Author Topic: Director's Film Debut Thread  (Read 7590 times)

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Offline keating

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Director's Film Debut Thread
« on: Jan 05, 2006 at 08:03 AM »
Let's talk about the first time our filmmakers shouted CUT! BINHI is the pedigree of ORO PLATA MATA before Peque Gallaga niched a name for himself. When Ms. Virgie Moreno ask him to show the film at the U.P. Film Center, he volunteered to hunt for the producer but it didn't materialize.

This will be a nostalgia trip down memory lane.  :)
« Last Edit: Jan 16, 2006 at 11:49 AM by keating »

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #1 on: Jan 05, 2006 at 03:32 PM »

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #2 on: Jan 07, 2006 at 01:32 PM »
Noel, I always thought TATLONG TAONG WALANG DIYOS was O'Hara's directorial debut. Finally saw it, the ending is powerful and riveting.

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #3 on: Jan 08, 2006 at 05:39 AM »
Yeah. From the start you can see O'Hara applying magic realism, surrealism and Freudian imagery in a narrative that gives little clue to what's going on; in fact, the film's form follows the story--as the man grows sane, the story grows more coherent, as if the teller of the story was the man himself.

Probably much too complex for audiences at the time, but I think it's a brilliant debut. Then with his second film he takes a quantum leap in scope and quality and comes up with what I consider the greatest Filipino film ever made.

Offline marj

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #4 on: Jan 09, 2006 at 08:46 AM »
Lino Brocka: WANTED: PERFECT MOTHER (1970)

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #5 on: Jan 09, 2006 at 09:43 AM »
Which far as I know is gone, gone, gone.

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #6 on: Jan 09, 2006 at 12:15 PM »
Most of Lea Productions films are presumably lost. Sad to know also that Mrs. Blas passed away several years ago.

Offline RMN

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #7 on: Jan 09, 2006 at 12:20 PM »
Has anyone seen Monologo?

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #8 on: Jan 09, 2006 at 05:45 PM »
Yeah. From the start you can see O'Hara applying magic realism, surrealism and Freudian imagery in a narrative that gives little clue to what's going on; in fact, the film's form follows the story--as the man grows sane, the story grows more coherent, as if the teller of the story was the man himself.

Probably much too complex for audiences at the time, but I think it's a brilliant debut. Then with his second film he takes a quantum leap in scope and quality and comes up with what I consider the greatest Filipino film ever made.

Did Nora Aunor recoup her investment on this one? The critics embraced the film during its release. And its about time for another Aunor/O'Hara collaboration.

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #9 on: Jan 10, 2006 at 09:29 AM »
Tatlong Taong made money, yes.

Monologo, Mike's short film? No, unfortunately, would like to someday...

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #10 on: Jan 10, 2006 at 01:27 PM »
Has anyone seen Monologo?

I'm also curious to see Carlitos Siguion Reyna's first short film.

Offline renato

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #11 on: Jan 10, 2006 at 10:07 PM »
I have a copy of Wanted:Perfect Mother. :)

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #12 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 04:42 AM »
That's cool. Betamax or VHS? Original issue, I assume, or taped off a TV broadcast? You should contact ABS CBN...

Offline renato

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #13 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 06:57 AM »
I taped it off a VHS I borrowed from Daly City. EP Mode too but the picture quality is quite good (should've made a better copy). I just saw the movie last night and its probably taped from a TV broadcast cos when the governess uses the word "p*ta", the audio was erased.

It's very un-Brocka and not even very good but there are some well directed dramatic scenes, especially the one w/ Boots Anson Roa and Dante Rivero( beautifully photographed by Conrado Baltazar). The humor falls mostly flat except for some of Caridad Sanchez's scenes. Jay Ilagan and Hilda Koronel also appear in the movie for about 3 seconds of screen time each.

How exactly do I contact ABS-CBN about this matter? 
« Last Edit: Jan 11, 2006 at 07:00 AM by renato »

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #14 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 08:24 AM »
Even Bernal's PAGDATING SA DULO is not available on any video format.

Offline jdv1229

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #15 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 08:28 AM »
Most of Lea Productions films are presumably lost. Sad to know also that Mrs. Blas passed away several years ago.

has she really? Vincent Nebrida told me she's still alive 'coz they were asking her if there's still an available print of Tubog Sa Ginto so that they could option the film for a possible dvd release.

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #16 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 08:33 AM »
They made a tribute to her a few years back. I'll confirm again, Jo. If I'm wrong, I'll correct my post.

Offline jdv1229

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #17 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 10:31 AM »
They made a tribute to her a few years back. I'll confirm again, Jo. If I'm wrong, I'll correct my post.

really? maybe Vincent was talking about Aling Toreng...

Offline RMN

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #18 on: Jan 11, 2006 at 12:10 PM »
How exactly do I contact ABS-CBN about this matter? 

[email protected]

He's the main man of Cinema One

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #19 on: Jan 12, 2006 at 07:41 AM »
really? maybe Vincent was talking about Aling Toreng...

