Shoot now, pay less

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LAOAG CITY—What do the films “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Mad Max,” the “Panday” series and “Himala” have in common? They were all shot on location in Ilocos Norte.

With such honor and prestige, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos is encouraging more producers to make their films in the region. The local government has come up with incentives to minimize production expenses, she told a media gathering at the provincial capitol here during the recently concluded Ilocos Norte Sineng Pambansa Film Festival.

The press conference was attended by Marcos, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Bricco Santos, FDCP executive director Jose Miguel de la Rosa, filmmakers Brillante Mendoza (“Kinatay”), Soxy Topacio (“Ded na si Lolo”), Martin Cabrera (“Condo”), actors Leo Martinez, Frencheska Farr (“Emir”), and “Condo” assistant director Marianne Oandasan.

Ilocos Norte as is

“I hope that, next time, Ilocos Norte will be featured as Ilocos Norte and not as a stand-in for Mexico, the Sahara desert, the Italian Riviera or the wind farm in Southern California,” Marcos said.

For her pitch, Marcos said the local government will help reduce expenses that a film producer will incur while working in the province. “While here, a production would incur transportation, accommodation and catering expenses, as well as rentals. Basta makakaya ng probinsya tatapatan natin,” Marcos said. “In turn, this will provide work for Ilocanos and promote the region without having to spend much.”

The local government would also provide one-stop location management services, Marcos added. “We’ll help them get licenses, assist in marshaling events and identifying suitable locations. Sagana tayo rito sa old houses and churches, beaches and sand dunes.”

Santos said that the FDCP, which brought Sineng Pambansa to Ilocos Norte, appreciates what Marcos is doing. “This is a good way to promote not only the region but the country as well.”

He also announced that “Bourne Legacy”—the fourth in the film series which began with “Bourne Identity”—would start shooting in the Philippines in January. “This time, they are shooting the Philippines as the Philippines,” Santos said.

First priority

To support Ilocos Norte’s new policy to attract new film productions, Santos said that the FDCP, through the PFESO (Philippine Film Export Services Office), would recommend the province as “a first priority. It would really make it easier for production companies to shoot their films. We hope other provinces will be as vigorous and as creative in terms of promoting themselves.”

Under the FDCP, the PFESO was established as a one-stop shop for foreign producers who want to shoot a film in the country. The office, in behalf of film producers, does liaison work with other relevant government agencies and streamlines requirements and permits and visa applications. It also assists in creating feasibility assessments, scouting for locations and estimating production costs.

At the press con, Marcos asked the FDCP to help Ilocos Norte have “well-trained, adept crew and talents.” She also asked the council to assist the province in acquiring film production equipment.

Santos said the council would send filmmakers, actors, screenwriters and videographers to do a series of workshops, much like what happened in Davao City last month.

The workshops, he explained, is part of the council’s Audiovisual Development Program which was created to train young filmmakers and hold national film competitions to discover new talents.

“Some 1,000 film enthusiasts turned up (in Davao City). We chose 250, mostly school teachers and deans who all want to include film in their curriculum,” Santos reported. “We will shoulder all expenses, including the workshops.”

Advoca-cinema”

Martinez, the actor who is also director general of the Film Academy of the Philippines, offered to help through the academy’s Film Gym. Martinez said the program aims to help teachers and members of nongovernment organizations promote their advocacies through film.

“If Ilocos Norte needs workshops, we could provide,” said Martinez. “This program is not hoping to discover award-winning directors. It’s created for those who want to make films to help promote their profession. We call it advoca-cinema.”

Ilocos Norte is the seventh province to have hosted the Sineng Pambansa Film Festival held from Oct. 25 to 27. The film fest was held simultaneously at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Training Center in Batac and the Robinsons Movieworld Cinema 3 in San Nicolas.

The Sine ng Masa roadshow, which featured films like “Emir,” “Himala,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Yamashita (Tiger’s Treasure), “Ang Panday” and “Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday,” were screened in the municipalities of Badoc, Bacarra, Banna, Burgos, Currimao and Solsona.

Ghost week

The festival coincided with the province-wide celebration called “Semana ti Ar-Aria” or “Ghost Week” held from Oct. 25 to 31. It was popularized to “highlight the customs, traditions and superstitions of Ilocanos in remembering their departed ones.”

The FDCP contingent paid a courtesy call at Marcos’ provincial capitol in Laoag City on Oct. 25. That night, a cultural program was held at the newly-built La Tabacalera to formally open the three-day fete.

On Oct. 26, workshops conducted by Mendoza on filmmaking and Martinez on acting were held at the MMSU Training Center in Batac. The closing ceremony was held at the Malacañang of the North the same evening.

“The films lined up for this festival were not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood blood-and-gore shockers. Instead they are sensitive explorations into the Filipino preoccupation with religious views on death, as well as the psychological complexities of dealing with supernatural phenomena as they exist in our culture,” Santos said.

The main features screened were Gerry de Leon’s “Ibulong Mo sa Hangin,” Mike de Leon’s “Itim,” Butch Perez’s “Haplos,” Celso Ad Castillo’s “Maligno,” Rico Maria Ilarde’s “Villa Estrella,” Erik Matti’s “Pa-Siyam,” Topel Lee’s “White House,” Yam Laranas’ “Sigaw,” Richard Somes’ “Yanggaw,” Chris Martinez’s “100,” Mendoza’s “Kinatay,” Topacio’s “Ded na si Lolo,” Cabrera’s “Condo” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll 1” by Ishmael Bernal, Emmanuel Borlaza and Peque Gallaga.