Digital Fortress

The Oscar nominations has been announced and while several people are outraged because The Dark Knight (TDK) was snubbed of the Best Picture and Best Director nomination. I don’t find it surprising because in my opinion, TDK is just a great action movie with terrific performances but not necessarily a good “oscar” worthy movie.

 Just imagine it’s not Batman and it’s not based on a comic book. Being unfamiliar with the comic books, I found the plot messy. It’s all over the place. The action sequence in the film’s finale is badly edited even confusing. They rely on deus ex machina to explain certain points in the film. I’ve seen the movie twice. One in IMAX and one in a standard theater. I must say it becomes a better film on my second viewing because I think I have accepted the fact that the Joker can do anything. While it was a good movie, I just don’t think it’s Best Picture worthy…

 I’ve only seen one of the five Oscar Best Picture nominees and that’s Benjamin Button. I was hoping Slumdog Millionaire will make its way to the Philippines but as of now, no release date has been set. Some say the Benjamin Button was a long movie. It was, really. At 2hrs and 45 mins, it’s a really long film that spans Benjamin’s lifetime (and more). But it don’t find it boring at all. I think it’s because I was patiently waiting on what happens to him as he grow younger. It affected me somehow. Hearing the last lines of the movie:

Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance.

I come to think of my life as a programmer. If the movie says: Some know software development. I would say, “No, that’s definitely not me. And I can’t imagine my old self being in IT professional for the rest of my life. I think IT is not for me anymore…

It’s been months since my last post. And nakalimutan ko na nga na may blog pa pala ako. I’ve been very busy living my life as a programmer at day and a videographer (at day too) and an internet surfer at night. 12 hours at the office is VERY normal for most of us. And when I arrived home at about 8pm, I’ll be accused of being “early”.

For year 2009, I want to revive this blog by posting more often. I’ll be focusing on movies, soundtracks and my frustration as a filmmaker more than anything else. I don’t want to talk much about work. I’ve had enough. Hahaha…

So, in this last post of 2008, I’ll enumerate the things (even the smallest ones) that made each of the days below memorable. In case you’re wondering where I got those dates, I’ve been keeping a “digital diary” on a small Excel sheet on my office computer. They are not actually in narrative form…they’re just little phrases that reminds me of something quite ‘memorable’ on a partilcular day (these are free of work-related stuffs). This allow me to remember simple things that I usually forgot due to my usual office work

On the first few months of 2008, the success of my short film, “My Girl” still echoed. Our visiting clients and on shore counterparts have seen it and I was glad that they at least understood it even without English subtitles. Similarly, in town hall meetings, videos that I’ve done in 2007 were still shown while waiting for the atendees. I’m actually sick of seeing it (and I think for all those who’ve seen it a dozen times). Hehhe… So I was thinking, I should create another one, if given the opportunity.

On early March, a senior exec in our project (whose name is also Alvin) approached me and asked me to do a series of 3-minute videos to be shown at Accenture Leaders’ Congress at Renaissance Hotel that will promote “LeAP Philippines!” programs. Because of my officemate’s unparalleled support, I was able to cast them as actors. The best part of this ‘job’ is that I was paid well. Php7K in fact. With that, I was able to treat my colleagues to dinner!

Mar 13: Inspiring Others In Workplace video shoot (LeAP)
Mar 15: video shoot Leader’s Haven, Intramuros (LeAP)
Mar 24: deliver 3 videos at Renaissance Hotel for the Accenture Leader’s Congress.It was said that Manny Pacquiao was on the hotel too the morning I gave the CDs to the event organizers.April 13: uploaded My Girl bloopers on YouTube…to make use of the unused footages as wellFrom May-September, I became very busy. My office duties on my left hand and handycam on the right as I join the Colgate music video contest, Cream-O video contest, an internal Accenture video contest, Vision to Action (V2A), re-submitting my old videos for the Accenture Global Employee Video contest as well as producing short film interviews for the projet All-Hands Meeting. See my last post, dated May 25 for more info on the Colgate Fresh Confidence entry.