Yeah, probably Jo. Aling Miling was the one who passed away. It's interesting to note that Lea Prods. movies are wholesome.

And speaking of the late Conrado Baltazar, he's one of our fearless cinematographers and also one of the best. Name it some of Brocka's films stand out (GUMISING KA MARUJA, KAPIT SA PATALIM, JAGUAR) and always have a touch of gritty and realism.
« Last Edit: Jan 12, 2006 at 07:47 AM by keating »

Offline renato

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #20 on: Jan 12, 2006 at 07:44 AM »

Offline marj

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #21 on: Jan 14, 2006 at 04:44 AM »
Is Mike de Leon's BILANGGO SA DILIM still extant?  I remember watching it as the inaugural presentation of the video theater in Cubao.

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #22 on: Jan 14, 2006 at 09:00 AM »
Yeah, copies are still around. I like it better than the William Wyler version.

Offline keating

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #23 on: Jan 15, 2006 at 12:33 PM »
LAV DIAZ on BATANG WEST SIDE as his first movie

"I'm not dismissing my other movies, the shorts I did for Mowelfund, the earlier features. They were vital steps in my growth as a filmmaker. But BATANG WEST SIDE is my first film becasue it is the culmination of my search for a personal aesthetic and a philosophy of cinema, the definitive LAV DIAZ film."

"I am not being selfish. Every artist who respects himself and his work, who recognizes his responsibility towards the society in which he lives, goes through this struggle. This is where I ripped up and threw away the theories, traditional structures, and strictures which were  obstacles to my development and to the development of Filipino cinema. NO COMPROMISE!"
« Last Edit: Jan 15, 2006 at 12:40 PM by keating »

Offline Noel_Vera

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Re: Director's First Film Thread
« Reply #24 on: Jan 16, 2006 at 12:52 AM »
I understand how he feels, even if I disagree. Many artists have the impulse to say "this is where my career begins, and this where it ends." And we all have the choice to agree with him or not.

Offline keating

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Re: Director's Film Debut Thread
« Reply #25 on: Jan 16, 2006 at 12:07 PM »
Sometimes artists tend to forget also their first features, even if they acknowledge it, after several passing of years.

MORAL is not Abaya's first feature but she always say that only now it got the accolades it deserves when the movie didn't found its audience back in 1982.

And how about EBOLUSYON.......what will Lav say about that?

Offline keating

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Re: Director's Film Debut Thread
« Reply #26 on: Feb 06, 2006 at 12:50 PM »
TANIKALA (Marilou Diaz-Abaya)

Now I know why this film sank into oblivion. Its not Abaya's fault but the material itself and the script by Edgardo M. Reyes. With a powerhouse cast headed by Susan Roces, Romeo Vasquez, Eddie Garcia & Rita Gomez, Abaya's first directorial debut has fine performances and boasts of outstanding cinematography & production design. This is not her cup of tea, but the feminist angst that she would master starts here in the person of Roces.

The first 20 minutes was quite engaging after that it went nowhere. One must stand the slow narrative to know the mystery behind Roces personality and how she experience the trauma that still haunts her. Abaya was able to rebound vigorously after this mess with the grim and realistic BRUTAL followed by her best film MORAL.
« Last Edit: Feb 07, 2006 at 12:39 PM by keating »

Offline keating

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Re: Director's Film Debut Thread
« Reply #27 on: Feb 07, 2006 at 12:55 PM »
ITIM (Mike de Leon)

I discovered this film back in 1983 during a primetime telecast at channel 9. It had a tremendous impact on me a sort of trauma that everytime Holy Week comes, I want to escape it and wish that Christ didn't die on the cross.

Now more than 20 years had passed and I saw it again last weekend. The memory is still there, still lingers but lessen due to the passing of years. A photographer (Tommy Abuel) comes back in the province and must face some supernatural elements surrounding the past of his father. Charo Santos who would later become of the most influential woman in Philippine Cinema delivers one of her best role to date as the sister of the victim who continues to haunt the father (Mario Montenegro) of the photographer. In his first directorial effort, one can see the genius of Mike de Leon. Its creepy, eerie, every visual shot and images will jolt you long after you have seen the movie.
« Last Edit: Feb 09, 2006 at 08:03 PM by keating »

Offline jdv1229

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Re: Director's Film Debut Thread
« Reply #28 on: Feb 12, 2006 at 11:56 AM »
Tanikala may have it's flaws most especially the lackluster script which screenwriter Edgardo Reyes had to weave together from a contrived Pablo S. Gomez story. the film is techically superior though. the production design was topnotch  so was the cinematography & editing, also a fine performance by Rita Gomez. Tanikala may not be as impressive as Laurice Guillen's debut film Kasal but the movie has it's own merits.
« Last Edit: Feb 12, 2006 at 11:59 AM by Jojo Devera »

Offline keating

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Re: Director's Film Debut Thread
« Reply #29 on: Feb 12, 2006 at 12:19 PM »
Very well said, Jo. It has its own merits but I still think its not Abaya's cup of tea.