I am now officially in love with Max.
I swear to God, that guy has a tremendously powerful ESP. After DAY 1 in my work a while ago as a trainee, Max and I arranged to meet up at Glorietta where I would supposedly bill him for a cup of coffee as I am supposed to serve as his shrink this night, but then he surprised me with something he hinted at me last Sunday he said he’d give me–he GAVE me Jostein Gaardner’s Sophie’s World, that book I was ABSOLUTELY DYING TO READ, as A GIFT. I swear to God, I was absolutely itching to kiss that guy (err…but then again I wasn’t, he he) due to my deep gratitude a while ago. And to think I was about to bug my friend Juret to ask her boyfriend Ivan for his copy–that guy was the only one I talk weird psych and philo with (but psych and philo, nevertheless) because of his degree in Psych, hence, his recommendation of the book.
I never told Max about it before–at least I don’t remember telling him I am itching for a copy of it. I don’t think we even talked about it, and I don’t think either that I have given Max concretely a notion of me being into such things. But the guy…he just gave me outright the copy, and a new one at that! I mean, these things are 300+ to 400+ in bookstores, and that could have equaled to four Imago gigs in Max’s part.
Wow. I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to repay you for that, Max. Thanks a lot, I swear, thank you.
Pseudo-deep ramblings under the soft lights of the lamp posts
He said almost surprisingly that he didn’t know I was actually memorizing the little details of Intramuros the night I was with him and Tani. I didn’t, I wanted to tell Max, but the idea slipped off my mind due to a topic shift. I was merely describing them details in my own way.
It just amuses me how people tend to describe some things. Actually it reflects a lot of what they are feeling at that moment, or what their notion of life is. I could describe the mild brownish lights inside Starbucks in the cinema area, how they seemed to reflect in a rather pensive way, almost alluring people under its light’s jurisdiction to just cozy up and open their thoughts. The light was not too mild but neither was it bright, it was just enough to complement the brewing ripe coffee beans’ smell wafting in the air. The smiles of people around had a hint of the coffee’s aroma on them, the scent enough to raise the corners of their lips to a friendly reception of a possible chat within them. Coffee just had these stimulating effect on people, and it was obvious on every one as much as it was obvious on the eyes of the girl behind Max who cast a dreamy look at the counter while waiting for her own cup.
Such things I cannot help but describe cheerfully–such things were apt with our current mood. I could have added a hundred more things to say–the way laughter resounded around the fourth floor terrace, or even how everyone’s mood was slightly giddy around the table over at Cafe Havana at Greenbelt where we went to next. But this was my view. To others, the lights I saw might curiously serve as an omen to some disheartened person who might take it as the atmosphere’s way of expressing sympathy for them. Or it could also mean soft lights revving a youngster up for a party later in the night. But tonight, it was just okay to me, nothing much too poetic, but still pretty enough to be appreciated.
He kept on listening to my gibberish talks, almost sincerely. Either Max had his way of making one talk or I was just yakking the night away, I am not exactly sure. I was afraid in fact of talking too much, for I fear he’d finally find out the void underneath all those layers of heavy drapes, a slight penetration might mean a possible recoil. But I was supposed to make him talk, however, it had to take more than just coffee and San Mig Light and Greenbelt. He promised a more giddy Max come Friday; hopefully after a gallon or two of Red Horse or any equivalent.
We talked about a lot of things. My weird family, his sister, some of his past, some of my past, talks over uncommon topics with special people of the same wavelength. He had a lot to tell, it was obvious in his eyes. Had it not been for his job waiting back for him at his office, he would have stayed longer, I suppose.
Tonight, I shall sleep celebrating the luck of finding someone of another probable wavelength. I have another person to look forward to talking to, another person to which ideals and aspirations and realizations are discussed with gusto. Another person to which things other than entertainment shall be conversed with. Life. Thoughts. Achievement. Fulfillment. Graces. Sadness. Love. Hate. Theories. Anything can be possible. Anything other than the usual tiring pretensions.
Tonight, I shall celebrate–I have found yet another gem in Max, which I pray will lead to the discovery of a thousand more other gems outside my usual world. Tomorrow, I shall lament the loss of some gems in my life, all of which have shaped a huge deal in what I am whether I deny it or not. Tomorrow, I shall lament the loss of souls due to the stones I have picked up and kept in my pocket along the way that I lost the gems instead.