May 8: Uploaded Colgate Entry
May 22: Video became #1
May 27: Our manger gave me a heads up on new video contest
May 28: Received 7,000Php worth of GCs from LeAP Philippines!
Jun 10: Alfoncy’s Colgate panel interview
Jul 7: Alfoncy told me that he won the contest
Jul 8: It was finally announced on the Colgate Fresh Confidence website that Alfoncy is the grand winner
Jul 9: Shot V2A running scenes in the office
Jul 16: Alfoncy’s contract signing
Jul 18: All-Hands Meeting
Jul 20: Watched Allfoncy’s rehearsal at Unitel studios, finished editing V2A video
Jul 21: Recvd GC for My Girl, decided to join Cream-O
Aug 10: Report from Kuya that the Alfoncy’s Colgate commercial was finally aired WHILE we were filming our first video entry for Cream-O.
Aug 17: overexcited over the 100K winning from Colgate, I bought an LG Home Theater system from my credit card.
Aug 19: Uploaded 1st Cream-O video on the Creamoholics website. (Original video page here.)
Aug 25: Shot another Cream-O video, this time with my sisters. (Original video page here)
Aug 27: 2nd Cream-O video uploaded
Sep 1: My father’s 37-inch Sony Bravia arrived.
Sep 4: Email from V2A commitee inviting us to join the Global Video Contest
Sep 6: Re-edited Just Another Day video and Inspiring Others in the Workplace vid (first shown in Leaders’ Congress)
Sep 12: Upload videos to the Global contest, Alfoncy received the Php100K cheque
Sep 14: Cream-O email notification to get the consolation prize
Sep 15: Uploaded V2A video to Global site
Sep 16: Global video contest official begins
Sep 20: ACN hired me to cover the International Coastal Cleanup Day at Manila Bay.
Sep 22: “Kwentuhan Tayo” video shoot, for next All-Hands meeting
Sep 25: All Hands Meeting: my videos were projected to a movie theater screen at Robinson’s Pioneer
Sep **: Email from an Indian “fan”.
Oct 6: Todd’s email (An onshore client, citing appreciation of the V2A video)
Oct 21: Todd visited Manila (Todd: “You’re going to Hollywood…”)
Oct 29: Email from Amy Stuart (a senior manager from Chicago), asking tips on making videos Although, I didn’t win the Cream-O contest because of the lack of votes and not lucky enough to win the Global Employee video contest (lack of user votes too), I was happy enough because of what I learn on those little ‘films’. And also, I was overwhelmed over the response of other people (on shore employees) from my work thru the comments posted on the videos.

Months later, I was contacted by the Accenture Faces (an event to raise money for our custodians)commitee after seeing my work on the Global Video contest. Although I wasn’t paid at all for the work, let’s say it’s my way of gving back :).

