(A note of explanation, perhaps; was asked by Mirana to post this by way of promoting her little film. Might add that I haven't seen the film myself--but Mirana is easily one of the best if not the best film editor in the Filipino film industry, as witness her work on Tikoy Aguiluz's films (most notably Bagong Bayani (The Last Wish, 1995), Segurista (Dead Sure, 1996), and Biyaheng Langit (Paradise Express, 2000). More, Aguiluz takes the unusual step of including her from the beginning of the filmmaking process, at the story and scriptwriting stage; this way, he once told me, he and Mirana can keep track of what scenes are crucial and what not--what, in effect, he can cut out for reasons of budget, and still keep a reasonably clear narrative.
I like editors turned filmmakers; I admit to a bias for them. They often end up responsible for piecing together a comprehensible storyline from an messy pile of film footage; they know how to tell a story clearly and simply, despite poor and often mismatched material. Actors tend to either focus on performances and have a carefully understated style (Sofia Coppola, Robert Redford, Laurice Guillen (who I would consider one of the best of the lot)), or overcompensate the other way and give us a wildly obvious style (Danny Devito, Mel Gibson). Production designers I'm not too crazy about--the films often turn out garish and incoherent (Joel Schumacher, Peque Gallaga).
So would I recommend her film? I haven't seen it yet, but based on her previous work as an editor/scriptwriter that I have seen, I would definitely be interested and excited in whatever she might do as a filmmaker. Take a hint, Chicagoans.
I'd like to add a few remarks by University of the Philippines Department of History professor Rico Jose:
"TIGA-ISLA is a unique documentary about the Island of Corregidor. It is the story of life on the island by the civilians who lived there before World War II. While the island fortress is well known for its gallant stand in World War II, hardly anything is known about the people who originally populated the island, and who lived there even as the US Army developed it into a fortress. Largely shot on location, this documentary, told by seven Corregidorians brings to life the sites, the concerns, the experiences—happy and sad— of the civilians on Corregidor, and the pain they suffered on being evacuated from the island on the eve of war. It is a poignant look at life before the war in a unique setting, a testimony to a group of people who lost their hometown, and a plea against war.")
"THE CHICAGO FILIPINO AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL 2007
7½ CINEMA AT THE CHOPIN THEATRE
1543 W. DIVISION STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60622
NOVEMBER 9-11, 2007
Told in exacting detail with archival photography and eyewitness testimony, THE ISLANDERS, directed by Mirana Medina, is a fascinating look at the fortress island of Corregidor, the U.S. military stronghold that was all but decimated in World War II. Corregidor is often noted for its strategic significance in the Pacific Theater of World War II; THE ISLANDERS provides a rare look at the people that lived there, through the eyes of Filipino and American residents and their descendants.
7½ CINEMA AT THE CHOPIN THEATRE
1543 W. DIVISION STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60622
NOVEMBER 9-11, 2007
Told in exacting detail with archival photography and eyewitness testimony, THE ISLANDERS, directed by Mirana Medina, is a fascinating look at the fortress island of Corregidor, the U.S. military stronghold that was all but decimated in World War II. Corregidor is often noted for its strategic significance in the Pacific Theater of World War II; THE ISLANDERS provides a rare look at the people that lived there, through the eyes of Filipino and American residents and their descendants.
CFAFF 2007 SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY NOV. 9
SATURDAY NOV. 10
SUNDAY NOV. 11
6:30 PM EVENT: OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
9:00 AM - NOON CFAFF SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP
12:00 PM A MORAL DEBT: POSTWAR BATTLE OF THE VETERANOS with THE ISLANDERS OF CORREGIDOR. Q&A with MORAL DEBT director and producers.
8:00 PM COLMA: THE MUSICAL
12:30 PM BATAD with LIBINGAN (animated short)
2:30 PM CFAFF SHORTS PROGRAM with BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM director REY CORPUZ
10:00 PM EVENT: POST SCREENING PARTY at EVIL OLIVE
2:30 PM LIGAW LIHAM (LETTERS FROM NOR)
4:30 PM THREE TO FIVE AND GLASSY (show starts at 5:30 PM, preceded by live music and performances)
10:00 PM SQUATTERPUNK
4:30 PM PINOY JAZZ WITH MUSIC VIDEOS
7:30 PM COLMA: THE MUSICAL co-presented by ASIAN HEALTH SERVICES
11:30 PM CATCH CFAFF's OWN NIKKO BELANO at ZENTRA with QBERT
7:00 PM CHICAGO PREMIERE: THREE TO FIVE AND GLASSY with ANGELA RELUCIO Q&A
9: 00 PM EVENT: POST-SCREENING PARTY at EVIL OLIVE
9:30 PM BLACKOUT
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