Costanilla: ‘Minglanilla’ movie under discussion

INITIATIVE. I commend local film advocate Albert Chan Paran for taking the initiative in organizing the Cebu Filmmakers’ Club (CFC) whose main aim is to encourage aspiring filmmakers to join it via Facebook. So it is actually a Facebook group where local movie enthusiasts, writers, actors, students and even film critics are free to become members. They can help achieve the dream of reviving the Cebuano movie industry, particularly the making and promotion of independent film productions. All well-meaning Cebuanos should support Paran’s initiative. By the way, he organized CFC two years ago but the registration has never stopped, so anyone who is interested to join it may do so by visiting the following websites: facebook.com/groups/cebu.filmmakers or facebook.com/albert.paran. Guild. But Paran did not only create CFC; he also formed the Cebu Filmmakers & Screen Actors Guild, whose membership is open even people abroad. Its second anniversary is on April 23 this year. To celebrate the occasion, the guild will have its acquaintance and anniversary dinner two days earlier (Sunday, April 21) at Joven’s Grill in Cebu IT Park in Lahug. Paran informed me that the assessment is only P260 per person. This amount may be paid during the guild’s monthly meeting on April 7, at 1 p.m., at McDonald’s The Walk in Cebu IT Park. New members are required to bring their 2x2 picture. Challenge. I now challenge all those who espouse the same advocacy as Paran’s to join his guild and be counted. Yes, reviving the local movie industry is indeed a tall order but we have to start somewhere—and now, not later. In a local television interview that I saw, a local congressional bet, who is also a Manila-based talent manager, vowed to help our homegrown filmmakers and actors earn substantially by asking her friends to accommodate them in their productions. Workshop. I also gathered from Paran that next month, there will be a directing and cinematography workshop in Cebu, to be conducted by Manila-based filmmaker Crispo Mojica. To me, this is a very useful activity for the benefit of local movie enthusiasts if only to improve their skill and artistry. Film. But what’s so exciting is this piece of good news that he shared with me. Paran says there’s a US-based movie company whose bigwigs are coming to Cebu next month to discuss with him, as casting director, the filming of a flick titled Minglanilla. According to him, the plot is all about a person from Minglanilla, who decides to pursue the American Dream. I understand that everything still has to be thoroughly discussed. But I believe this film will also be screened abroad, so this will give Cebu’s lovely sights a chance to be seen worldwide. For sure, a number of local artists will be involved in this project, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that the discussion will be fruitful. Singers. Rene Campomanes and Medi Baculpo, who interpreted the grand prize-winning song in this year’s Cebu Popular Music Festival, will have their very first one-hour television guest appearance in Sincerely on My Tv (Destiny cable 28 or Skycable 30) on April 15, at 10-11 p.m. The same program will be replayed the following day, Saturday, 2-3 p.m., and on Sunday, 10-11 p.m. The weekly television show is a production of Hildigrace “Ate Ging” Montesclaros, the lady behind Helping Hands Marketing.