Nov 15: Accenture Faces video shoot…
Nov 18,19,21,26,27: Avanade Idol recording studio video shoot
Nov 20: Faces video uploaded
Nov 26: Release of Avanade Idol video
Dec 4: Another Faces shoot (for the wildcard candidate)
Dec 6: Another filming for Accenture Faces
Dec 8: Accenture Christmas Party, my videos were shown heheheAs much as I wanted to enter as many contests as possible, I just didn’t have enough time.
Missed opportunities: HBO’s Flight of the Conchords contest, Buhay Coke contestMOVIES:
Despite of my busy year, I still find time to watch the following movies…
They’re few…compared to most film geeks out there…
Jan 14: I Am Legend
Jan 19: Pan’s Labyrinth
Jan 21: Sweeney Todd [First time I saw The Dark Knight trailer on the big screen…I remember getting goosebumps on The Joker’s laugh to the point that I can still hear him laughing as I put myself to sleep on the night. On the following day, I woke up with the news the Heath Ledger is dead ]
Jan 30: Cloverfield (watched twice)
Feb 16: Little Miss Sunshine (Star Movies) –> a fun movie even though I haven’t seen the first 20 minutes
Feb 26: Juno –> watched it out of curiosity…didn’t like it much…overhyped i guess…the dialogue feels forced to make the movie “funny”.
Mar 21: Terabithia (again)
Mar 23: Enchanted
Apr 7: Beowulf (DVD)
Apr 12: Simpson’s Movie [Spiderpig!], Little Manhattan [that kid from Terabithia again], No Country for Old Men [thrilling but…not my type of movie]
April 25: GdT to direct Hobbit
May 11: IronMan [I missed the company sponsored movie night weeks earlier to give way for the Albay trip, Colgate filming!)
Jun 1: The Descent
Jun 6: Narnia: Prince Caspian (ACN movie night and with sisters)
Jun 7: Zodiac
Jun 8: The Orphanage (one of the best horror films, along the ranks of Blair Witch and Sixth Sense)
Jun 14: Kung Fu Panda
Jun 25: The Incredible Hulk
Jun 30: Wanted
Jul 22(?): Wall-E
Jul 26: The Dark Knight (one in IMAX, one in standard theater werks later)
Aug 18: Frequency and United 93
Aug 25: Knocked Up
Sep 11: Hellboy II
Oct 2: Spiderwick Chronicles
Oct 5: King Kong Ext Ed weekend, devoured all the extras found on DVD
Oct 18: Atonement (I cried so hard over the film’s denounement…good thing I saw it alone…hehe)
Oct 22: Sunshine (again on DVD)
Oct 25: High School Musical 3 [Ailen and I have free tickets, I was bored] , Trophic Thunder [I didn’t enjoy it much since I was still ‘traumatized’ from the HSM3 experience]
Nov 2: The Mist [boo! on the ending]
Nov 8: Charlotte’s Web, Disturbia, National Treasure 2
Dec 6: 2001: A Space Odyssey [finally…i can say that I’ve seen it…]
Dec 13: The Prestige [worth a second viewing…]
Dec 21: The Waterhorse [WETA Digital’s great looking creature]
Dec 27: Slither [zombie-comedy along the ranks of PJ’s early works and Shaun of the Dead]TRIPS:
Jan 15: Global Fun Carnival
Feb : Outreach Program
Mar 2-4: Palawan
Apr 20: Puerto Galera
May 3-4: Albay trip
May 10-11: Subic (Project summer outing)
Jun 20: June bday celebrants
Jun 28: Fun Run at UP
Jul 19: Tagaytay
Sep 13: Enchanted Kingdom
Oct 11-12: La Union
Nov 28-Dec 1: Baguio, Kuya’s wedding at Baguio Cathedral

OTHER EVENTS:
Jan 26: bought original LOTR DVD at Ebay (exact 6th anniversary of my first viewing of Fellowship of the Rings) [finally….someone at ebay sold them…]
Feb 9: Wisdom tooth extracted! Ouch!
Jul 3: My Zen player arrived [80% original soundtracks, 20% on ‘conventional music’..at least no one even dared to borrow my player bwahahha]
Aug 23: Confirmation rites… [22 na ako! Ngayun lang ako nakumpilan LOL!]
Aug 26: Lost my Motorola L7 celfone on the bus.
Sep 1: Bought new phone (Motorola L72 or L9)

Overall, it’s a great year. I’m looking forward to more surprises next year!

August 2007: I joined the multimedia contest for my company. At first I have no intention of joining because I know I can’t persuade my friends to appear on cam and I thought no one is interested but me. Oddly, it’s my friend who sent me a PM to join so I said “why not?”

