Great opportunities in music, film & photography

If there is anything our veteran practitioners in the arts are envious about nowadays, it is in the tremendous amount of opportunities opened to the new generation for their taking. In the past, one had to virtually climb up the ladder to prove one’s ability. It was only National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA), now on its 39th year, that existed to develop young musicians from all over the country.

Event of the month is the First Philippine Popular Music Festival known as Philpop, which chose its first grand champion Karl Vincent Villluga with his Bawat Hakbang composition and P1M prize. Reminiscent of the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Metropop) of the ’80s many of us still remember, the Philpop songwriting competition is headed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Manny V. Pangilinan, and Ricky Vargas. Toto Sorioso is first-runner up, winning P500,000 for Tayo-Tayo Lang. Veteran Soc Villanueva is second runner-up for Kontrabida with a prize of P250,000. All three winners were given Ramon Orlina trophies.

From left: Tim Yap, composer Trina Belamide and Onyl Torres at the Sing@Ning launch

In the field of film, the Quezon City Film Development Commission recently launched its QCinema: First Quezon City Film Festival, much like the Cinemalaya Indie Festival now on its eighth year. Starting small, QCinema will award P800,000 grants to three indie projects to be shown in December. The project is under the QC Film Development Commission with Mayor Bautista as chair, Vice Mayor Belmonte as co-chair, and Prof. Eduardo Lejano Jr. as executive director.

With its zero taxation on Filipino films and more than 200 movie theaters, QC, home to the country’s broadcast industry, is rightfully known as the City of Stars. The screenplay competition is open to Filipinos and accepts full-length screenplays with rights staying with the proponent, a condition of one scene and one project proponent from Quezon City. Submission of entries is by July 31. All of these requirements seem reasonable, except for the time span given between the announcement last week and submission of entries. Had this been for shorts, it would be workable. However, we hear that there are already finished scripts that writers have been keeping in their bauls, awaiting a propitious moment. In which case, this is that proper moment.

Apart from this, there are artista competitions through Protégé: The Battle For The Big Artista Break created by GMA Network (the competition is now on its second season) and the brand-new Artista Academy from TV5. Both are out to discover the hottest and the best of the new generation actors, both have set practically similar age requirements (teens to early 20s), and both promise the largest of prizes and the best of mentors. We will report on both as the competition heats up.

Ricky Davao, terror mentor on GMA 7’s Protégé

Even The Peninsula Manila has joined the competition race with its Sing@Ning Ultimate Voice Music Competition, open to Filipino college students aged 18 to 25, with zero experience, to undergo elimination rounds from September to October with grand finals in November. Grand prize includes scholarships to Spotlight Artists Centre and John Robert Powers, a weekend stay at The Peninsula, a contract to perform in Salon de Ning and a cash prize of P100,000.

Orchestrating the event as over-all director is Onyl Torres, who is a musical director, stage actor, vocal coach, entrepreneur and teacher with 10 years of theater experience with Repertory, Dulaang UP, PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino etc.

There is more, as the Standard Chartered Bank announced a nationwide photography competition in Seeing is Believing. Open to professionals and enthusiasts, P500,000 is at stake for various categories. Entries are being accepted until Sept 1. Call 836-8799 or e-mail [email protected]. 

Karl Vincent Villuga, grand champion of the first Philpop

 It is obvious that the competition fever is really on in the arts, and there should be no excuse at all for those with talents not to make it in whatever field they may choose.

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