I managed a third run in that job, crazy enough, despite swearing Round Two to be the last, and how I somehow even scored a brief stint on radio (“Surprise! The talent provider’s now the talent!”). That one felt like … Continue reading Re-route.
It’s not often that we hear of films so economically made, that no storyboards were used and no scenes had to be deleted. Yet, here we have Latvia’s Straume (English title: Flow), a hit so surprising, it’s now the most … Continue reading Festival Log: FDCP’s A Curation of World Cinema (“Flow”)
The two Asian entries are acquired tastes. Stick around long enough, and you’ll be rewarded. BLACK DOG (China) Stories about man and man’s best friend are dime a dozen, but there’s something uniquely whimsical about Guan Hu’s Black Dog, even … Continue reading FDCP’s “A Curation of World Cinema” (“Black Dog” & “A Traveler’s Needs”)
The opening Arabic text gives the lowdown on the metaphorical tree. In English, it goes: “Ficus Religiosa is a tree with an unusual life cycle. It seeds, contained in bird droppings, fall on other trees. Aerial roots spring up and … Continue reading Festival Log: FDCP’s “A Curation of World Cinema” (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”)
This year’s Western European entries happen to be offbeat coming-of-age tales. The British film follows a teenage girl who discovers her inner power thanks to her peculiar new friend, while the Belgian entry redefines young love. BIRD (United Kingdom) Barry … Continue reading Festival Log: FDCP’s “A Curation of World Cinema (“Bird” & “Young Hearts”)
For the third straight year, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) showcased “a diverse selection of acclaimed internationally-produced films” in the mini-festival aptly titled “A Curation of World Cinema”. Through this initiative, they continually seek to solidify the … Continue reading Festival Log: FDCP’s “A Curation of World Cinema” (“Dahomey”)
I was almost going to miss the live streaming of this year’s Academy Awards, but thanks to certain sudden adjustments, I was able to stay at home for the entirety of the show. Fortunately, the Disney+ streaming didn’t encounter difficulties … Continue reading Anora’s Ascendance and Other 97th Oscar Highlights
I’ve conceded that retail therapy would always make it to the plan. It’s impossible not to in a place like this, where shopping constitutes its lifeblood. True enough, with no stringent itinerary, we found ourselves Lantau-bound once again, this time … Continue reading Hong Kong, My Incidental Healer
I wasn’t exactly the most immersed in MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) before. That changed in 2018, when I landed that social media manager stint in Solar Pictures. Two entries were under their distributorship then. There was the RC de … Continue reading My MMFF Re-Immersion (Part 1)
Whenever I’m asked about my pageant obsession, I tend to answer the “when” and not the “why”. See, I always dreaded the thought of having to rationalize a passion. But if I were to indulge, it all began in the … Continue reading 30 Years a Pageant Geek
I was 13 when I learned about the AFI Top 100. Before then, my exposure to the classics were limited to what free TV had to offer on Sundays and posters on Pancake House’s walls. It was a formative period, … Continue reading The AFI Top 100 Revisited: Memories of a 3-Month Movie Marathon
There’s a reason No Doubt named their 2000 album Return of Saturn. Gwen Stefani was 29 at the time of recording. It was a period she characterized with a strange fixation with Sylvia Plath and the gloomy implications that lurked … Continue reading 10 Years Since My Saturn Return: 39 Realizations
I wish it had a better beginning. Then again, not all stories do, and imagine how dull this recollection would have been had it started on a tranquil note. I was hung up over a guy – something I never … Continue reading A Decade in Divination
It was showbiz reporter MJ Marfori who commented: “[Ito] ang tunay na Plot Twist!” (“This is the real plot twist!”). I guess that’s a way to put it. I was sure I closed the chapter on Artist Relations late last … Continue reading Plot Twist: I’m on Radio
When my health scare decimated our family savings in late 2021, it was time for regular employment again. We had to recover. So, when I learned they were reviving my former role, I had to seize the opportunity. Before my … Continue reading My Artist Relations Journey, Part 2: Sophomore Slump
I once considered it my greatest detour. Come to think of it, I always will. On paper, I was still a copywriter, confined to my desk and accustomed to the sidelines. But then came that series of assignments, where I … Continue reading My Artist Relations Journey, Part 1: The Accidental Hobnobber
There are two ways I can sum up how the last quarter went for me. One’s clinical, which is bound to be laden with medical jargon. The other’s spiritual, which might sound convoluted to some. But sure, I have time … Continue reading Reboot.
Planet Chuckie 