…Ms. Pelagia Mabini, 3rd generation descendant of Apolinario Mabini in blue blouse looks on

KIDS THREE 21 at the UP Film Center in Celebration of 2014 Down Syndrome Consciousness Month

Rowena Ulayan, Universal Kids Film Festival Founder

A small social and special gathering of old time friends with very special guests was held on February 6, 2014 at Bernal Gallery, UP Film Center through the initiative of Rowena “Weng” Ulayan-Martinez, founder of the Universal Kids Film Festival in Turkey. KIDS THREE 21-international version was premiered here with PELITULA KAY MAYPAG-ASA.

KIDS.. was first shown last November 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. Opposite in nature and content — the former is a film on Trisomy 21; the latter, a film on Andres Bonifacio that shows the Philippine High School for the Arts student’s insights on the hero and the activities they readied in celebration of his 150th Birth Anniversary. Both films are timely  since in the Philippines, the National Arts Month and the Down Syndrome Consciousness Month are both being celebrated in February. 2014 is also the Sesquicentennial Year of Bonifacio.

Weng Ulayan welcomes the guests

Weng gave the opening remarks with tone of nostalgia followed by my introduction of the above docus. Present were the featured resource persons in KIDS: Dr. Carmencita Padilla, geneticist and Eleanor Dominguez, nutritionist-dietician. Both saw the film for the first time.

KIDS THREE  21 shown in celebration of 2014 Down Syndrome Month features
Dr. Carmencita Padilla, top geneticist in the Philippines

PELITULA KAY MAYPAG-ASA, a film I made in collaboration with Vim Nadera, director, Philippine High School for the Arts; shown in Celebration of National Arts Month and the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio

KIDS THREE 21 gives an overview on Trisomy 21 or what Down Syndrome is, the maternal risks involved, the plight of parents, and the realities of having a Child with Down Syndrome. A segment focuses on the importance of nutrition awareness and intervention – an element oftentimes neglected because of the conventional stress and attention given to physical and occupational therapies and special education. The film was made possible because of Eleanor Dominguez, then M.A. student of the UP Sped Area. There are two versions of the film: the thesis version which is about 13 minutes longer than the copy shown last February 6.

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Reunion photo with Direk Tikoy Aguiluz; our last film was Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story/ photo courtesy of Janus

Other special guests were my colleague, producer-director Tikoy Aguiluz, co-founder of the UP Film Center [with Ms. Virgie Moreno]; balikbayan Ed Tamondong, one of the center’s original staff cameraman; CHED Legal Counsel Head Atty. Carmencita Yadao-Sison and her husband, Atty. Roberto Sison who described KIDS.. as “a film that introduces and comprehensively treats the subject of Down Syndrome…Opened my eyes on this ‘accident of nature’ that happens to one out of 800 births worldwide. With the current population of 100 million Filipinos, that’s a lot!”

Weng’s friends who joined us were Romanlito Austria, UP Fine Arts Professor and former head of the Graduate Studies at the UPFA, Princess Nemenzo, UP professor and wife of former UP President, Fides Bagasao, UN International Consultant for Urban Poor and Human Settlements, Cora Despabiladeras, book writer for children, Ephraim Despabiladeras of USAID, Kuya Bogie, lead character of the TV program for children, “Batibot”, Avic Ilagan, filmmaker, Marili  and Boni Fernandez, Eliza  Quiambao and Ben Agunod.

Weng and Belen

Of course, the affair wouldn’t be complete without longtime friends, UP KAL Professor and former Chair of the UP Department of Theater Arts and Speech Communication Dr. Belen Calingacion, writers Roshan Jose, Rochit Tañedo and Corito Llamas, artist Alma Quinto, environmentalist Minnie Crouse and writer-filmmaker Janus Victoria, now with Channel 7. Joseph Lena, the KID’s cameraman, formerly with ANC Channel recorded the event.

[R-L]: Castillejos Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez and Mom Evelyn, Vice-President of Metro-Manila College; Fides Bagasao, UN Consultant for Urban Poor and Princess Nemenzo, UP Professor; [Extreme right behind: Ed Tamondong

And in support of Eleanor’s effort, her husband, Castillejos [Zambales] Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez with Mom Evelyn, Vice-President of Metro-Manila College, and her friend, Clarisse de Leon, a daughter of Angat, Bulacan Mayor and the town’s municipal administrator also attended the event.

