Cinemanila, Quentin and everything in between.
Some of you already know that I love films. There are times when I can't stop talking about different films--whether it's the new Judy Ann flick, or a Hollywood smash-hit, or that little wonderful indie film. So when teh first news about Quentin Tarantino arriving here in our country entered my consciousness: Fuck, I was excited about it.
Over the weekend, I gave my time and money to Cinemanila; And it was so fucking worth it.
CINEMANILA DAY ONE - Thursday
Because of the heavy rain on Wednesday, and the awarding ceremony being invitational, Our first Cinemanila day started on Thursday. At 8:30 I left Los Banos and made my way to Gateway. Got there around 11am. We already missed the first set of screenings, and we weren't interested in anything for teh 1pm screening, so we decided to loiter around Cubao. We went to Marikina Shoe Expo, they've got cool shops there. I wanted to buy this Totoy Mola vintage poster that they were selling, and the Grease soundtrack vinyl. But alas, Wala akong pera.
3:30pm we went inside our first and only screening for teh day: Anton Corbijn's Control. It's amazing how they got Sam Riley. He was fucking perfect for the role of Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Division. Now, Control is about the life of Ian Curtis. It tackles things like Joy Division's rise to fame, Ian Curtis' sickness and his troubled relationship with his wife.
Now, I think the story is typical. You know, guy becomes a rock star, then she falls for the sexy journalist, leaves his wife and kid, then commits suicide in the end. Wonderful. But yeah, story-wise; there's nothing really knew. What made the film special is the cinematography and tone of the entire film. The entire film is in black and white, just to create the overall tone of the era and make a fitting reference to the struggles of Ian Curtis. The cinematography is brilliant. Maybe because of Anton Corbijn's work for Music Videos and photographs that he just mastered the lighting and the graceful movements of the camera.
But I think, the best bit of it all is the wonderful acting that Sam Riley showed as Ian Curtis. My god, teh moves, teh voice... everything. He even looked like Ian Curtis for godssakes! He gave justice to the role. The entire cast did justice to their roles. Oh, and the actors played the songs live. Now that is amazing, they really sounded like Joy Division. Yeah, it's a good film. My only complain is that it's too long. Some scenes became dragging, but then again--once the screen erupts of Joy Division songs... you can't help but tap your feet and sing along.
I went back to Los Banos straight after watching Control. We got tickets for Grindhouse Day 1 and 2, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and his new film, Death Proof. We also got tickets for Ebony, Ivory and Jade. So that was that, we were all set for the weekend.
I was totally excited about Quentin's master class. We got tickets for the first row! Meaning, I'll get to see Quentin up close. Face to face with the guy. Alavet!
The reason why I came back to Los Banos was because of the fucking exam on my 7am class. Well, the exam became and take-home exam. Happy happy! So from Elbi, I went back to Muntinlupa first to drop off my stuff. Then at around 11am I met up with Francis to start our 2nd day of Cinemanila Extravaganza!
CINEMANILA DAY TWO - Friday
I thought we were going to be late. Goddamit, Francis was late. But we arrived just in time. The seminar hasn't started yet, so we just sat comfortably in our chairs. Today was Grindhouse Day ONE, a seminar with the masters Eddie Romero and Cirio Santiago. We already met Eddie Romero when he visited Mowelfund last summer. He was such an amazing guy, he talked about how he wrote his first script when he was just 15.
These two masters of filmmaking were the filmmakers that Quentin Tarantino looked up to. Imagine our surprise when Quentin entered before the seminar started. He was supposed to be just a guest, but then again, he started talking about Mr. Romero and Mr. Santiago with vigor and excitement, that he himself, moderated the seminar.
It's amazing the way Tarantino talked about the Filipino Films that he saw as a kid. Filipino Films that I've never even heard of during the course of my sad life. He was there blabbering about seeing a Filipino film in a TV station as a kid. It was fun and awesome to hear these 3 masters talking about filmmaking, and the grindhouse industry. Everything.
It was fun to hear their conversations on old flicks. Even though sometimes, you can't relate with them. They just talked about grindhouse flicks.
