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Friday, July 15, 2005
Urian awardee comes up with first digital short in 'Blood Bank'
SIX years ago, Pamela Ann Miras swept almost all the local major awards for her short film "Reyna ng Kadiliman." The film and audiovisual communication graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman took home the Best Film Thesis at the UP College of Mass Communication, the UP Gawad Chancellor Para sa Sining Audio-Biswal, first prize in the narrative feature category of the 13th Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, first prize in the narrative category of the 2nd UP Diliman Film and Video Festival, and, to top it all, the Best Short Film at the 23rd Gawad Urian from the local critics group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
After graduation, Miras worked as a production assistant, segment producer, voice-over, and writer for ABS-CBN and the advocacy channel Isla TV. She followed up her award-winning work with "Bongga: Best in Wedding Gown" after a workshop sponsored by the French Embassy in 2000.
This year, Miras comes back with her first digital short in "Blood Bank," a finalist in the short film category of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. "Gusto ko lang uling gumawa ng film. 'Yung Cinemalaya lang ang nag-udyok sa akin na tapusin 'yung 'Blood Bank' (I wanted to do a film again. Only Cinemalaya prodded me to finish 'Blood Bank')," said Miras, who now works in a call center to produce her projects independently.
In Miras' third short film, a woman suffering from aplastic anemia receives weekly blood transfusions. In the blood bank, she meets a medical technician who administers the procedure. One night, she gets mugged by a thief who, after going through her things, learns more about her and becomes drawn to her. He stalks her and is led to the blood bank where he learns of her predicament. He decides to sell his blood, an act that he feels give him a sense of redemption, his way of making up for the crime he has done to her and to others before her.
Miras considers the concept of selling blood "very Pinoy" since it is "not something that is done in first-world countries. Blood is donated. It is not something you sell."
The promising young filmmaker observed that more people are now shooting their own stories in digital format or through the independent way. "Sana hindi lang ito uso (I hope this is not just a fad). Of course, at the end of the day, it is still your story, and that is why independent cinema is what it is," she added.
Miras' new work previously won Best Short Film at the Philippine Silvershorts competition of the 2nd .MOV International Digital Film Festival held last March at SM City Cebu. It was also screened as part of the Cinemanila program of the 4th Emirates Film Festival last January.
"Blood Bank" will screen on July 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Little Theater (with "Big Time"), 4 p.m., and at the CCP Studio Theater (with "Pepot Artista"), 9:30 p.m.; on July 14 at the CCP Little Theater (with "Sarong Banggi"), 7 p.m.; on July 15 at the CCP Multi-Purpose Hall (with "Big Time"), 6:30 p.m.; and on July 17 at the CCP Little Theater (with "ICU Bed #7"), 1 p.m., and at the CCP Studio Theater (with "Isnats"), 6:30 p.m. (PR)
(July 15, 2005 issue)
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