Cinema of the Philippines
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The cinema of the Philippines has a history that can be traced back to the early days of filmmaking in 1897, when a theater owner named Pertierra screened imported moving pictures.
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[edit] History
[edit] The Pre-War Era
The first film produced by a Filipino is Jose Nepomuceno's Dalagang Bukid (1919).
The first sound film in Tagalog is Ang Aswang (1930), a vampire movie inspired by Philippine folklore.
Some popular movie villains of the Pre-War Era:
MALE: FEMALE: 1. Bert Leroy 1. Nati Rubi 2. Fernando Royo 2. Etang Discher 3. Ben Rubio 3. Patring (Monang) Carvajal 4. Rolando Liwanag 4. Naty Bernardo 5. Exequiel Segovia 6. Ben Perez 7. Teddy Benavides 8. Manuel Barbeyto 9. Ernesto la Guardia
10. Jaime G. Castellvi 11. Alfonso Carvajal 12. Jose Troni 13. Nardo Vercudia 14. Andres Centenera 15. Fermin Barva
[edit] The Second World War
During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), some Filipino directors were commissioned to make propaganda pictures.
During World War II, almost all actors and actresses of these war years depended on stage shows only, mostly on major Manila movie theaters, to provide for their livelihood.
[edit] The 1950s
The 1950s was the so-called First Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, mainly because at this time, the Big Four studios (LVN Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures, Premiere Productions and Lebran International) were at the height of their powers in filmmaking, having employed master directors like Gerardo de Leon, Eddie Romero and Cesar Gallardo and housing the biggest stars of the industry that day. The Big Four has been also churning out an estimated total of 350 films a year. This number made the Philippines second only to Japan in terms of film productions a year, which made it one of the busiest and bustlign film communities in Asia. Nevertheless, Hollywood still has its grips on the Filipino audience mainly because all those 350 films are only shown in two theaters, namely Dalisay and Life theaters in Manila.
The premiere directors of the era were (but not limited to):
- Gerardo de Leon
- Gregorio Fernandez
- Eddie Romero
- Lamberto V. Avellana
- Armando Garces
- Cirio H. Santiago
- Cesar Gallardo
The biggest stars of the era were (but not limited to):
- Rogelio de la Rosa
- Jaime de la Rosa
- Carmen Rosales
- Jose Padilla, Jr.
- Arsenia Francisco
- Ben Perez
- Ben Rubio
- Fred Peñalosa
- Rosa del Rosario
- Paraluman
- Oscar Moreno
- Carlos Salazar
- Manuel Conde
- Tony Santos
- Fred Montilla
- Oscar Keese
& Bert Olivar
- Anita Linda
- Carol Varga
- Evelyn Villar
- Tessie Agana
- Linda Estrella
- Alicia Vergel
- Cesar Ramirez
- Ruben Rustia
- Lauro Delgado
- Eddie Garcia
- Gloria Romero
- Nida Blanca
- Nestor de Villa
- Luis Gonzales
- Van de Leon
- Gil de Leon
- Mila del Sol
- Rita Gomez
- Lolita Rodriguez
- Charito Solis
- Rosa Mia
- Rosa Rosal
- Delia Razon
- Eddie del Mar
- Efren Reyes
- Johnny Reyes
- Nena Cardenas
- Chichay
- Tolindoy
- Bayani Casimiro
- Bentot (Cosca)
- Vicente Liwanay
- Pugo
- Tugo
- Patsy (Pachochay)
- Lopito
- Tugak
- Pugak
- Billy "Surot" Vizcarra
- Chiquito
- Oscar Obligacion
- Dely Atayatayan
- Andoy Balumbalunan
- Levi Celerio
The Big Four studios produced most of the classics of Philippine cinema during this era. LVN Pictures, a studio specializing in superproductions, for example, pioneered the classics Anak Dalita (1956), Badjao (1957) and Biyaya ng Lupa (1959); Sampaguita Pictures, a studio whose majority of productions are high-gloss, glamorous picture, helmed Maalaala Mo Kaya (1954); Premiere Productions, a studio that released most of the action films fo the decade, produced Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (1952), Salabusab (1954) and Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960). Due to the high production values of the motion pictures during this era, these movies started to win awards internationally. In 1952, Genghis Khan became the first film to be shown in the Cannes Film Festival, a feat that would not eb defeated until the 1970s. In 1956, Anak Dalita copped the Golden Harvest Award (Best Picture) of the prestigious Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
In addition, the stars of these productions also won international awards. Lilia Dizon, for example, may have not romped away with the FAMAS Best Actress Award fo the time, but the prince of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, presented her with the Best Actress Award from the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in 1954. Leroy Salvador was also recognized in his performance as Best Supporting Actor for the film Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay (1953) in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
During this era, the first award-giving bodies were also established. The first award-giving body, the Maria Clara Awards of the Manila Times Publishing, Inc, was composed of film publicists and writers who voted for the exemplary achievements of Filipino motion pictures for a certain calendar year. In 1953, the Maria Clara folded up to give way to the establishment of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, the Philippines' answer to the United States' Academy Awards. With this, the Philippines set a trend in Asian cinema; FAMAS was the first film industry award-giving body in Asia.