OJT FILES 02
From the “Insanity in the City” Files
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Recorded by Trainee #06, JC at around 11:29 PM
RE: DAY 1
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Although we have been expecting an immediate grind on our first day, we were disappointed to learn that the head was absent and therefore, orders for the trainees would not be available until Monday. But we were able to stay for two hours inside the office and were briefed by one of the staffs. Since I am now confident of my internship/training over at this company, I am now disclosing to readers the name of the company I shall work for, however I shall not include names of people inside the workforce apart from the main man, and also details about activities and clients will and shall be held due to the existence of company privacy.
If I recall it well, it all started with one man. Khavn De La Cruz has been a huge believer of guerilla/independent movements, and being a huge film fanatic, he has been moved to take guerilla film one step further–he created films independently and for his creative talents he won a lot of awards, both here and abroad. But as much as films are backed up with producers, independent filmmakers are backed up with only passion; rarely anyone commits to producing underground films that Khavn and his contemporaries create. However, they would stop at nothing–and with that came the alternative to the celluloid: digital film making.
Khavn believes that if you really wish to do something, you will be able to find a way to make it push through: and for them, the realization of their dreams was digital film making. Anyone can see the difference: both can produce high quality films, yet digital becomes flexible for those with the tight budget. So for them, passion pushed through. If there’s a will, there’s definitely a way–and fuck all those celluloids at that.
And with this, the rise of Filmless Films started among other independent movements along Khavn’s realm as well (independent writings, avant-pop indie music and others). They were here to “promote and advance the digital filmmaking in the Philippines,” as well as “to establish digital cinema as the future of the Philippine film.” (.mov objectives) With the rise of Filmless Films, they were suddenly able to scream out loud that, hell, they are out here to release their creativities, and they have digital film making to back them up. Soon, they created their own films, released it for competitions here and abroad, and started garnering awards left and right. They also had tie-ins with other creative organizations as well.
But of course, it doesn’t stop there. With the pressing demands of the working world behind them they decided to explore further by doing Audio Visual Presentations for companies aside from films. They do the promotion of one’s work, and sometimes organize events around the metro–one of which is the upcoming .mov event. As most of us know, .mov is the extension name of Quick time movies/files, and with this is the point that, well, these movies are digital. .mov is “the first Philippine digital film festival dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of digital filmmaking.” (.mov handout) With digital full lengths, shorts, panels and presentations and exhibits included with .mov’s program, they aimed at promoting creativity at its best, with a lower cost value at that.
But since .mov’s slated for probably later May, chances of our working for the festival may be slim, with only us being involved in the pre-production stage. So, to be able to maximize our training time, they are going to put us into the hands of one of their heads, and soon we’ll start helping with the other projects of Filmless Films.
If you’re interested to know more (or you wish to explore the possibility of being enthralled with their website too), do visit www.indieman.com. You can take it from there.
(Blog transfer from the now down http://ojtfiles.blogspot.com:
The Dummkopf goes to the city…to, uh, work? Oh God.)
It’s a bit long, this post. But if you’re doing nothing this Saturday, at around 1pm or so, then do bring yourself to Titus Brandsma, a place somewhere in Lantana, E. Rodriguez (Near Betty Go Belmonte St.) where in they’ll have film showings of non-mainstream movies. Thank your lucky stars too that the people behind this movement are sooo brilliantly brilliant–film education by means of after-film discussions–that they’re giving this thing every Second Saturday of the month for FREE.
Here’s this Saturday’s Schedule:
17 April 2004
Violence
As Alejandro Amenabar illustrates in his debut feature, “Thesis”, violent acts grab everyone’s attention, can affect or desensitize people and can be a bane of a society for ages.
The common denominator of the movies is a shred of violence:
Man Bites Dog
Remy Belvaux, Andre Bonzel and Beno�t Poelvoorde, France, 1992. 88 minutes.
In MAN BITES DOG, a serial killer (played by codirector Poelvoorde) tags along a reporter and cameraman (portrayed by Belvaux and Bonzel respectively) to meet his loving family, hang around with his doting friends and share with them his craving for cold-blooded murder.
Is this cinema-verite, documentary-style feature a commentary on violence lurking behind the killer’s peaceful neighboorhood? Or is it just one sick joke? You be the judge.
Direction/Production: Remy Belvaux, Andre Bonzel and Beno�t Poelvoorde. Screenplay: Vincent Tavier. Cinematography: Andr� Bonzel. Editing: Remy Belvaux, Eric Dardill. Musical Score: Jean-Marc Chenut, Laurence Dufrene. Cast: Beno�t Poelvoorde, Remy Belvaux, Andr� Bonzel, Jean-Marc Chenut, Alain Oppezzi
Bowling for Columbine
Michael Moore, USA, 2002.
120 minutes.A shootout at Columbine High caused ripples across America and maverick filmmaker Michael Moore examines the disturbing incident in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE.
