A Project of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Digital Filmmaking Program, the premiere "Without Borders" showcased the Documentary films produced at the Manila 2011 Aulas Factorias de Creacion of Audiovisuales Sin Fronteras. SDEAS Alumnae participated in the said filmmaking workshop.
Jocelyn Tamayo was part of the group that made "Pamana ko, Pag-asa ko" -- a documentary on the community based heritage tourism of Fundacion Santiago and the unique culture of Sta. Ana Manila.Maricris Galang was in charge of photography in their group's documentary "Copistas" which chronicled the lives and challenges of fixers in Recto.
The last documentary, "Cubao X" will be shown on April, in another SDA event.
Congratulations to the two new Deaf filmakers!
Notes from Jag Garcia:
This year's Aula Factoria de Creacion (Creative Production Workshops) for Documentaries is a "level-up" so to speak of the July 2009 Miradas al Territorio (Perspectives of Territories). Where the Miradas project was a one-off documentary workshop conducted across several countries, the Aula Factoria is projected as a four-year developing project that seeks to evolve from just workshops to a self-sustained organization that allows for the creation and development of material that address social realities and cultural contexts.
Audiovisuales sin Fronteras (Audiovisuals without Borders) has conducted workshops in numerous countries aside from its home in Barcelona, Spain. It has been to Chile, Columbia, Senegal, Morocco, and Cambodia; what makes the Philippines, though, is its unique mix of workshop participants: film majors, urban poor, community advocates and the Deaf from a wide range of social classes were brought together in a spirit of creativity and mutual learning.
CSB"s partner community Pangarap Foundation sent us a small group of less fortunate urban youth; Fundacion Santiago recruited a selection of heritage tourism advocates from the Sta Ana district in Manila, while dls-csb's school for Deaf education and applied studies invited members of its alumni community to participate. granted that there were going to be challenges but it was the diversity of the participants that also gave the projects a lot more substance and depth as each one - rich or poor, hearing or Deaf, artist or advocate - was given an equal voice and opportunity to mold the project into its finished state.
The "senior" members of the teams were junior- and senior-level digital film majors from dls-csb. They were invited from the last workshop to take the lead in producing the documentaries as directors, editors and production managers. A cohort of "junior" team members were recruited to form the core production team. The were going to be sent out into the field with the seniors to give them an opportunity to learn "on the job" while the seniors learn how to teach or pass on training to others.
The resulting documentaries - conceptualized by the teams - brought a new perspective on Metro Manila. It gave us glimpses into the minutiae of the metropolis and brought to life individuals amongst the multitudes.
Ekis - gave a look into Cubao X. A small commercial area in the heart of the Cubao business district. A haven of retail stores and small art and curio shops that attracts its crowd of patrons and habitues. At night, though, it transforms into a gathering place of people from various walks of life all looking for a relaxing, casual place to end their long work days. Art shops and film houses open, while bars cater to anyone looking for a cold drink. And despite this idyllic and interesting setting looms "change" as talks of redevelopment may bring an abrupt end to this very boheme locale in the heart of metro manila.
Copista - the Recto district has long had a reputation for being the source of falsified and forged documents. Anything you need - a license, receipt, diploma or passport - can be manufactured for a price. This project comes up close and personal to the copistas, the forgers themselves. Yet far beyond talking about their work, we get to hear them talking about their livelihood - how circumstances and fate have brought them on that thin edge between the illegal and survival.
Pamana ko, Pag-Asa Ko - in the heart of Manila is the district of Sta Ana. where life is simple despite the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city. Amidst modernization Sta Ana lays claim to a centuries-old church, houses from the Spanish, American and post-war eras, and an almost rural spirit in between its urban settings. We see through the narrative how efforts are now being made to take this character of Sta Ana and making it a source for progress and poverty alleviation; how capitalizing on its heritage to make it a center for development and tourism. We take a peek into the possibilities, challenges and potentials of a township whose hope for the future may very well lie in its past.
