THE DAILIES OF A FILMMAKER

Last year, winning awards for my first film was a clear confirmation from heaven that my calling is to serve as a filmmaker. Unfortunately, this calling does not come with a smooth grassy path. I am often asked, ” So does this Famas fame open many doors for you?” No. Reality is, I am faced with a giant film industry that, I feel, is afraid to deal with its responsibilities towards it’s viewers. While I also believe that a good film is also one that will appeal to a great majority and thus sell well, I do not subscibe to careless endeavours and lazy efforts. I believe we should take care of what values we are encouraging in our films and how we craft or films. For every script we write, We should make efforts to insipre, to lift spirits, to move hearts towards goodness not only through the words spoken but through the visual language. We should not aim to merely entertain lest we want to remain a “wowowee society”, We must always bear in mind, that the movie theater is the cathedral of the 21st century and that a vast majority design their lives according to what they learn and see on the silver screen. So shall we just allow ousleves to remain as we are right now?

Where does the problem lie though? The producers? or the viewers? Why is it that, more than those that have something good to say, shallow films are more sellable? Are we too lazy to watch films that will make us think? Or on the other hand, have we gotten so disgusted with what our industry has carelessly spewed out in the past decades that we are refuse to support even the good ones? Should producers not make brave efforts to produce well-made and well-meaning films.

Some say, going indie is the answer. Bullocks! While we now have venues for indie films, have we produced good ones? Even the indie films are careless! They inject sex irresponsibly or create love stories that will bore the hell out of our common minds! So what differentiates them from mainstream? When can we have brilliant and brave writers who will write to insipre the pinoys out of this current rut!? I’m sure we have many! But are they even given a chance? When can we start directing our films with passion for the craft so that our technical standards are rasied!? Who can help this industry move on?

I dont know the answers and I dont proclaim to be THE ONE.

But, each day, I write and I dream. My first film may have been lauded as exceptional but to me that was merely a humble effort to merge a good story+good film craftsmanship+commercial viability. Many might not agree that it was all that, and believe me, I agree with them. It was short of all that, but I tried…and I will keep on trying. I know that with God’s help, nothing is impossible.

I write.

I read.

I imagine.

I dream.

I will come up with something, but not just anything.

But I am merely a student of many disciplines and of life. I have a lot to learn and I know it will take some time. This July I am back to school again (at the age of 46!) to master knowledge in screenwriting. I will brave the world of learned screenwriters and absorb as much as I can from them. O, thank god for giving me this chance! Only he could have made this possible! and only he can make it possible for us to reach a point wherein our films will inspire and lift spirits, here and around the world!

One effort at a time.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 1:08 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.