So just finished this film review of the digital film Angels, produced by Star Cinema, written by Ricky Lee, and directed by Ellen-Ongkeko Marfil. Finished it this afternoon, and sent it to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and will just have to wait for feedback. Decided to do a review, after me and my Indie filmmaker friend, JP Carpio (auteur of another brilliant digital film, himself, the first Ilonggo feature Balay Daku) decided that the movie was great, and we ought to help it, and let more people know about it. (The UP screening is just the second screening in the country in more than two years! Imagine that. Star Cinema may not know that they have gold in their hands. The sad thing is the digital film dept. of Star Cinema, had long been shut down.)

Started writing the review (while I was still pumped up), immediately after I got home from Dencio's Katipunan, where we, Ricky Lee and his present and past workshop students, went after the UP Film Center screening -- a reunion of sorts. Just wrote down whatever came to mind; as Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird, would advice, just put down the crap. :)

So while looking for a venue for the article, I talked on the phone to Nestor Torre, editor of Inquirer's Saturday edition, and our facilitator in the Film Development Foundation scriptwriting workshop a few years back. He said that they don't print reviews, but I can interview Ms. Ellen. Wow. So, through Ricky (who also talked to me on the phone, and said that Ellen would love anything that would "push" the film) and his assistant Jerry, I got in touch with Ms. Ellen and was able to schedule an interview Saturday afternoon. After faxing me more info about the film, I asked her a few details about the movie while supervising Debate last night -- she works at the Public Affairs Dept. of GMA. And so this morning and afternoon, I was able to revise and polish my review, and sent it at around 4 pm. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

I'm now preparing for the interview tomorrow. I invited JP, and he said that he will come, too. I feel that this meeting might be the start of something big for digital filmmaking, especially for independents. We can start an organization, perhaps...or just support each other. We need more young artists to start a new wave of Philippine Cinema, which, according to JP, is what Lav Diaz wishes to happen...