The theme of the contest is all about “A day in the office” stuff so me and my friends started shooting some footage about our everyday lives in the office. Because we don’t have a video cam, we settled for a still camera (w/ video capture as an extra feature) with a 16MB memory stick to create this 3-minute presentation. This cam can capture a maximum of 40 seconds so we need to upload the footage to the laptop when we ran out of memory. We filmed it in the span of 2 weeks. Few minutes during lunch and after office hours. Wheew.. But it paid off. We won both the voter’s choice and major prize for the movie trailer style of our presentation. Php15K worth of GCs from PowerBooks and Php15K worth of Sodexho GCs. Nine of us shared the prize but as the editor/cameraman/director/writer, I deserved more. Hehehe… Unfortunately, I can’t upload it on Youtube because it’s for internal use only. I got certain amount of recognitions after that in our project. I used the prize to upgrade my hard drive just in case I need to do more editing stuffs. True enough offers kept coming. And I embraced them all. Hehehe…Fortunately my father (working on Saudi) sent me a Sony Handycam. I didn’t actually request for it…but it came.

After making presentations for all-hands meetings etc, there’s a film fest theme for one of our Christmas Parties. And because I have a “reputation” for doing it, looking for cast member has become an easy task. And on that December night, we swept all the major awards and a total cash prize of Php17K. Php2K for me for my very first Best Director Award. You can see my movie “My Girl” on my Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/tiamzy (The cheesiness is intentional…heheh)

And just recently, I’ve been approached once again to create presentations for one of the company’s leadership organization. Take note: “with pay”. The videos were shown as intermissions during the company’s leaders’ congress held at the ballroom hall of a Makati Hotel. Nice! Ibang level na…parang pwede na talagang sideline.

Sometimes I’m wondering that if ever I got bored over my current job, I’ll try looking for one on this field where I know I excel and most importantly enjoy. I daydream of becoming a successful pinoy filmmaker someday. Sabi ko nga sa About Me section ko sa Friendster: “Frustrated filmmaker” ako. I really want to be one. In fact, gusto kong i-take up initially sa U.P. yung Film and AudioVisual Communication kaya lang ayaw ng nanay ko kasi kailangan daw mayaman ka kung kukunin ang course na yun. So I settled for ComSci hoping that I’ll someday crossover from being a programmer into a visual effects designer. I’ve been fascinated in visual effects since I saw Godzilla when I was in Grade 6. But then, after watching The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, I realized that visual effects is not enough to tell a story. From then on, subconsciously, I always wanted to make a movie like that. It’s the one movie that changed me, really… and I became obsessed with it.

From then on, all I can do is wait for opportunities. I joined the school fillmfest once. And I believe luck is on my side after winning the multimedia contest. Kaya yun…napag-isip ko na baka yun na nga ang future ko. So I started to daydream. Baka ako pala ang magre-revolutionize sa Philippine movies. The one that will make people like me to go and see a quality a pinoy-made movie. A movie that doesn’t capitalize on the commercial value of the actors but by the movie itself. That’s just one of my dreams. Kaya lang sa current job ko, mukhang malayong marating yun unless I’m lucky enough to be on the right place at the right time. I’m just dreaming big, I know. I’ll better be ready when the big opportunity came…

I saw Stardust last week and I have to say that it’s the most entertaining movie that I’ve seen so far this year (followed by Ratatouille). It’s even better than all the summer blockbusters combined. I just know that it is based from Neil Gaiman’s work but I have no idea what it is all about. But when I finally saw it, I immediately rrecommended it to my sisters and watched it again with them.

The technical aspects of the film are also great. I really like the camera work, the swooping shots (eg. from The Wall to Stronghold) and the-feeling-that-you-are-there-shots that are best experience on the big screen. The special effects are not that magnificient but it’s enough to tell the story.

