Student filmmakers featured in SM digital fest toasting ‘Modern Heroes’

JAO Mapa in “Balang Araw”

It’s nothing short of historic  that student films will be screened at SM, the virtual home of commercial movies.

Hewing closely to the examples set by Cinemalaya, Cinemanila and Cinema One, mall chain SM has mounted its own digital film festival dubbed “Bigshot.”

It attracted aspirants from various colleges and universities, said Sahara Jean P. Garnica, marketing head for SM Cinemas.

From 50 entries, 15 finalists were picked, out of which three were eventually produced: Krizzie L. Syfu’s “Tahanan”; Archie Dimaculangan, Franne Cheska Ramos and Jono de Rivera’s “Balang Araw”; and Bianca Catbagan and Jono de Rivera’s “Suntok sa Buwan.”

Mainstream actors

The films attracted mainstream actors: Lauren Young and Mark Gil are featured in “Tahanan”; Jao Mapa and Aleera Montalla in “Balang Araw”; and Daniel Fernando, Noni Buencamino and Joem Bascon in “Suntok sa Buwan.”

Garnica pointed out that there are a lot of promising filmmakers among the youth. Digital technology has made filmmaking more accessible and less expensive as well, she said. SM, she explained, is encouraging the creation of more digital films since the mall cinema chain plans to go fully digital in April or May this year. “SM is converting all its 230 cinemas from film to digital,” Garnica said.

JONO de Rivera shoots with DOP Ice Idanan on the set of “Balang Araw.”

The Bigshot fest, with the theme “Modern Heroes,” will run simultaneously in SM Manila, Megamall, North Edsa, Mall of Asia and Cebu, from Jan. 25 to 31. In the next two years, SM plans to tour the films in different campuses and cities nationwide.

Garnica clarified that the filmmakers will retain ownership of their movies. “SM only got theatrical distribution rights for two years. For the screenings, SM and the filmmakers will split the earnings 50-50. We look at this endeavor as a partnership. We want the filmmakers to recoup their investments.”

Grants

SM gave a P500,000-grant for each of the movies produced. The Film Development Council of the Philippines awarded an additional grant of P100,000.

Carbagan, from UP Diliman, admitted that the grants, although generous, proved inadequate even for student films, but her colleagues insisted that “budget constraints” pushed their creativity to the max.

De Rivera, also from UP Diliman, noted: “We had to make adjustments and ask for a lot of discounts and that entailed a lot of haggling. These are things you don’t learn in film school.”

Dimaculangan, from UP Film Institute, added: “But one thing I learned in school is the art of making something out of nothing.”

Syfu, from De La Salle University, agreed: “It was a steep learning curve for us. But we’re thankful for all the support we got. We can’t quantify the exposure we’ll get at SM cinemas.”

SM teamed up with DCinema for the films’ digital conversion. Another company Digitank, De Rivera said, gave them free use of cameras, rigs and other special equipment.

Yet another valuable help extended by SM was the mentoring provided by indie scriptwriter-producer Raymond Lee, filmmaker Mark Meily and scholar-director Nick Deocampo.

“We got lots of tips from them … on the importance of preparation and having a good script,” De Rivera recalled.