A Life in the Theater

The International Institute for Film and Arts will conduct an ACTING FOR CAMERA workshop on March 30 to April 3, 2009 from 9am to 6pm, at LAB 315, Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Avenue, Legazpi Village, Makati City. With IIFA Cris Mojica as Workshop Master, ACTING FOR CAMERA participants will be introduced to the rudiments of acting for television and film.  They will also meet award-winning actors such as Ricky Davao and Ronnie Lazaro who will share experiences and provide career advice.  No previous experience in film or television is required.   A fee of P 10,000.00 will be charged which will cover workshop materials and meals. Limited scholarships are still available. For inquiries and applications, contact IIFA at telephone 818-7201 (10am-5pm, Mondays thru Fridays), mobile 09276063388, 0917-9182592 or 0916-5918815, or email filmarts.manila@gmail.com.

Do you have what it takes to be a news anchor?  Are you ready to battle it out as a field correspondent?  Do you think you can be better than Larry King?   Are you ready to rumble with the best in broadcasting? Join the International Institute for Film and Arts (IIFA)'S BROADCAST PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP and jump start your career! With sportscaster and Center for Sports Communication founder NOEL ZARATE as Workshop Master, IIFA's BROADCAST PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP will be held on March 25-27, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at LAB 315, Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.   Ideal for anyone who wants to improve their skills in broadcast performance, the workshop will take participants through a grueling retinue that includes lectures on TV and radio journalism complemented by simulated interviews, beat reporting and news anchoring. Workshop fee is P8000.00 per participant which covers workshop materials and meals. Limited scholarship slots are available. For inquiries an...

Last Sunday, I went to Cebu for a worskhop in Arts Marketing for the Arts Council of Cebu.  I was welcomed by Council President Petite Garcia with a column written for The Freeman by Joseph Gonzales, a batchmate/classmate from the UP College of Law Class 1991. His column was headlined "A Congressman for Culture?" and is about the email post I circulated over a month ago about the possibility of having a party list for artists and cultural workers. Joseph's column is here (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=440504)

Thanks to the wisdom of the PHILSTAGE Board that decided to push through with it and the dedication of the Jury members, the first Gawad Buhay! (PHILSTAGE Award for the Performing Arts) for achievements by and in productions of PHILSTAGE members will take place on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 7:30 P.M., at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). The complete list of nominees are in www.philippinetheater.blogspot.com and  http://gibbscadiz.blogspot.com/2009/philstages-gawadbuhay-nominees-bared.html.

The 2nd INTRODUCTION TO TV COMMERCIALS DIRECTING WORKSHOP offered  by the International Institute for Film and Arts (IIFA) will be held from February 24 to March 7, 2009.  Participants will get a chance to learn from some of the most-sought after commercial directors in the country (Sid Maderazo, Raymond Red, Mark Meilly, Raul Jorolan, Sockie Fernandez, Mark Querubin, Henry Frejas, Mike Alcazaren, among others) and try their hands in the production of TV commercials.  IIFA President and Commercials Directors Club of the Philippines founder Cris Mojica is Workshop Master. Those who wish to participate are required to have had prior production experience (school/amateur or professional) in any capacity and will be tasked to participate in the production of a TV commercial as their workshop output.  Classes will  be held Tuesday to Saturdays, 5-10pm, at LAB 315 Evekal Building, 855 Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Road), Makati City.  Course Fee is P15,000 for Filipinos and US$35o (exclusive of accommo...

In a forum among artists, cultural workers, and LGU representatives in Cebu just recently, talk shifted to how Congress is a battle ground for legislation and budgetary support for culture and the arts. Thus, the participants were advised to lobby with senators and congressmen to ensure that the cultural sector is not left out in the national policy and budget discussions. As a reaction, the following question was posed: instead of knocking at the doors of possible patrons and advocates, would it be possible (and possibly easier) and preferable to work for the election of artists or artists' sector representatives? Would it be feasible to have a political party for artists and cultural workers and therefore work for the election of at least a party-list representative in Congress by 2010? What do you think?

I have just realized that I have not shared Noel Vera's review of "Tukso" with whoever may be viewing this site. Noel referenced it again in his 2008 yearender prompting me to look up what he had written about the film. Here are some excerpts: "I'd go so far as to say that "Tukso" is proof positive that Marasigan wasn't just coasting on the excellence of Perez's classic theatrical piece but possesses a talent for filmmaking all his own...All that said, the script is a clever enough construction ...kudos to Marasigan, then, for at least doing a decent execution, for keeping the whole complex plot coherent in his head, that he may transfer it with full clarity into ours." "But it's in the details of mood and tone and character that Marasigan excels--the way, say, Bal (Soliman Cruz), looks at his daughter Monica (Diana Malahay) in a manner that sends spiders crawling up your spine (Rashomon, meet Mike de Leon's in my opinion far...