Topic: Filipino Cinematographers

[RMN]

Mike Accion. Conrado Baltazar. Romy Vitug. Rody Lacap. Sergio Lobo. Manolo Abaya. Lee Meily. Mike de Leon. The list goes on. Who do you think is best? What about their works?

[jdv1229]

Johnny & Romulo Araojo's camera work in Bagong Hari is noir photography at its best. Ricardo Jacinto's cinematography in films like Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit and Paano Kung Wala Ka Na? are just breathtaking...
who can forget Rody Lacap and Ely Cruz astounding work in Itim?

[keating]

Mike de Leon's stunning and gritty cinematography in Brocka's MAYNILA SA KUKO NG LIWANAG is one of the reasons why the film is a classic and exceptional. He captured vividly the atmosphere of the city. Same with Sergio Lobo's photography in Bernal's MANILA BY NIGHT.

Who can forget Rody Lacap's greatest work in Peque Gallaga's ORO PLATA MATA?

[Noel_Vera]

Mike de Leon's work in Maynila is seminal, and I think even better than Lobo's work in Manila (even think Lobo's work in O'Hara's Uhaw na Pagibig is better than his work in Manila).

Carding Baltazar's cinematography in Insiang and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos I'd consider great, if not the greatest. Prefer Vitug's work with Celso or one collaboration with O'Hara (Mga Bilanggong Birhen) to the rest of his work, or even to Oro Plata Mata (prefer Ely Cruz's work in Scorpio Nights and Lacap's work in Kisapmata to Oro, Plata).

Raymond Red is a great cinematographer, incidentally.

[keating]

I like Raymond Red's SAKAY. He was basking in front of us last Wednesday at the preem of KAGAT NG DILIM. When I was looking for him, he was out of sight already.

Do cinematographers turn to be great filmmakers? Mike de Leon is the best example.

[jdv1229]

wasn't Yam Laranas a cinematographer?

[keating]

I'm not quite sure, Jojo. Was Eduardo Jacinto a relative of Ricardo Jacinto?

[jdv1229]

I'm not quite sure, Jojo. Was Eduardo Jacinto a relative of Ricardo Jacinto?

yes! they were brothers... but Totoy already passed away hasn't he?

[Noel_Vera]

Do cinematographers turn to be great filmmakers? Mike de Leon is the best example.

On the whole, I tend to prefer editors--they know how to tell a story. Stuart Baird, Ike Jarlego, Toto Natividad, Robert Wise are not great directors, but they show craft and intelligence and narrative skills. Whereas cinematographers tend to be flashy about their shots, and hate cutting images to serve the story (I'm thinking of Barry Sonnenfeld, Yam Llaranas among others).

But some of the worse are production designers--Joel Schumacher, Mel Chionglo, whatsisname Escudero anyone?

Mike de Leon seems to be an exception--notice that his cinematography is realistic, his editing is precise. Peque Gallaga is another--barely (he can barely tell a story coherently).

[keating]

Don Escudero, Noel? He's done great work especially Peque's ORO. And most of his films has a distinctive style, visuals are floating or maybe it was Peque calling the shots. SCORPIO NIGHTS, UNFAITHFUL WIFE, VIRGIN FOREST, ONCE UPON A TIME.

Rody Lacap admits that it was mostly Mike's work in ITIM.

Jojo, I didn't know that they were brothers. My fave among Eduardo Jacinto's work was in TIYANAK.

[Noel_Vera]

Don Escudero, Noel? He's done great work especially Peque's ORO. And most of his films has a distinctive style, visuals are floating or maybe it was Peque calling the shots. SCORPIO NIGHTS, UNFAITHFUL WIFE, VIRGIN FOREST, ONCE UPON A TIME.

My point exactly--done great work as a production designer. When he directs, he's little better than, well, Joel Schumacher (I give Escudero the advantage because Schumacher makes crap on far bigger budgets).

[RMN]

Ahem, Kuya Cesar Hernando as filmmaker?

[keating]

My point exactly--done great work as a production designer. When he directs, he's little better than, well, Joel Schumacher (I give Escudero the advantage because Schumacher makes crap on far bigger budgets).

Don Escudero has done good work particularly the Carmina-Rustom movie, not the remake of Maruja wherein they should have exchange roles........ ....the title it slipped on my mind again. It was Rated B when it came out.

[Noel_Vera]

I don't know. You can tell if a director has the gift of visual storytelling--from what I've seen he doesn't have it. And it's not like he's a respected filmmaker among his peers, either.

That Maruja remake was funny.