Cirio Santiago however expressed his disappointment with Philippine Television. He talked about how television makes us stupid. With using old films and making them television shows, he felt like Philippine Cinema can't evolve and move on because of this reason.
Come to think of it, yeah. There's nothing new in television. My god, they even made that awful little alien shit movie Kokey into a television series with the beautiful niece of Claudine Barretto.
It was fun, teh entire seminar. For three hours, you have Quentin Tarantino and Eddie Romero and Cirio Santiago inside the same room as you are. And of course, there's Alexis Tioseco and Raymond Red inside the seminar with you. Haha, amazing! (I remember when Raymond Red asked a question, Quentin remarked: "Ah, yes! The Cannes festival winner!")
Right after Teh Grindhouse Day 1 seminar, we were off to watch Ebony, Ivory and Jade in the same cinema.
Now, Ebony, Ivory and Jade isn't your new indie flick from Hong Kong or wherever. It's actually a 1976 Film of Cirio Santiago about 5 athletes that were abducted by Filip... I mean chinamen.
It's one of Quentin's favorite B-movies and the 35mm print that was shown today was actually his own copy. Cirio Santiago doesn't even have a copy of his own movie.
So the film was set in "HONG KONG." But actually, all the filming took place here in our country. The forest scenes were taken in UPLB Forestry. I'm telling you, ang laki ng pinagbago ng Los Banos. So yeah, basically, the girls are abducted by gangmen, Then it's up to them (with the help of Leo Martinez) to escape from the evil clutches of the Filipino citizens!
The film is, gaddamit, overflowing with camp. From the sudden martial arts move by the girls. To the black girl's Hulk moment when she suddenly picked up a 70-kilo man and throws him out the window. There are certain shots when I just can't help but laugh. The long shots with the girls fighting, it was so obvious that it's just a guy on a wig doing the stunts. OMG.
The dialogue was fucking cheesy. The Milo product placement was fucking hilarious. And the fight scenes were just off the hook. My god. You may think that Ebony, Ivory and Jade is one of the worst films ever made. But fuck it, it's actually one of the best times I've spent inside a cinema. We were literally laughing and howling and just cheering for everything that pops out of the screen. Oh and, Quentin was inside the cinema too laughing with us hysterically.
Altogether now:
"Ebony, Ivory, and Jade! Killing is their trade! With fist, foot, and blade, they can lick any man ever made!"
Straight from EI&J, we went on to see the First Philippine Theatrical Screening of Reservoir Dogs.
I think most of us already seen it in Pirated DVDs. I even have the 10th anniversary edition complete with all special features. But there's nothing like it when you're gonna see it in the big screen. Again, it's Quentin's 35mm print of the film that we're seeing.
Today was an amazing experience. Right after Reservoir Dogs, we followed Quentin and he shook our hands! HOOORAY! Quentin Tarantino shook my right hand. Amazing. I was... gaaah.
Armed with the words of Quentin Tarantino, Cirio Santiago and Eddie Romero; Francis and I went back filled with inspiration to make our own set of classics. MWAHAHAHA!
CINEMANILA DAY THREE - Saturday
Alas, Francis was late again.
We arrived at Gateway, 10 mins late for our next film. It was Amir Chamdim's God Willing. Amir also stars as the protagonist Juan. And of course, the reason we saw it was because of the presence of The Cardigans' Nina Persson.
It's a simple film really and just clocks in at about an hour and 25 mins. Well, it's really about two people meeting on a hot summer year in Stockholm. The usual: they press their hands together but was hindered by a glass. Then they go out. Do something fun, like swimming--when he can't swim. They're together, but they've never been so alone. (Much like Ben Fold's song Brick)
It's a light film. But teh overall tone of the film really fits in. Much like Control, the film is in black and white (which also helps a lot in order to achieve the lonely tone), except for one dream sequence. Nina Persson makes a fitting acting debut. It's passable. Amir Chamdin's queasiness translates a lot and brings depth to his character. I think the camerawork was really the reason why the film was beautiful to look at.
The camera moved so well with the characters. Oh and I do believe they used lenses from the 70's to achieve what they desired. Well, it's nice. The ending made us a bit disgruntled though. It was a big what the fuck moment. Was it a way of saying that she's gone, or a way of saying that she wasn't really there? Tyler Durden.