The great thing about this movie is that it is something fresh from the fantasy genre. It’s not at all that serious. It’s a bit unconvential and yet charming. There’s no complex background story, no good vs. evil war and no sequels. It’s a light movie, one of those movies na nakakalimot talaga ng problema sa buhay. It’s pacing is fast, the plot is easy to follow but also unpredictable. This is a really good movie but I wonder why it flopped in the U.S. box-office. My best guess is the poor marketing. They are selling the actors and not the story.

Speaking of actors, the movie is well-casted except for Claire Danes who, as she becomes older, also becomes uglier…not to mention that half of the Filipino people hate her because of his comment on Manila years ago. The rest of the cast is perfect and Robert De Niro’s Captain Shakespeare is the one character to watch out for. He delivers one of the hilarious moment in the film.

As a fan of film music, I know a good film score when I hear one. The music from Ilan Eshkeri, a composer I haven’t heard before, is a pleasant surprise. I immediately grab a copy of the soundtrack and immensely enjoyed it. It’s a good listenng experience and shares three common themes from LOTR. The Stardust OST is a decent score while I wait for the release of Return of the King: Complete Recordings (November). Hehehe…

I seldom endorse a movie to my sisters to the point na ililibre ko sila para lang mapanood nila sa big screen ang movie. Stardust is one of them.

Hanggang ngayun nasusuka pa rin ako sa mga Filipino films. I appreciate some of them pero yung karamihan talaga puro patapon lang at halatang ginagawa lang just to make money. I’m sure independent films are much better pero hindi ako nagkakaron ng chance makanood kahit isa man lang.

Tapos wala ng ibanh genre kundi romantic movies featuring the popular love teams na kahit ilang beses mang pagtambalin ay hindi pa rin nagsasawa ang mga tao. Ang nakakainis pa, lahat ng mga title ng movie ay galing sa kanta or yung title mismo ng soundtrack. Galing…napaka-creative! Sobra. At least assured sila na pag kumita ang movie, kikita din ang soundtrack. Ni hindi nga original yung mga songs e..puro naman revival naman.

Forevermore, Got 2 Believe, Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, Till There Was You, All My Life, Can This Be Love, Don’t Give Up on Us, Close to You, All About Love, You Are the One,First Day High, You Got Me, I Will Always Love You, Paano Kita Iibigin, Moments of Love, Till I Met You, I’ve Fallen for You atbp. (Buti naman natapos na ang lugar series: Milan, Dubai)

Just recently, isang love story ang ipinalabas sa sine starring Aga Muhlach and Maricel Soriano. Ang title nya, parang hindi na nag-attempt mag-isip ang mga filmmakers. Nung nakita ko yung trailer sa TV, akala ko nag na narrate pa rin yung voice over, yun pala sinabi na nya yung title.

At kung hindi naman romantic movie, horror naman. Halata namang gaya lang sa mga Japanese movie e. Sa totoo lang, manhid na ako sa mga horror films. Kabisado ko na kung san ka gugulatin. I’m sure iba ang experience sa sine pero hindi ako magaaksaya ng pera para manood ng horror movie sa sine. Tatawanan ko lang ang mga nakikita kong cliches. Baka mag nitpick lang ako…Heheh…

Pansinin nyo din kung gaano ka creative ang mga poster ng mga Pinoy movies. Kapag horror, lahat ng mga mukha ng artista nakabalandra sa poster, kahit mga hindi kilalang artista. Tapos lahat ng name nila nandun din. Pag romantic film naman, laging magkayakap ang mag ka love team.

At pagdating naman sa trailer ng movie, para mo na ring nalaman ang buong storya na movie sa sobrang haba ng trailer. Minsan umaabot ng 5 minutes. First minute, iintroduce ang mga characters, then maiinlov sila, by the third minute, ipapakita yung conflict…4th minute, resolution at d2 rin ipinapamalas yung mga iyakan part at sa last part naman sasabihin yung mga pangalan ng artista.

Hanggang kumikita ang mga ganitong movie, hindi sila magrereformulate. Sana mag try naman sila ng something new.