FAMAS has awarded its most coveted Best Picture Award to the following films:
- 1952 Sawa sa Lumang Simboryo (Premiere Productions and M.J. Vistan Productions)
- 1953 Huk sa Bagong Pamumuhay (LVN Pictures)
- 1954 Salabusab (Premiere Productions)
- 1955 Higit sa Lahat (LVN Pictures)
- 1956 Luksang Tagumapay (LVN Pictures)
- 1957 Kalibre .45 (Premiere Productions)
- 1958 Hanggang sa Dulo ng Daigdig (Premiere Productions)
- 1959 Biyaya ng Lupa (LVN Pictures)
[edit] The 1960s
Characterized by the so-called bomba pictures, James Bond and western spin-offs.
[edit] The 1970s to early 1980s
Touted as the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema, this was the period of the avant-garde filmmakers. Some of the notable films are as follows:
- Lino Brocka directs Stardoom (1971), Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974), Maynila: sa mga kuko ng liwanag (1975).
- Ishmael Bernal directs Pagdating sa Dulo (1971) and Himala (1981).
- Gerardo de Leon's Banaue (1975).
- Mike de Leon's Itim (1976) and Batch '81 (1982).
- Peque Gallaga's Oro, Plata, Mata (1982).
- Marilou Diaz-Abaya's Moral (1982) and Karnal (1983).
- Eduardo Mayo's Kumander Sumulong (1984) and Lungsod: Matira-Matibay (1982).
[edit] Late 1980s to 1990s
In 1993, a television station ventured in movie production. ABS-CBN's Star Cinema produced (in cooperation with Regal Films) Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite, Laking Tondo.
[edit] 2000 to present
While formulaic romantic comedies have comprised majority of mainstream releases, independent filmmakers spur a renewed interest in Philippine movies with mostly digital films. Among the works:
- Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005) by Aureus Solito, Ilusyon (2005) by Paolo Villaluna , Sa North Diversion Road (2005) by Dennis Marasigan and Todo Todo Teros (2006) by John Torres.
[edit] Filipino films
[edit] Further reading
- Tioseco, Alexis (April 19, 2006). "A Conversation with John Torres". Criticine.
- Tioseco, Alexis (January 30, 2006). "A Conversation with Lav Diaz". Criticine.
- Tioseco, Alexis (January 30, 2006). "A Conversation with Ato Bautista". Criticine.
- Wee, Brandon (November, 2004). "The Decade of Living Dangerously: A Chronicle from Lav Diaz". Senses of Cinema.
- Vera, Noel (2000). "An End of the Millennium List: Thirteen Important Filipino Films". Full Alert Film Review.
[edit] See also
- World cinema
- Asian cinema
- Southeast Asian cinema
- East Asian cinema
- Philippine Actors
- History of cinema
- Philippine Movie Award-giving Bodies
- Metro Manila Film Festival
- Philippine television
- List of Philippine actors
- List of Philippine actresses
- List of Philippine directors
- List of Philippine language films
- List of Philippine movie studios
[edit] External links
- Filipino-language titles at the Internet Movie Database
- Tagalog-language titles at the Internet Movie Database
- Criticine Philippines - Philippine page of Southeast Asian Cinema journal Criticine
 Cinema of the Philippines |
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