The two independent short films “Pera-perahang Lata” (30 mins., Philippines) and “Technophilia” (7 mins., Korea-Philippines-Iraq) was successfully projected in high definition (HD) during the film premiere at the Cinema 5 (Dolby Super Digital Cinema) of Gateway Cineplex 10 last June 3, 2009. These films by director Rianne Hill Soriano are the first ever successfully projected independent films in the country in HD format – with privilege of using one of the country’s top digital cinemas (following the feat of the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival animated film entry “Dayo”).

The film premiere event entitled “Indie HD” proved that independent short films have a steadily increasing audience as validated by the diversity of attendees of the premiere which generally included filmmakers, artists, producers, entertainment industry executives, advertising industry workers, guests from government offices, guests from private institutions, students, media guests, film enthusiasts, and other friends from the various creative industries. VIPs included Minister and Consul General Ohm Ki-sung and Consul Hwang Soon-sung of the Korean Embassy in Manila, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista (Quezon City), Mr. Tony Gloria of Unitel Productions, Mr. Pete Jimenez of Optima Digital, Mr. Ferdinand Isleta of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and 2000 Cannes Film Festival Palm D’or Winner (Best Short Film) Director Raymond Red. Representatives from the Marikina Cultural Affairs Office attending in behalf of Mayor Marides Fernando also graced the event.

The cocktails at the Gateway Cineplex 10 lobby was graced by musicians jamming with classical guitar and native and modern percussion instruments. The event at Cinema 5 was hosted by filmmaker and thespian Karla Pambid. P. O. L. led by frontman Paul Arroyo also sang the “Pera-perahang Lata” theme song “Kaibigan” prior to the screening.

Recently, the Philippines has four digital cinemas: two at Gateway Cineplex 10, one at SM City The Block, and one at SM Megamall. Another two are on bidding stage/being constructed on two other malls, one in Quezon City and one in Makati City.

The success of the premiere reflects how Filipinos can now go a notch higher in improving the playing field of Filipino films, both mainstream and independent, by exploring what the new technology can offer – projecting films in HD. Gateway Cineplex 10 has opened the door to Pinoy filmmakers, producers, and distributors that they don’t just cater to Hollywood films to be shown in their digital cinemas. After screenings of “Wolverine,” “Startrek,” and other Hollywood flicks at their digital cinemas, and the soon showing of “Transformers,” “Ice Age,” and “Harry Potter,” Filipino films can also have a place in their digital cinemas – both for commercial and artistic endeavors.

The new legacy in digital filmmaking in HD format is a history in the making. And it can further show how Philippine cinema is now evolving and developing. In a realistic sense, the utilizing of digital cinemas is very much favorable to the Philippine film industry. Why and how? Shooting in HD, which cuts the production cost with such a significant amount as compared to shooting on film, can go two preferable routes for cinema projection: 1) blowing up to the standard 35mm prints for nationwide release of bigger film projects; and/or 2) projecting in HD which is file-based and needs no film prints anymore which can further cut the production cost especially to those films only catering to a specific audience like film buffs and people who are into watching art films. It may be a smaller market, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t make its own decent way into the box office especially if it is shown in a digital cinema where the saturation of its audience can be found in proximity with it. And in its case right now, tapping areas like Quezon City, Ortigas, and Makati (where the recent digital cinemas in the country are situated) are truly formidable grounds to the audience of art and independent films. And in the future, it will also be wise to start investing on digital cinemas in other key cities around the country as Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Ilocos, etc. to further cater to the decent market of such films all around the country.

The high resolution and mostly file-based filming in HD cameras make it easier for the footages to be utilized for post-production work. The file-based showing of films becomes a real advantage to film theaters as there are no more scratches and noises due to wear and tear of a 35mm print and there are no more possibilities for human error in rewinding and queuing up prints. All these, in the long-term, entails lower cost than using film-based projections; thus making it more feasible for the Philippines to catch up with the technology in the global perspective. And as more and more digital cinemas come into the picture, the opportunities are getting bigger and bigger for Filipino filmmakers, producers, distributors, and cinema-goers.

Gateway Cineplex 10 is a pioneer in digital cinema in the Philippines. And with its support for artistic and cultural projects as the Cinemanila International Film Festival, the Australian Film Festival in Manila, and this film premiere event Indie HD, there is truly a spark of hope for the Filipino films of today and the future. Indeed, through the support from private companies and institutions willing to extend a helping hand for such projects, the country is slowly but surely, keeping up with what the digital technology can offer amidst economic limitations by extending collaborative efforts and maximizing all possible resources.

