The indie thrust of NuCinema

MANILA, Philippines - Independent filmmaking is the new cinema that anyone can be part of. With the availability of technology ranging from cell phones, tablets to DSLR, one can work on a script, shoot scenes and tell a narrative.

Testament to this is the recently-concluded The NuCinema NUVALI Short Film Competition held at The Fields in Nuvali, where 15 entries made it to the final list. Pare Koi and Bugtong topped the professional and novice categories, respectively. Asia Pacific Film Institute, SKYcable and Ayala Cinemas presented the film festival.

“They’re very talented batch,” says judge Jade Castro of the gender-sensitive  Zombadings: Patayin Sa Shokot si Remington. “I’ve seen the seriousness of the filmmakers and their promise.”

“The films are really good,” adds another judge Paul Soriano, the director of Thelma and producer of Transit. “There are some that need a lot of work. But there are some that stood out. The (participants) are new talents who will be working in the industry soon… The best part about this (film festival) is, there’s a chance (for filmmakers) to be discovered.”

What did the judges look for in the entries of the first-ever Nuvali filmfest?

“Sensibility,” answers Jade. “…There were some films which went to cliché territory. At first, they were OK. They used clichés. In filmmaking, the one that stands out is the one with a clear voice. If I would be asked for advice for beginners, they should develop their voice.”

It refers to the filmmaker’s “point of view and he can execute (the movie) according to his point of view,” says Jade. “If one is working with clichés, it is not one’s own point of view.” It is definitely someone else’s. A point of view should be something personal, which can only be told by the filmmaker himself.

According to Jade, it is not easy to find one’s voice in filmmaking because it is something one develops. Many will agree that aspiring directors are challenged to veer away from Western movies and directors they have grown up watching and following.

Aside from sensibility and the ability to stage scenes (mise-en-scene), “what the students and amateurs need to focus on now is the story. It is important,” says Paul. And one cannot also discount the power of a well-written script.

The emergence of independent filmmaking can be attributed to the establishment of such film festivals as Cinemalaya, Cinema One, CineFilipino and Cinemanila. It has provided filmmakers the playground to tell stories that commercial producers will not dare invest in. More socially-relevant and thought-provoking film texts have been shown to the new cineastes, who get tired of tried-and-tested storylines.

“I was fortunate enough to experience film and up to this day, I still shoot some of my TV commercials on film. Digital is really taking over,” says Paul of filmmaking and digital filmmaking. “I think as technology gets better, we also have to adapt as filmmakers. Find the right technology to tell our story correctly. That’s our challenge now… When you’re gonna go to film, make sure you have an experience in it. It’s very expensive. Digital is a good way to practice your storytelling since it’s affordable, it’s there.”

As for Jade, he likes the idea that many could do movies now because of digital filmmaking. “Right now, there are original films and we’ve been hearing (the new filmmakers’) voices. This was not possible when it was expensive to do a film.”

If there are pieces of advice the filmmakers can give those who wish to venture into the movies, they have this to say: “Go and just make a movie,” says Paul. “You have to direct now,” adds Jade. “While working, you will improve. Practice makes perfect.”

At the rate indies are going, the film movement will soon reach the popularity mainstream movies have been enjoying for years.