FAP LINES UP SILVER ANNIVERSARY PROJECTS

To enhance the celebration of its silver anniversary this year despite its present financial problems, the Film Academy of the Philippines has lined up four major projects as starters. These include the annual Luna awards night, the Kantang-Kanta Concert of award-winning movie theme songs, the Pelikulang Pampanitikan series which will translate into films Filipino literary masterpieces and Salin Gamit, a fair where memorabilia from celebrities will be auctioned or sold.

As to the latest on the 25th Luna Awards night, FAP Director General Leo G. Martinez said that academy citers are already deep at work in preparing their list of film performances and achievements before relaying these to the nominators. These nominators, in turn, will eventually come up with the finalists who will vie for the different categories of the awards. Academy voters will choose the individual winners in either May or June.

Martinez said that though the Luna awards will be the flagship and centerpiece project of this silver anniversary year, the FAP will also be deeply inolved in three other projects which will be extensively discussed hereunder.

KANTANG-KANTA CONCERT

The concert project Kantang-Kanta has already been slated for March 24, tentatively at the Manila Hotel, according to Directors William Mayo and Pablo Vergara who are the coordinators of the project which is partially subsidized by the National Commission of Culture and the Arts.

The concert aims to focus on the immortal movie theme songs and their composers in one glorious night of singing starring personalities in both the film and music industries.

As of February 7, the following have already confirmed their participation in the concert: MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, former Sen. Joey Lina, Gary Valenciano, Lani Mercado, Jolina Magdangal, Kaye Brosas, Yasmien Kurdi, Rufa Mae Quinto, Cesar Montano and Sunshine Cruz, Jericho Rosales and Heart Evangelista, Kayla and Coritha.

The list of award-winning songs to be featured in the concert include immortal classics like the following:

Ang Daigdig Ko’y Ikaw, Kahit Konting Pagtingin and Sapagka’t Kami’y Tao Lamang, by Levi Celerio and Antonio Maiquez;

Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, Kastilyong Buhangin, Misis Mo…Mister Ko, and Paano Ngayon Kung Wala ng Kahapon by George Canseco;

Bituing Walang Ningning, Hanggang Kelan Kita Mamahalin, Kasalanan ang Sambahin Ka, Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap, Madrasta, Maging Akin Ka Lamang, May Minamahal, Oras-Oras, Araw-Araw, and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas by Willy Cruz;

Maging Sino Ka Man, Sinasamba Kita and Tayong Dalawa by Rey Valera; Abandonada, Pangako ng Kahapon and Sana Maulit Muli by Vehnee Saturno; Desperado by Ernani Cuenco; Hindi Kita Malimot by Prof. Josefino Cenizal; Susmaryosep by Tony Cortez and Bakit Ako Mahihiya? by Pablo Vergara.

PELIKULANG PAMPANITIKAN

As to the Pelikulang Pampanitikan project, Director General Martinez said that they plan to come up with the first three films as soon as the NCCA released the financial requirements for at least three pilot ventures. He said that the Academy is hoping to produce several films for the Pelikulang Pampanitkan series during its 25th anniversary this year.

Meetings had already been held for the possible filming of an Ilokano epic poem, Biag ni Lam-ang. A FAP working committee has decided to produce a trilogy of short stories based on Filipino literary materials in the curriculum of the collegiate level as its pilot for the feature film category.

Two other pilots will be simultaneously produced-- for the short film (10 to 15 minute running time) category which will be based on a literary material being taken by high school students; and the shorter film (three to eight minute running time) category which will be based on materials in the elementary level.

As proposed by the FAP, the feature film will have a budget of P2 million, half a million pesos for the short film and P200,000 for the shorter film.

This ambitious FAP project aims to build up a library of films based on literary Filipino masterpieces. Pelikulang Pampanitikan will showcase published literary works by Filipino authors – legends, children’s stories, poems, short stories, novels, plays – literature that are being taught in our elementary, high-school and college levels. These selected Filipino literary works will be interpreted visually in digital format as full-length feature and short films, by selected filmmakers who are also guild members affiliated with the Film Academy of the Philippines.

The finished films will be shown in scheduled exhibitions in theaters in Metro Manila and other key cities in selected provinces with students as the primary targeted viewers. In areas without theaters, mobile exhibitions may also be arranged in coordination with local schools and organizations. Ultimately, the finished films will also be reproduced in VCD to be distributed extensively at popular prices to schools, libraries, to educators, students, to embassies and consulates, and to the general public.

Pelikulang Pampanitikan is an education-directed project that hopes to generate better understanding of and a deeper appreciation for our Filipino literature and their writers. Through this project, we give due recognition to our own Filipino literature and their authors and writers, at the same time that we provide our schools with a video library of literature materials for the students.

The films under the Pelikulang Pampanitikan program will be exhibited in regular theaters in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country. The Department of Education will be requested to provide schools the viewing schedules so teachers and students can be organized to view the films as aid to Literature/English subjects and courses. In areas where no theaters operate, mobile exhibitions may be schedule by the Project Organizers in coordination with the local schools or organizations.

The finished films will become the property of the Film Academy of the Philippines which will take responsibility in their exhibition and promotion. After the prescribed exhibition period, the films will be produced in VCD for sale to interested individuals and institutions.

SALIN GAMIT

The Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival is a cultural exhibit featuring objects owned by celebrities particularly movie stars. The project aims to focus on the Filipino tradition of “pamana” where a valued object is turned over to another person in the form of inheritance. Donors will come from personalities in the entertainment, literature, arts, journalism, government and other fields.

Aside from the exhibit ala-museum cum art gallery, there will be nightly sing-along and concerts with live bands, fashion shows, product launchings, documentaries, film showings and a lot more activities. The month-long festival will culminate in a bidding where the exhibited objects will be sold to the public.

FAP Director General Leo Martinez and Epie Vivas of Brand Review, Inc.

Brand Review, Inc., thru its subsidiary Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival, Inc, is the producer of the event. The memorandum of agreement was recently signed by FAP Director General Leo Martinez and Espie Vivas, Marketing Director of Brand Review, Inc., who is the project manager of the festival at the FAP office on Panay avenue, Q.C.. The MOA signing was witnessed by film directors Jose Carreon and William Mayo, Nick Tayag and Ericson Revilla.

Jose Carreon, Leo Martinez, Espie Vivas, William Mayo, Ericson Revilla, Nick Tayag

The Celebrity Salin Gamit Festival is to be held at Centro Expo at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City from April 8 until May 6, 2007. The public is invited.