“Pera-perahang Lata” is topbilled by Von Arroyo and Arnold Reyes and also features Gio Respall, Paul Sy, Dante Balois, Rey Solo, Dido dela Paz, Marnie Lapus, Noemi Oineza, Ellen Estrada, Ces Aldaba, Karl Moro, Rommel Buenaventura, Via Antonio, and other talented character actors and actresses in film, TV, and theater. Completing the list of the major filmmakers in the film are: director/writer/editor Rianne Hill Soriano, director of photography Wowie Hao, production designer Joy Puntawe, production manager Gavin Herrera, assistant director Karla Pambid, art directors Armi Cacanindin and Kiko Tolentino, musical scorer/sound engineer Philip Arvin Jarilla, associate producer Ayeen Pineda, field sound recordists Mark Locsin and Joseph Santos, and casting by Gigi Pirote.

“Technophilia” features Korean talents Lee Jong-jin and Lee Saekyung, along with supporting Korean, Japanese, American, Indonesian, and Filipino talents. The members of the production staff include: director/editor/production designer Rianne Hill Soriano, director of photography Mohammed Jano, art director Stephen Kochenash, field sound recordists Choi Junghan and Minei Katsudo, musical scorer/sound engineer Philip Arvin Jarilla, and production coordinators Seo Miya, Chung Yoo-sun, and Moon Kyung-min.

The event is also made possible by the Gateway Cineplex 10, NCCA, Colorwheel Media Studios, Outpost Digital Frontier, Innovasia, Korean Embassy, Marikina Cultural Affairs Office, Mamma Mia, Jingleman, NU 107, and the official music channel MTV Philippines.

You may visit peraperahanglata.blogspot.com, technophiliafilm.blogspot.com, and www.riannehillsoriano.com/blog for more information about the films.

For many years, regional Filipino films have taken the backseat to Manila-based productions, released by mainstream studios like Star Cinema, with only occasional film projects from the South, such as Cesar Montano’s “Panaghoy sa Suba”. The prologue in the witty satire “Confessional”, which is set amidst Cebu’s Sinulog mardi gras, astutely pointed out that most people think that everything outside of Manila is “just a vacation spot”. In the past few years, however, the emergence of independent film festivals in the Philippines like Cinemalaya, where the indie hit “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” debuted, has encouraged young talent from all over the country. For instance, Davaoeno filmmaker Sherad Sanchez, whose “Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi” is part of the festival lineup, has recently bagged the Grand Prize in South Korea with his second film – and he’s only 24. National Artist for Film Lino Brocka did not make his first feature until he was nearly 30.

So far, regional Filipino films have earned accolades in festivals abroad including Singapore, India and France – proof of the diversity and richness of Filipino culture as visualized by cinematic storytellers. (To purchase tickets, visit www.indiobravo.org or call 1-800-838-3006.) The IndioBravo Film Festival is presented in partnership with GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV and in cooperation with Asian Journal, STIR.ph, HYPHEN Magazine, and Planet Philippines. Below, a quick tour of our regional cinemas:

Tirador (Metro Manila)

From Cannes 2009 Best Director winner Brillante Mendoza comes this virtuoso, fly-on-the-wall, at times shocking exposition of life in a volatile Manila slum. Mendoza’s camera work is so fluid and the acting so untethered, watching Tirador feels like spying. But Mendoza’s apparently self-effacing vision is at its most searing when trained on corrosive politicos, religious denialists and power-crazed cops—he appears to have merely turned on the camera and recorded them digging their own graves. Tirador makes it clear why Mendoza is considered a singular visionary among the mavericks of world film. (Friday, June 12, 8:00 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 2; Sunday, June 14, 6:20 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 1)

Baler (Pampanga)

You don’t choose love; it chooses you. Which can lead to some awkward situations. Take the case of winsome Feliza Reyes (Anne Curtis), who falls in love with the dashing Celso Resurrecion (Jericho Rosales). Match made in heaven, right? Problem is, it’s 1898 and Feliza’s father, the Philippine rebel leader Nanding (Phillip Salvador), is leading a siege against the Spanish rifle battalion to which Celso belongs. Come see why Baler, a sweeping historical romance, cleaned up at the Metro Manila Film Awards in 2008. Starring Jericho Rosales, Anne Curtis, Phillip Salvador, Michael de Mesa, Baron Geisler, Ryan Eigenmann, Joel Torre. (Opening Night Selection: Thursday, June 11, 7:15 p.m., MoMA Titus 1; Sunday, June 14, 4:10pm, Visual Arts Theater 1)

Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi (Davao)

Imagine a world in which your beliefs and values, the music you listen to, the clothes you wear and even the language you speak are threatened with destruction—by technology, development and the encroachment of cultures more materially powerful than your own. Cultural survival lies at the heart of this bold and challenging film, in which a balyan (priestess) performs a non-indigenous ritual to save her grandchild, setting off a chain of consequences that impact everyone around her.(Friday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 1)

Confessional (Cebu)

