How did we make it???
“Winning in the festival is not the ultimate goal of a filmmaker, it is the experience and the chance to be seen and heard with the message of the film” this is the inspiring words of the Alchemy of Vision and Light (AVL) head Rafael “Dax” Cañedo to the finalists during their orientation last October 31.
As one of the filmmakers, I could see the excitement of the participants owing to the fact that most of them are first timers. That time, my mind was pre occupied with many questions about the films but I let it passed by. Our production group was just still on the state of amazement after we receive the info that our synopsis has selected.
Before the selection of the finalists, we were living in our dreams while hoping that we will be selected. I was always thinking positive telling my members to hold on and relax , even if, I once told myself that Mindanao Film Fest is impossible to us since we are not that prepare and I have recruited only 5 members (all students).
The requirement was to pass the synopsis of our story then AVL will select the finalists. Despite of my under estimation to myself, I still manage to follow up everything and shout to the school to help us pray. And finally God heard us.
Durian Cinema Productions is the name of our group. Presently, it has 7 members. I am the production head as well as the writer and the director. We were so glad because we are now moving towards our dream- to be seen on the big screen!
After the announcement, I and my film editor Neil John Luayon did not waste time to find resources for our film since we cannot provide everything. Our parents in the province did not even know that we personally fund the film. However, we did not spend money at that high amount because we improvise things. Instead buying for costumes, we use our old dresses; lamp shades instead the typical lights; pirated software for editing instead the original one.
“We all see filmmaking as a very expensive endeavor. But digital technology nowadays and new techniques makes it possible to shoot inexpensive but quality films,” said Dax Canedo, organizer of the Guerilla Filmmaking workshops.
The shooting period is the most challenging part. Since our story focuses on the life of a badjao, we did shooting in their community without considering that they might harm us. But we were stand corrected; they are indeed harmless and hospitable.
Two different worlds bonded together. We ate with them, deal with them and have fun with their children. As part of the film, we have to take down notes the translation of our dialogues since there are times that we really have to use their language as medium.
On the technical side, we were so blessed because the Kabataan News Network Davao Bureau manager Rodulph Alama let us use the equipment because eventually, as reporter of the network I am also tasked to have documentary story about filmmaking.
It was a big challenge to us especially in the editing period. Our classmates thought that we will be funding a professional editor in the shop but the truth is, we only did it in a small topsy-turvy room of our editor who is still studying editing software like Adobe premiere. With 256 MB RAM, the computer cannot run well and hang by and by. However, we did not lose hope. After 3 sleepless nights, at last we finished our 20 minute short film.
“There is nothing impossible as long as we work hard with the thing that seemingly impossible” said Cameraman Lloyd Revilla.
The lesson that I have learned is that the never stop dreaming. I live before thinking that filmmaking (Film Festival) is really an impossible field for the man who belongs to a poor family like me.
This December 4-10, the manifestation of our dreams will be at hand- to be seen on the big screen with the crawling names in the credits
It is not the Durian Cinema who feel like us but also the other group which composes of mostly students. The same
NEVER STOP DREAMING!
As one of the filmmakers, I could see the excitement of the participants owing to the fact that most of them are first timers. That time, my mind was pre occupied with many questions about the films but I let it passed by. Our production group was just still on the state of amazement after we receive the info that our synopsis has selected.
Before the selection of the finalists, we were living in our dreams while hoping that we will be selected. I was always thinking positive telling my members to hold on and relax , even if, I once told myself that Mindanao Film Fest is impossible to us since we are not that prepare and I have recruited only 5 members (all students).
The requirement was to pass the synopsis of our story then AVL will select the finalists. Despite of my under estimation to myself, I still manage to follow up everything and shout to the school to help us pray. And finally God heard us.
Durian Cinema Productions is the name of our group. Presently, it has 7 members. I am the production head as well as the writer and the director. We were so glad because we are now moving towards our dream- to be seen on the big screen!
After the announcement, I and my film editor Neil John Luayon did not waste time to find resources for our film since we cannot provide everything. Our parents in the province did not even know that we personally fund the film. However, we did not spend money at that high amount because we improvise things. Instead buying for costumes, we use our old dresses; lamp shades instead the typical lights; pirated software for editing instead the original one.
“We all see filmmaking as a very expensive endeavor. But digital technology nowadays and new techniques makes it possible to shoot inexpensive but quality films,” said Dax Canedo, organizer of the Guerilla Filmmaking workshops.
The shooting period is the most challenging part. Since our story focuses on the life of a badjao, we did shooting in their community without considering that they might harm us. But we were stand corrected; they are indeed harmless and hospitable.
Two different worlds bonded together. We ate with them, deal with them and have fun with their children. As part of the film, we have to take down notes the translation of our dialogues since there are times that we really have to use their language as medium.
On the technical side, we were so blessed because the Kabataan News Network Davao Bureau manager Rodulph Alama let us use the equipment because eventually, as reporter of the network I am also tasked to have documentary story about filmmaking.
It was a big challenge to us especially in the editing period. Our classmates thought that we will be funding a professional editor in the shop but the truth is, we only did it in a small topsy-turvy room of our editor who is still studying editing software like Adobe premiere. With 256 MB RAM, the computer cannot run well and hang by and by. However, we did not lose hope. After 3 sleepless nights, at last we finished our 20 minute short film.
“There is nothing impossible as long as we work hard with the thing that seemingly impossible” said Cameraman Lloyd Revilla.
The lesson that I have learned is that the never stop dreaming. I live before thinking that filmmaking (Film Festival) is really an impossible field for the man who belongs to a poor family like me.
This December 4-10, the manifestation of our dreams will be at hand- to be seen on the big screen with the crawling names in the credits
It is not the Durian Cinema who feel like us but also the other group which composes of mostly students. The same
NEVER STOP DREAMING!
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