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| Regal Films, gagawa ng rin ng digital films! Column: Take Billy Since the small digital films made by new and young producers (read: independent filmmakers) are making waves in the most recent film festivals of the world, all of a sudden, the film industry become digital film-conscious. After all, Dante Mendozas Masahista won at Locarno last Aug. 13 and is now at Toronto in its Discovery Section vying once more for the Discovery of the Year honors. Also theres Auraeus Solitos Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros which won the top award at Montreal World Film Festival, with distribution offers in some European countries to be finalized next month. Plus Ellen Ongkeko-Marfils Mga Pusang Gala, a digital film which was transferred into 35 mm for regular exhibition in the theaters all over the country. The movie which fared quite well in Metro Manila is currently doing well too in the provinces. It was Tikoy Aguiluz who made the digital movie XXX.com, starring Juliana Palermo, and had it converted to 35mm for theatrical exhibition. But it is only now that the digital film trend has caught interest when the Cultural Center group gave subsidies to first time directors for Cinemalaya Independent Producers Festival. This is where Maximo comes from. We got word that Regal is interested to have some digital films for release and transfer to 35 mm. Viva Films has now its own "small" film directed by Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos with Ilusyon now in the can starring Yul Servo and Jaycee Parker. Yul plays an inspiration-seeking painter, a struggling artists and Jaycee is an artists model. With the industry and the theaters going through difficult times, small films like digitals, which costs P2 million to make or less can be of great help. But first, they must be good, entertaining films. The Year 2005 is the Year of the Indies indeed. *** MORE: It seems that Direk Tikoy Aguiluz is the champion of digital films in this country. He popularized it here. And his Cinemanila International Film Festival, which Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is helping out, has a competition also for digital films. Set for mid-October, some new directors, like Rico Gutierrez, are preparing to film their entries this month. Clodualdo del Mundo Jr.s Pepot Artista won best film at the Cinemanila last July. Jury prize winner was Maximo Oliveros. Now things seem to be looking special and attractive to our digital filmmakers. The Year of the Indies, indeed. We got information that a digital film costs from P1 million to P2 million. An additional million or two can have that digital film transferred to 35 mm at Roadrunner or the former LVN. *** TODAY: Singing heartthrob Mark Bautista launches his new single release I Need You today (Sept. 11) at A.S.A.P. variety show on ABS-CBN. Marks I Need You is set to debut in radio stations YES FM, Energy FM and DWRR. Meanwhile Dream On, Marks new CD-Lite album from Viva Records which contains I Need You will be launched on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. at The Garden of SM North EDSA. The CD Lite of the "most successful loser" in the Star for A Night competition from Cagayan de Oro City, also contains You Win The Game, If By Now, When Will I See You Again and the title cut. *** TODAY TOO: Jed Madela, the grand champion of the world in the recent World Championship of Performing Arts held in Hollywood, is the newest addition to ASAP 2005 roster of world-class talents and family of singing champions. The Best Voice of Asia Male Singer for 2003 of Mainhill Awards, the Silver medallist of Voice of Asia 2003 in Kazakhstan, Breakthrough Male Performer of the Year 2003 of Celebrity Chronicle USA, Grand Champion as Peoples Choice in the Internet Poll Survey and the current Grand Champion Performer of the World is now a Kapamilya. Today at ASAP, he will be given a welcome he as the Grand Champion of the World deserves. Jed who is John Edward Tajanlangit of Tigbauan, Iloilo in real life will sing among other songs, one of his winning songs at the WCOPA I Dont Want To Miss A Thing. The song won him the gold medal in Pop division as well as the Overall Vocals World Champion and the Overall Male Vocals Champion. He was also chosen the 2005 Grand World Champion for Performing Arts, over winners in other categories dance, acting, modeling, variety and instrumentals. Jed and Rizza Novales with 11 golds, one silver and five overall world titles gave the Philippines a championship plaque for the countrys President. Jed and Rizza arrived from the US last week. Hearing about the success of Team Philippines in the Talent Olympics, Malacaang will host a big event to honor them on September 21. They will personally give the championship plaque of WCOPA to President Arroyo. An insider yells us that the President will make a big announcements that will benefit film, TV and recording industry. Do I hear right that the President is set to issue a President decree or sponsor a bill for a no-tax scheme for Filipino movies this year. *** MEMORIES: Today marks the silver death anniversary of our mother Cattina Ramos Balbastro of Oton, Iloilo. My sisters Dra. Betty Fajutrao and Dra. Nania Arafiles and their families, sister Perla Balbastro of Daughters of Charity and I remember her today with prayers, flowers and masses in (Oton Parish (Iloilo), Loreto Church (Sampaloc, Manila) and Tabaco Parish Church today. Source: Abante |
