“FILM”The Art of

Philippine Films

Group IV

HISTORY OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA

The youngest of the Philippine arts, film has evolved to become the most popular of all the art forms. Introduced only in 1897, films have ranged from silent movies to talkies; black and white to color. Outpacing its predecessors by gaining public acceptance, from one end of the country to the other, its viewers come from all walks of life. Nationwide, there are more than 1000 movie theaters. Early in the 1980s, it was estimated in Metro Manila alone, there were around 2.5 million moviegoers. As an art form, it reflects the culture and the beliefs of the people it caters to and most times, is the one who shapes their consciousness.

Philippine film as discussed in this paper includes films made by Filipino people exhibited in this country and possibly in other countries from the 1930s to the 1990s. The films may be silent pictures or talkies, black and white or color. They also include films such as documentaries, animation, experimental or alternative films and other types of films.

This paper has three purposes or objectives. It intends, first of all, to provide a comprehensible background of the art of film in the Philippines. It provides insights on how the Philippine film has influenced Philippine culture and vice-versa. This is done by documenting the important events and important films in the area of film for the past ninety years. Second, it intends to explain the different trends and styles common in the Philippine film. And finally, it concludes with an analysis on how two important events in history, namely World War II and Martial Law altered the course of contemporary Philippine film.

However, this paper is limited to films only from the particular time period of the 1930s to the 1990s. It fails to give a picture of how films were like ever since it started in 1897. This paper is also severely limited due to the unavailability and the lack of materials that discuss thoroughly the history of Philippine film. Film materials for those made during the pre-WWII years are simply non-existent. Data for this paper was gathered from the essays and reviews written by the artists and the critics themselves. It goes without saying that the resources were tested to the limits.

FILM AND ANIMATION AS ART

BRILLANTE MENDOZAHe was the first filipino to win the Best Director in the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival in France for his film, Kinatay (2009). He was born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga. He took Advertising Arts of the then College of Architecture and Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas. He has directed sixteen films since 2005.

MARYO J. DELOS REYES

He is a film and television director from the Philippines. He began his career in the 1970s.He won the Crystal Bear for "Best Feature Film" for Magnifico during the Berlin International Film Festival.

LAURICE GUILLENShe is a Filipino actress, director and college professor. Guillen studied at St. Theresa's College, Cebu City, earned an AB English degree before finishing an MA in Communication at Ateneo de Manila University, where she taught at the college level. She took a television production course under Nestor Torre, in 1967. She then began work as an actress, starring in productions of Mrs. Warren's Profession, before crossing over to film and television work, playing a seductress in Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, and Corazon Aquinoin the drama A Dangerous Life. In 2009 she accepted a role in the indie film Karera, her first role in an independent production.

NOTABLE ACTORS AND ACTRESSESYEAR STARTED ACTRESSES NAME FILMS AND YEAR AWARDS

1940-1950 Carmen Rosales Inspirasyon-1954 FAMAS Award

60 years Gloria Romero Tanging Yaman-2001

Best Actress, FAMAS award, Lifetime Achievement award from MTRCB

Vilma Santos Multi-awarded actress

Nora Aunor FAMAS, Gawad Urian, Asian Film Festival

YEAR STARTED ACTORS NAME FILM AND YEAR AWARDS

1955 Fernando Poe Jr. or FPJ

Anak ni Palaris-1955

1951 Nestor de Villa Amor Mio-1951

1928-2012 Rodolfo Vera Quizon or Dolphy

Buhay Artista-1964 National Artist Award,

AWARD-GIVING BODIES OF FILM

Through these bodies, the best films, actors and actresses, script writers, directors, cinematographers and others involved in film production are recognized and the standards local of filmmaking are challenged and improved.

In 1981, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) was founded through Executive Order 640-A signed by late President Ferdinand Marcos. The academy serves as the umbrella organization of many guilds of Philippine movies and as such, supervises their activities to maintain high standards.

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PRESENTATION