Sadly, no representative from Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines — the film’s target audience — joined Dr. Padilla because of other priorities. Nevertheless, the latter’s presence, as one of its founding members made the occasion complete. She entertained the questions re the matter. [See the photos below]:

Geneticist Dr. Carmencita Padilla answers the questions from the audience

Q & A with Dr. Padilla

Featured geneticist answers the question

The audience listens to Dr. Padilla

Audience attentive to Dr. Padilla

The event ended with the sumptuous Turkish cuisine prepared by no less than Weng Ulayan-Tuzcuoglu who is leaving the country today, February 9.

TURKISH CUISINE MENU

Entree White cheese rolls, Green and black olives with red pepper, Sarma (spiced rice wrapped in grape leaves), Dolma (stuffed tomatoes and eggplants), Pita bread with hummus, Kisir Salad (bulgur and red lentils)

Main Dish: Green beans with ground beef, Buttered Chicken, Pilav (buttered rice with peas), Borek (Turkish Pie stuffed with potato & minced meat), Pasta (with Olive oil, white cheese mint and hazel nuts)

Dessert: Turkish Delight, Irmik Tatlisi (Semolina), Dried Fruits, Çorek (twisted cookies with sesame seeds). Pishmaniye

Drinks: Ihlamur Tea (Linden Tea), Kushburnu Tea (Rosehip Tea)

Carlo Mendoza_Serious to his Craft

I was looking for more images that I need for my Rizal project when I saw instead my photos with Carlo Mendoza, Manila Kingpin Asiong Salonga cameraman.  The photos below shot by one of the film’s screenplay writer, Rey Ventura were taken during the first three days of shooting in Pagsanjan. I went there to join Rey to discuss the script needs, and help study the structure.

With Carlo and his camera, Alexa at the set of Asiong Salonga 2011 in Pagsanjan, Laguna

I usually do not like to go to sets [at mag usi] but Rey wanted to take some behind the scene photos. So, I went with him and met Carlo. They were setting up for the shoot of Erning’s Birthday sequence, if I remember it correctly. It wasn’t my first meeting with him. It was in the filming of “Dalaw”, a short film by Janus Victoria where I had a bit role that I first met him. Even then, I saw him as an enthusiastic, serious, energetic, young cameraman to watch. That was before Rosario was shot. In one of the shooting breaks of Asiong when we had breakfast together, we talked about his learning experiences in working with Tikoy, a super-serious, creative film Director I have worked with for years; a man with lots of visions and beautiful dreams for Philippine cinema that included the founding of the UP Film Center which he co-founded with Aling Barang [Virginia R. Moreno], another visionary for film’s upliftment into art. As everyone knows, Tikoy also founded the CineManila International Film Festival.

Rey Ventura, by the way is a documentary filmmaker and a journalist by profession based in Japan. He also teaches there.

Rizal Poems in FSL_Finishing Line

I have been busy in putting all five poems together with introduction written by Janus Victoria, and interpreted by Febe Sevilla. At this time, I am nearing the finish line in the making of “A mi Patria,” the collection of Dr. Jose Rizal’s poems interpreted in Filipino Sign Language for Deaf Filipinos. The film totals nearly 50 mins. I’ll just have to add a few more photos; find the right codec [or maybe the frame rate compatible to my pc] so that the Flowers of Heidelberg poem shot in HD [needs format conversion] can fit in with the rest of the materials; have the subtitles put, and meet Diego, the musician today to give the working copy. I met them yesterday but avi format was taking a lot time to be transferred to the laptop so we just decided to convert it to lower res mat first. By tomorrow or day after, the layin of the sound effects will have to get started… Showing is sked next week!!

Problem with WordPress

For about 3 or 4 days I have had problem in connecting with wordpress. Only wordpress because I could easily connect with google and youtube for example. The problem is — I have built the habit of visiting my site everyday, write a few notes if I have time, and longer notes when I am free. Anyhow, I have spent my few extra time in studying my footages for Project Rizal. After Kingpin Asiong, or after Tikoy had approved the international version of his film, I have devoted, and devoting my time — working overnight now at my own work. The launching of the full FSL version is nearing and I have a lot still to study, more research to do for the intro, and a day more to spend in shooting to complete what I need. I am currently working on the timeline bed to determine the length of the FSL version of the film — consisting of 5 poems with an intro written by friend Janus Victoria: SINO SI RIZAL? The editing of the intro, signed by interpreter Febe Sevilla was finished tonight.

I am left with Flowers of Heidelberg because the chroma editing work will be done by someone else. I haven’t edit any with chroma requirements. I also need the English and Filipino narrations — or voice over — intended to serve the Blind audience.