16/04/2023
𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗔𝗝 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻-𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰
Third-year Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BAJ) students exhibited their documentary short films showcasing different genres, cultures, traditions, and social issues at the first-ever Multimedia Journalism Film Festival 2023 at the audio-visual room (AVR) of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Communication (COC), Tuesday, February 7.
Organized by the PUP Journalism Guild, 31 short films were shown as part of the final requirements of the BAJ juniors—3-1D, 3-1N, and 3-2N—on their subject under Prof. Rey Ventura.
For over four years of teaching, this was not the first time Ventura required his students to produce short films as part of their requirements, yet this was the first time a film festival had ever taken place at PUP COC post-pandemic.
According to Ventura, it took three months for the students to finish the documentary films, added that the making was a long step-by-step procedure as students submitted a one-minute preview of a certain scene to evaluate the shots and topic, followed by a three-minute preview and a rough cut.
Behind these short films, students mentioned their difficult experiences such as time conflicts, lack of resources like film equipment, technical problems, and the danger in the environments they chose.
Students also shared their insights on the filmmaking process, commenting on the importance of such experiences.
“Mag-rely lang sa isa’t isa and trust sa capabilities ng kung anong kaya naming gawin. Saka pasensya kasi, 'yon nga, dala rin ng sinabi ko kanina na hindi kami pare-parehas ng time, so, ano 'yon pasensya sa isa’t isa tsaka tiwala na matapos namin din 'yung [film],” said "Mabaya na Pansit sa San Pedro" filmmakers from BAJ 3-1N.
“[Hindi] mahirap kumuha ng subject […] kasi bawat tao may kwento, 'di ba? Bawat tao [ay] may istorya,” Joshtin Sarmiento from BAJ 3-1D shared.
“Siguro isa sa pinaka-natutuhan ko is how wide and diverse art is […] no'ng tinackle namin itong tattoo, mas nalaman ko na hindi lang siya basta tattoo, hindi lang siya basta art; part siya ng culture,” BAJ 3-2N student Tricia Mae Borromeo explained.
“Kailangan po talaga may teamwork, like every member ng group nag-uusap from the start hanggang dulo. Saka nag-e-exert lahat ng same effort. Kasi kung 'yong isa o dalawa sa amin, hindi masyadong nag-exert ng effort, parang hindi magiging maayos lalo 'yong quality… 'yong outcome no'ng project,” answered the "Pangalawang Tahanan ng Sangkabaklaan" filmmakers.
In an interview, Ventura said that the documentaries of BAJ students were impressive, noting that the bond the students shared was one of the extraordinary things in the filmmaking process.
“'Yong napanood natin, kumbaga pangalawa na lang iyon. So 'yong paglikha, napakahirap, pero kahit na napakahirap, naging maganda pa rin 'yong pagkagawa,” he remarked.
He also invited some students from BAJ 2-1D to give feedback on the short documentary films.
“Bawat gawa ay may bagong istilo na ipinakita sa amin as sophomores where we could get inspiration or adapt once we make our own works. Ang mga gawa ay ekspresibo at ekstensibo sa paggamit ng mga materyales o plataporma sa pagbuo ng short films, gayundin sa genre,” said IJ Sarabia, BAJ 2-1D class president.
Sarabia's blockmate, Bella dela Merced also gave remarks on the documentary shorts, “Nakakatuwa po na mapanood 'yong mga short documentary dahil aakalain mong gawa ng mga professional sapagka't napakahusay. Bilang 2nd-year journalism student, nakaka-inspire na masaksihan ang mga likha n'yo at siguradong makatutulong ito para mas mahasa ang aking kaalaman sa paggawa ng mga dokumentaryo.”
READ: https://bit.ly/40Qdcei
Article: Princes Del Corro and Maricel Galut
Graphics: Cathlyn de Raya
