A Life in the Theater

This November, Sev's Cafe launches its Cinema Club. A one-week limited membership worth P100.00 allows members to attend Cinemanights on Tuesdays and to watch other films available off-hours during the week.      On November 5, 2013, Sev’s Cafe Cinemanights will screen Dennis Marasigan’s “VOX POPULI”, a finalist in the 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and considered among the year's best films.  Described as “funny as it is scary”, “nuanced and well-played”, and “a refreshing satire with an old soul”, "VOX POPULI" follows the story of Connie, a candidate for Mayor in the town of San Cristobal, as she tries to put together a bandwagon on the last day of the campaign to ensure her election.   The film has been lauded for being a "well-acted allegory about Philippines", and  “what it says about the candidates and the voters as the election draws near is quite embarrassingly true”.    Cinemalaya 2013 Best Actre...

With the 2013 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (or Cinemalaya 9) now part of history, I have compiled and compressed the capsule reviews I did of all the competing films in the New Breed and Directors Showcase categories.   They are written in the order that I saw the films. NEW BREED PUROK 7 (directed by Carlo Obispo) The film is a winsome coming-of-of age romance peopled with real characters that surprisingly still manages to address the present phenomenon of children of OFWs faced with a life without parental company or support. Much of the credit for this delightful film must be given to the three young leads -   Krystel Valentino, Miggs Cuaderno and Julian Trono – whose fetching portrayals repeatedly drew shrieks, laughter and even the occasional sighs from the audience.   They are ably   supported by an ensemble drawn largely from the theatre – Angeli Bayani, Arnold Reyes, Sheenly Vee Gener, Carlon Matobato, Ruth Alferez, Olive N...

Some photos from the 2nd shooting day of VOX POPULI, one of ten finalists in the New Breed category of the 2010 CINEMALAYA Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Here are photos from the 1st shooting day of VOX POPULI (SIYA ANG MEYOR KO!), a finalist in the 2010 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Starring IRMA ADLAWAN, JULIO DIAZ, BOBBY ANDREWS, SUZETTE RANILLO and LJ MORENO, with Ces Aldaba, Jose Mari Avellana, Roeder Camanag, Dido de la Paz, Jess Evardone, Simon Ibarra, Amiel Leonardia, Jim Libiran, Tony Mabesa, Gabe Mercado, Tintin Nuval, Cris Mojica, Peewee O'Hara, Tuxqs Rutaquio, Flor Salanga. Written and directed by Dennis N. Marasigan.

The word is out. The following made it to the semi-finals of the 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on the basis of their submitted synopses. Thanks to bigredbakulaw for the heads up, as the list is still not posted in the Cinemalaya website (paging the Festival Committee!) 1. 100 / Chris Martinez 2. Abalorio / Norman S. Regalado 3. Ang Tagabasa / Dale Custodio 4. Antiparang Basag / Edith Asuncion 5. Asan na nga ba si Tupe? / Carlo F. C. Castro 6. Baby Angelo /Joel Ruiz & Abi Aquino 7. Bakal Boys / Ralston Jover 8. Bantay / Marinette Lusanta 9. Biyaheng Norte / Bong Ramos 10. Brutus /Tara Illenberger 11. Frames / Enrico Aragon 12. Huling Pasada / Paul Sta. Ana 13. Jay / Francis Xavier E. Pasion 14. KAHOS: The Purge / Boyette Rimban 15. Konsyerto sa Kagubatan / Paul Y. Morales 16. Kristo /Jerwin D. Espiritu 17. My Fake American Accent / Onnah Valera 18. Namets (Yummy) / Jay Abello 19. Ranchero Michael Christian Cardoz 20. Sa Ilalim Ng Aratiles / Pam Miras 21. The G...

“TUKSO,” winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the 2007 CINEMALAYA Philippine Independent Film Festival, receieved a “B” grading from the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. The fifteen members of the Board who viewed the film unanimously voted that “TUKSO” deserved a grade. Subsequently, eight (8) members voted to give it a “B” grade as against seven (7) members who gave it an “A”. The “B” grade entitles the film to a rebate on amusement taxes collected in certain cities where the film will be screened. “TUKSO” will have its theatrical screening on October 3-9, 2007 at the Indie Sine, Robinson’s Galleria Movieworld. SYNOPSIS: A young village lass is found dead. An investigator (ADEL) is assigned to look into the case and gets to learn more about the girl and the people whose lives were affected by her and her death: her father (BAL), a young architect (CARLO), a businessman (DAVID), her childhood friend (EMER) and a widow (FE). CAST: IRMA ADLA...

TUKSO, which won for myself and my co-writers Nikki Torres and Mara Paulina Marasigan the Best Screenplay Award in the 2007 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, will be screened at the Indie Sine at the Robinson's Movieworld Galleria from October 3 to 9, 2007. TUKSO is a mystery film with a twist. A young village lass is found dead. An investigator is assigned to the case, and the film presents the different perspectives of the people who know her. In the cast are award-winning film, television and theater actors led by RICKY DAVAO and IRMA ADLAWAN together with SHAMAINE BUENCAMINO, SOLIMAN CRUZ, SID LUCERO, PING MEDINA, and DIANA MALAHAY. RICKY plays David Solomon, a businessman whose subdivision project and personal life are affected by the girl’s mysterious death. IRMA plays the role of Fe, a widow who may have the key that can help unravel the mystery. SOLIMAN portrays the deceased girl's father; SHAMAINE is the investigator. PING is the girl's childhood fr...

The last three months have been hectic, and I was surprised to realize I have not posted any new blog for over ten weeks. In defense, I have to state that July was witness to the Virgin Labfest 3, the Asian Voyage of Songs in Pattaya, and Cinemalaya 2007. In August came the opening of the Tanghalang Pilipino 21st Theater Season with "Pilipinas Circa 1907" and elections of new officers for the Philippine Independent Filmmakers Multipurpose Cooperative (IFC). Earlier in this September month were the openings of "Mulan" and "Quiapo." All of these I will write about, no matter how briefly, if only to make amends for the prolonged silence. And this site is sporting a new look which I hope echoes the colors of Tanghalang Pilipino's logo and primspark design.

Guess what? Two of the actors who sent heart rates soaring in the previous Cinemalaya festivals are back, this time in one film. In the first Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2007, the surprise hit with both audiences and critics was “ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS.” Next to Nathan Lopez who played the title role, it was PING MEDINA who connected to the audiences the most with his touching portrayal of Maxie’s older brother. The following year, it was SID LUCERO’s turn to charm audiences and critics alike with his seemingly effortless portrayal of a BIO (Butanding Information Officer) in in “DONSOL”, a role that fittingly won him Golden Screen’s Award for breakthrough performance. For this year’s edition of Cinemalaya, both actors are back to tempt audiences anew as they pit talents against each other in Dennis Marasigan’s “TUKSO”, one of the full-length feature film finalists. Sid and Ping are only too happy to be part of “TUKSO” playing two men who become romantica...