[omg! Yan just texted me na nakita daw ako sa TV because of yesterday's media frenzy! IMMA STAR!]
So, right after the God Willing screening, it was timmmeeee! GRINDHOUSE DAY 2, Quentin's Directing Master Class. We were 2nd in line, the girls in front of us forgot to get their tickets, but they got it anyway. So, yeah. Good thing the reserved seats were followed! We got our seats!!!! First row beybeh! That's why I got a couple of decent pictures. The camera I bought was sloppy. If I was seated at the third or fifth row, I'd be doomed.
Quentin was already inside talking to the people. Everyone wanted a picture with him. Everyone wanted their Quentin gear signed, but Quentin refused to do so. I saw Quark Henares and Lyle Sacris talking to him and shaking hands with Quentin Tarantino. Then Quark stood beside us, Yey!
Francis and I introduced ourselves. Nakilala niya ata kami from pestering his blog. Haha. Ayaw daw magpa-autograph ni Quentin. Kahit picture ayaw. So yon, ako na lang nagpa-autograph sa kanya. HOOORAY! Thanks, Quark. Quentin and Quark, my god--my two favorite directors all in one room.
Haha, I'm sorry ang fanboy ko.
Anyway, It was a rush meeting Quark. I am terribly in love with his films. Sayang nga yung Keka lang na DVD yung nadala ko. I forgot to bring my Gamitan DVD. I also have a Sex Drive VCD and a 1st time vcd! Sana napapirmahan ko kay Lyle Sacris.
FANBOOOOOOOOY!
Anyway, yon. It took a long while before everybody got seated. Jan Parma got their seats behind Quentin's rumored Girlfriend. A Fil-Am actress. She starred in Larry Clark's controversial Ken Park. Apparently, she's friends with Michel Gondry and the likes. She's an actress and a writer of films and all sorts. Oh yeah, she was really bitchy, too.
Anyway, click HERE! and HERE! to get nude pictures of her. hahaha! WTG!
Thus begins Quentin's Master Class. He told the audience not to ask questions about "how was working with...." basta lahat ng questions daw dapat ay tungkol sa Filmmaking. Quark asked the first question. But I forgot about it. Hahah.
Anyway, most of the questions can be answered just by reading Quentin's wikipedia page. But you know, he's amazing. He managed to make the answers so interesting that your nose would bleed in an instant. Kidding. He answered them so well. I was never bored with everything that he said.
We went overtime because the event started late anyway. Everybody was just listening to everthing he said. He told us stories about how Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu never wanted to get hurt and were afraid during the filming of Kill Bill. His struggles and fears in making a film. How he loves asian films particularly Filipino films. Everything. It was just amazing to listen to him talking for 3 hours.
Nakakapagod din siyang panuorin. He kept walking back and forth, paulit-ulit parang tennis match nga yung pinapanuod namin eh. Hay. It was fucking unbelievable. I was so glad he went here. Francis and I really love the guy.
After the Master Class, Francis went off to see Pen-Ek's Ploy. I went to see Pulp Fiction in the big screen, for the first time!
I first saw Pulp Fiction on VHS. My dad would send us VHS tapes that he rented from Japan. I think they had an option to buy the tapes cheaper after the rent it. So he always buy the tapes and sends it here for me to watch.
Normally, he would send me Disney flicks. Homeward Bound, Aladdin, Pocahontas. Then he'd send Mom some romantic comedies. Classics like St. Elmo's Fire, Say Anything (which she doesn't watch anyway.) So, one time, Dad's package comes and then new flicks came about. There it was... Pulp Fiction.
I was lucky because I had a TV and a VHS player inside my room (which I still have until now) back then. The front cover had Uma Thurman holding a cigarette with that awesome look in her eyes. I had to see it.
So there I was, 6 years old. Innocent and pure. Watching Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Of course I never understood it. But I liked hearing the word "fuck." I'd laugh everytime I'd hear it. Suffice it to say, I loved Pulp Fiction even though I never understood it. I'd watch it once a month, when I was a kid. I had nothing to do back then. I was just a single child. My mom's always working so nobody caught me watching Pulp Fiction.
