Ang Babae sa Septic Tank and its observations on indie filmmaking

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank and its observations on indie filmmaking

By CYRIL ANNE DAYAO
Bulatlat.com
In recent years, a lot of Filipino films have been representing our country in various international festivals, and these indie films seem to fall into a certain type. Together with the recognitions abroad, indie filmmakers are being criticized for indulging in, as local critics put it, “poverty porn.”

Directed by Marlon Rivera and written by Chris Martinez, Ang Babae sa Septic Tank tells a story of aspiring filmmakers set to create a film worthy of an Oscar. Armed with a screenplay which depicts poverty in the country, they believe that their film will make it big internationally.

A pre-production meeting ensues as director Rainier (played by Kean Cipriano), producer Bingbong (played by JM de Guzman), and production assistant Jocelyn (played by Cai Cortez) brainstorm on how to go about their indie film entitled “Walang-Wala.” Set in an urban poor community, their film is about a mother named Mila who sells one of her many children to a pedophile to survive. They later get to meet the star, Ms. Eugene Domingo (as herself), who expressed her excitement in playing a lead role in an indie project.

Different approaches regarding the execution of the script come up throughout the movie, as these were vividly presented from Jocelyn’s imagination. Turning it into a documentary drama was suggested, where the people who have actually experienced the story are intended to be characters. The story was also visualized as a musical, complete with the production numbers, and the slum community had a participation in singing about their lives’ desperation. A version of it in commercialized melodrama also appeared; aside from the over acting projected by the lead actress, the manifestations of product endorsements in every scene was also unmistakable.

But what Direk Rainier had in mind was a neo-realist film, and concepts such as images of squalor and shaky camera shots were mentioned. He believed his vision was clear as he strongly emphasized how he wanted the film to be realistic..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/08/21/ang-babae-sa-septic-tank-and-its-observations-on-indie-filmmaking/