Do-it-yourself documentarian Ryan Pastor is a cynic. “Lies + Lies = Truth,” he snarks during Confessional‘s opening frames, before embarking with his girlfriend on a trip to shoot the Sinulog mardi gras festival in Cebu. True to the essence of this ancient costumed spectacle-cum-commercialized tourist trap, nothing is quite what it seems. The duo encounter a nun with a surprising past, an entertainer of indeterminate gender and an ex-politician who is either a charlatan, a menace, a genuine penitent or all three. Confessional gleefully explodes the boundaries between “reality” and fantasy, documentary and fiction, while offering a fascinating glimpse into the paradoxes of Filipino culture and identity. (Saturday, June 13, 4:00 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 1; Sunday, June 14, 3:30 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 2)

Donsol (Sorsogon)

Weary, urban sophisticate Teresa (the luminous Angel Aquino) flees Manila’s urban sprawl for the idyllic, sun-drenched coast of Sorsogon. Heading to Donsol, “whale shark capital of the world,” with her perky journalist sister (Cherie Gil) in tow, Teresa hopes to find solace and an underwater encounter with one of the endangered gentle giants who return perennially to the area to mate. What she encounters is young, easy-on-the-eyes Daniel (Sid Lucero), a local dive guide nursing some hurt of his own. Donsol is an elegaic meditation on nature, mortality, temptation and devotion. Starring Angel Aquino, Sid Lucero, Jaclyn Jose, Bembol Roco, Cherie Gil (Friday, June 12, 10:10 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 2; Saturday, June 13, 5:00 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 2)

Yanggaw (Bacolod)

This powerful horror film is set in a rural village where superstition and dark beliefs run deep. When gentle, beautiful Amor (Aleera Montalla) comes down with an illness no conventional doctor can diagnose, she begins to disappear on the same nights that residents of her village are violently murdered. Fearing their daughter is possessed, her parents (Ronnie Lazaro and Tetchie Agbayani) seek the counsel of a faith healer. But ultimately they are forced to take matters into their own hands. Starring Ronnie Lazaro, Tetchie Agbayani, Joel Torre (Friday, June 12, 10:15 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 1; Saturday, June 13, 5:15 p.m., Visual Arts Theater 1)

Gateway Cineplex 10, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Colorwheel Media Studios present “Indie HD: Premiere of the Filipino and Korean Independent Short Films ‘Pera-perahang Lata’ and ‘Technophilia’ in HD Format and a Discussion On Digital Technology in Indie Films Today.” Directed by Rianne Hill Soriano, the two films will be projected in HD format at the Cinema 1 of Gateway Cineplex 10 (Dolby Super Digital Cinema) on June 3, 2009, 6:30 p. m.

The two independent films share a common theme and treatment on factories, the normal factory setting reflecting various aspects of life for “Pera-perahang Lata” and the human factory effect of technology on people for “Technophilia.”

The films are privileged to be shown in HD format, not via low resolution DVD projection, courtesy of Gateway Cineplex 10, home of two of the four digital cinemas in the country today. Within the premiere of the said films is a full program entitled “Indie HD” which incorporates a brief discussion on how independent filmmakers can maximize the filmmaking process: Gateway providing information on how digital cinema is starting to shape the future of film theaters; Christie giving basic details about the HD projection on digital cinemas; Optima Digital discussing the post-production workflows available for filmmakers; and the NCCA imparting information about their grant system for independent filmmakers.

The digital technology of today can now provide more technically competent productions with decent finances. The lower cost of production puts a distinct advantage in maximizing resources for a more effective production workflow. The high resolution and mostly file-based filming in HD cameras make it easier and faster for the footages to be utilized for post-production.

For the future of films and even cinema advertisements, the file-based showing of films becomes a real advantage to film theaters and advertisers alike as there are no more scratches and noises due to wear and tear of a 35mm or 16mm print and there are no more possibilities for human error in rewinding and queuing up prints. A feature film normally has around four to six prints changed every 20 minutes (variable) of the film’s running time. Now, having things digital, the programming can even be automated accordingly. And what the future can further bring is the easier transportation/sending of film, trailer, and cinema ad files online, via satellite, through less bulky parcels, and other more convenient means instead of providing hundreds and thousands of film prints for a film that is “now showing” (where every theater in the whole city, the country, or even the world should have a physical copy of the prints). File-based systems in 2K and 4K resolutions and surround sound systems also provide quality visuals and audio in par with what standard 35mm film projections can bring and even easily put the right subtitles for films of worldwide release. All these, in the long-term, entails lower cost for producers; thus, making it more feasible for the Philippines to catch up with the technology in the global arena.