Often times, I'd reenact scenes from teh film. I still remember when there's a brownout. I'd get a spoon and melt the candlewax. I'd watch it sizzle and melt at teh spoon. Much like John Travolta's shooting up scene. Haha.
I'd get some of my mom's powder and her credit cards and allocate the powder. But I don't shoot it up my nose. I wonder why all the scenes I remembered were all teh drug scenes? Hindi naman ako adik.
At around 8 or 9. I finally understood it. Evidently, it became a hugeeee influence in my life. I wanted to make that masterpiece. So yeah, It was a big thing for me to see it inside a cinema. Usually, I'd see it in my room. With my fake DVD copy and watch some of it's special features. Sometimes, I prefer to watch the VHS tape I had with all the Japanese subtitles running through the screen. But no matter how I watch Pulp Fiction. It's still a fucking good movie.
Watching it in the cinema was an amazing experience. Not only do you hear people reciting Ezekiel 25:17 with you, but the overall excitement that we all had inside the theater. It's as if we've only seen Pulp Fiction now. The jokes and the memorable lines never got old. I still love: "Any of you fucking pricks moooove, and I'll execute every motherfucking one of you." Freeze. Then Miserlou starts. AMAAAAZINGG.
After Pulp Fiction, I met up with Francis outside. Apparently, Autohystoria was never shown because of problems with the print. I think it was missing. So Francis just hanged outside the cinema. Death Proof started. And god, we were excited for Quentin's new film.
The one that we're seeing today is teh extended cut that was shown in Cannes. Split from the Grindhouse form, Quentin added 27 minutes of footage to bring Death Proof to a whole.
My god, how do I even begin with Death Proof.
Of course, the opening shot and you'll get Quentin's fascination with bare feet. The campiness was there. Cheesy dialogue, bad acting, bad camera work. But it was so good, it wasn't really bad. Or it was so bad, it was good. Or whatever.
Anyway, it was great to see what Quentin's response/homage to his favorite films. Of course there are references to other Quentin films. The Pussy Wagon masked as a yellow Mustang on this one.
It was fun too seeing the film with such a large audience, and the audience that gets the film for what it is. I couldn't help but cheer whenever there's a bloody death. The story totally blew me away. From a slasher flick, it instantly turned into something else (something that I wouldn't dare spoil) But it was a fucking great movie. Definitely, the experience watching Death Proof is the best experience I've ever had inside the cinema. It was fucking good to cheer and scream and laugh at the screen. GOD. It was fucking awesome.
Zoe Bell was great. In fact, the entire cast did well. As usual, Quentin's characters were well-written. Even though it's unusual to see long conversations in an exploitation film. Hey, It's the Tarantino way. The conversations were never boring anyway. It keeps you interested and builds up everything until the amazing finale. Dude, I promise I won't spoil anything. But Quentin gave one of the best car chases ever filmed. I just wished the cheerleader driving the mustang zoomed into teh screen with Kurt Russel's car and teh other one driven by the girls. It would've been amazing to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead's character kick so much ass. She's hot.
After the film, I knew today was over. It was fucking amazing. Francis, Parma and I had a smoke before parting ways. It was one of the quietest bus rides home evar. I think both of us were stunned at how amazing Death Proof and today was. Well, at least we've been injected with so much energy. Francis plans to shoot his first experimental short next week. I'll edit it and Tomi would be the Director of Photography. AMAZING? Oh fuck yes.
HAHAHAH! Hmm.. I think I'll push through my b-movie slasher flick. Hollywood has HOLLOWEEN, and APRIL FOOL'S, and FRIDAY THE 13th, and BLACK CHRISTMAS. Well. I am gonna write about LINGGO NG WIKA. Plot is simple, mad high school student-killer's on the loose. Killing all the konyos in his class. Yun pa lang. Basta, gusto ko lang pumatay ng mga konyo.
"OMG! LIKE! I LOOOOVE KILL BILL." Yeah, right. Yun lang ata napanuod mo eh. Volume 1 lang. KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL! Oh yeah.
Really, much thanks to Cinemanila for bringing Tarantino here in the Philippines. And Quark for signing my Keka DVD. AWESOMEEEEEEEE!!!!