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Monday, October 10, 2005
Costanilla: SineBuano speaks out
By Sam Costanilla
Spotlight
REACTION. Our article on the revival of the Cebuano/Visayan film industry last Thursday elicited a reaction from Benjie Ordonez, executive director of SineBuano. That particular article discussed the points raised by a good friend, a local filmmaker, who requested me not to reveal hisidentity. In the spirit of fairness, allow me to print Benjie’s reaction to my good friend’s points. Read on.
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“Sam, this is in reaction to your good friend’s serious accusation against the people behind TheWitness, a film directed by Jurly Maloloy-on and produced by SineBuano. On behalf of SineBuano, I shall clarify the accusations against us. Before pre-production even started, when we met the young talent from Carcar, we already made clear to her that we may not be able to compensate her but we will, in return for sharing her skill, give her a copy of the film which she may use as a demo reel in case she does pursue an acting career. The crew and actors of The Witness were fed lunch during pre-production meetings as well as during the four-hour shoot. The Carcar lass also expressed her willingness to do more films with SineBuano as long as it does not conflict with her job and study schedules. This is perhaps the reason why she seems to distance herself from independent filmmakers.”
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“On the accusation that film festivals are a shortcut to fame and glory, SineBuano had been making efforts to make the people aware of the existence of new Cebuano digital movies via our event called Salida, usually held at Handuraw Cafe in Mabolo. We created this event to give filmmakers a venue to show their productions to the public. We never intended to get fame and glory from making and showing films. Nor did we intend to earn from it - in fact, in all of our shoots, we dig into our very own pockets to finance our short films. We just wanted what any other filmmaker would want - create films and show them to the public.”
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“The Witness was not only selected as an official entry once, but twice - in Sine ug Katilingban held at SM City Cebu and Eksperimento 2005 in Manila. It was also submitted in Austria, Japan and the US. We did not get anything from being an official entry to these festivals but merely being proud over the fact that a small Cebuano filmmaking group made it to these festivals. The submission of The Witness was meant to re-introduce our very own Cebuano films to the world and not meant to be a shortcut to wherever.”
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“Maybe what the Cebuano/Visayan film industry needs is a new way of thinking. Instead of slinging mud against each other, maybe we could create a support group where we all try to attain one and the same goal. We are but just a small group of filmmakers who are only trying to promote Cebuano movies.”
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TALYUX. US-based journalist Jun Satorre, former head of National Press Club Cebu, e-mailed to inquire as to where his friend Nonilo Abella could acquire prints or copies of old Cebuano films directed by the great filmmaker Talyux Bacalso. Jun said Nonilo is willing to pay for the prints. Anybody who could help me answer this query, please call or text me right away. Jun also wrote that Nonilo, a nurse, is now based in North Carolina where his wife is working as a doctor.
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VOW. The regional head of a television network has vowed to look into the sudden, messy and controversial stoppage of the network’s local variety program in favor of a new game show. The regional head was able to talk to one of the former program hosts and he sounded so furious upon learning about the incident. At the same time, the former program host was elated to know that some topnotch legal minds in town have volunteered to assist them in their planned lawsuit against the network’s local bigwigs.
(E-mail: samcost@yahoo.com or text 0915-4992844).
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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