“Indie HD” is a testament to how independent artists and commercial studios can work together for artistic and cultural projects. The thrust of the event is to inspire aspiring filmmakers, struggling filmmakers, and renowned filmmakers, that no matter how tough it is to come up with non-commercial and/or art films due to budget constraints, there are people and institutions, including the prime movers of the film and similar entertainment industries, who are willing to help and support such artistic endeavors. It is wonderful to note how the collaboration among passionate artists, dedicated talents, and supportive sponsors have transpired to this kind of event – telling stories and inspiring people that Filipinos, amateur or professional, can work together to come up with quality projects that help enrich the Philippines’ arts and culture. This may be a non-profitable project, but various people and companies still work together to make it possible.

“Pera-perahang Lata,” a film that explores the many facets of a struggling life in a world that is full of unpredictable moments, is made possible through various institutions’ help including the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Unitel Productions, FILMEX, Optima Digital, Outpost Digital Frontier, Engine Room, city government of Marikina, Marikina Riverbanks, St. Francis Xavier Parish Church, Streetpark Productions, and Brass Knuckles. The cast is led by Von Arroyo and Arnold Reyes.

“Technophilia,” a Korean-Filipino-Iraqi film production, shows how technology can shape people’s lifestyles, affect their relationships, and make their interactions as mechanistic as their gadgets. It stars fresh Korean, Japanese, American, and Filipino talents. The film is shot in 16mm film with screening format in HD through the help of the Korean Film Council, Korean Academy of Film Arts, and Korea University during the filmmaker’s 6-month stay in Korea for the Asian Filmmakers Training Program 2008.

The event is also made possible by the Gateway Cineplex 10, NCCA, Colorwheel Media Studios, Outpost Digital Frontier, Innovasia, Korean Embassy, Marikina Cultural Affairs Office, Mamma Mia, Jingleman, IFC, NU 107, and the official music channel MTV Philippines.

You may visit www.peraperahanglata.blogspot.com, www.technophiliafilm.blogspot.com, and www.riannehillsoriano.com/blog for more information about the films.

Funded by the NCCA and shot in HD format, the 30-minute independent film “Pera-perahang Lata” (Penny from the Tin Can) explores the many facets of a struggling life in a world that is full of unpredictable moments – where things are beyond one’s control. Set during the Filipino Christmas season – amidst the exciting tradition of gift-giving, caroling, and the “Simbang Gabi” – this film exposes both the rich culture and the struggle of Filipinos in the Manila commune.

Von Arroyo plays the role of Nilo, a 24-year old struggling, introvert, and critical man working in a can factory. He has the urge to defy his dominating guilt of contributing to a tragedy due to his unconcern. At the back of his mind, he thinks that a little generosity could have saved a needy stranger. However, in trying to make up for it, another tragedy draws a life to an end. And the questions are: “Will every good thing you do always account to something good thing in return?” Pondering, “Can you really have a complete grasp of what is said to be fair and just?” And thinking further, “Why should it be that you make up for your guilt and correct your mistake at the wrong place and time?”

The film is written and directed by Rianne Hill Soriano, Gawad Urian nominee for Best Short Film, Kodak Film Awardee, and Best Production Thesis at the University of the Philippines Film Institute for her first film “Karsel” and a fellow of the Asian Filmmakers Training Program 2008 in Seoul, Korea. Completing the list of the major filmmakers in the film: director of photography Wowie Hao, production designer Joy Puntawe, production manager Gavin Herrera, assistant director Karla Pambid, art directors Armi Cacanindin and Kiko Tolentino, musical scorer/sound engineer Philip Arvin Jarilla, associate producer Ayeen Pineda, field sound recordists Mark Locsin and Joseph Santos, and casting coordinator Gigi Pirote.

The production is blessed by the generosity of Unitel Productions, FILMEX, Engine Room, Optima Digital, Hit Productions, Outpost Digital Frontier, city government of Marikina, Marikina Riverbanks, St. Francis Xavier Parish Church, Brass Knuckles, and Streetpark Productions. The film also stars Arnold Reyes, Gio Respall, Paul Sy, Dante Balois, Rey Solo, Dido dela Paz, Marnie Lapus, and other talented character actors and actresses in film, TV, and theater.

Through the help of the Araneta Group, the films are privileged to be shown in HD format, not via a low resolution DVD projection. Within the premiere of the said films will be a full program incorporating a brief discussion on how independent filmmakers can maximize the filmmaking process. Gateway will provide information on how the digital cinema is starting to shape the future of film theaters. Christie will give basic details about the HD projection on digital cinemas. Optima Digital will discuss the feature film workflows available for filmmakers, and the NCCA will impart information about their grant system for independent filmmakers. The Minister and Consul General of the Korean Embassy will be a guest of honor during the event. A Q&A will follow after the screenings.

The premiere is open to the public. Email nordic.gift@gmail.com to reserve free tickets. First come, first served. You may visit www.peraperahanglata.blogspot.com, www.technophiliafilm.blogspot.com, and www.riannehillsoriano.com/blog for more information about the films.