Is the shocking happening a reflection of USA being a gun-loving country? Or is there a hidden fear that causes paranoia among Americans during the last few centuries?
Moore is the man for the job, as he’s from a gun-toting state, a multiple winner of shooting competitions and a member of the National Rifle Association.
2002 Academy Best Documentary Feature (win), 2002 Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Documentary (nom), 2002 Cannes International Film Festival 55th Anniversary Prize (win), 2002 French Academy of Cinema Best Foreign Film (win), 2002 IFP Independent Spirit Award Best Documentary (win), 2002 L.A. Film
Critics Association Best Documentay (Runner-up) (win), 2002 National Board of Review Best Documentary (win), 2002 National Board of Review Best Documentary (win), 2002 Writers Guild of America Best Original Screenplay (nom)Direction: Michael Moore. Production: Charles Bishop, Jim Czarnecki, Michael Donovan, Kathleen Glynn. Screenplay: Michael Moore . Cinematography: Brian Danitz, Michael McDonough. Editing: Kurt Engfehr. Musical Score: George Fenton, Mauricio Venegas. Cast: Michael Moore, Charlton Heston, Matt Stone, Marilyn Manson, Dick Clark.
Hate/La Haine
Matthieu Kassovitz, France, 1995.
90 minutes.Matthieu Kassovitz takes the viewers on a day’s trip around the Arab-residing district in Paris in HATE (LA HAINE).
Stripped off the romanticism and charm that other movies painted on the French capital, the young and talented filmmaker focuses on the simmering rage and intolerance brought by a Rodney King-like incident (read: racial discrimination).
1995 Cannes International Film Festival Best Director (win), 1995 European Film Academy Best Young European Film (win), 1995 French Academy of Cinema Best Editing (win), 1995 French Academy of Cinema Best Editing (win), 1995 French Academy of Cinema Best Film (win).
Direction: Mathieu Kassovitz. Production: Christophe Rossignon, Gilles Sacuto. Screenplay: Mathieu Kassovitz . Cinematography: Pierre Aim. Editing: Mathieu Kassovitz, Scott Stevenson. Musical Direction: Dominique Dalmasso. Cast: Vincent Cassel, Hubert Kounde, Sa�d Taghmaoui, Francois Levantal, Edouard Montoute, Karim Belkhadra.
Yet Another Something New…
I am going to post two new URLs, one from a newly met friend’s, the other, a mutilated byproduct of the blackmoon excrements. If you go here, that’s Max’s site, something he swears he did without much HTML knowledge. Yeah right, Max. Whatever. Anyway, even though I have a picture plastered there, from one of those nights we were up screaming (screwing? He he. kidding.) at Intramuros, please do not favor him over me. Please. I know he’s a far better writer than me, too great on the humor…but please, you love me, don’t you guys? You’re not going to leave me for him. Right?
He he.
The next, I’m going to post here momentarily because I’m up using Warpspeed again and that just amounts to oh-so-fast-oh-god-is-that-a-sloth-? connection, so I’m kind of getting lazy, the links around here will be fixed hopefully by this week. But like I said, this is a byproduct of Blackmoon.8m.com–people, meet my newest possible obsession: ojtfiles.blogspot.com. I am not going to leave my site, don’t worry, but all summer this new page would most likely get updated more than blackmoon, because, if you people must know, I am going to start on my OJT this Wednesday–hopefully. (cheers, cheers!) Read about it. Click on the freaking link, for goodness’ sake.
So there. Those who are near the Makati area, those who wanna meet up with me around Glorietta or wherever near, just tell me. My bodyguards might arrange something for us. Don’t worry.
Again, it’s http://www.z300.com/top/maxipogi/ for Max, and http://www.ojtfiles.blogspot.com for me. See who you love more. 
( kidding, Max. 
)
OJT FILES 01
From the “Insanity in the City” Files
Monday, April 12, 2004
Recorded by Trainee #06, JC at around 10:44 AM
RE: Up for Starters.
_____________________________________________
People around have been asking what in hell do I mean by a non school-affiliated OJT. Some think I should have done better and enrolled the practicum course instead this summer. My dad thinks alike, and even scoffs at the company I got into. Get your stubborn ass in ABS-CBN, he says. Or better yet, GMA 7.
Fine, shoot me; I’m doing things my way. If I see myself asking for a hitch somewhere along highway 27 or some other obscure place, I’m not going to bring it on to anybody. I’m going to be the one who’ll pay.
Thank god for some friends who gave me slight hope by actually supporting me even if I’m being a bit mad. Too much into supporting me, in fact, that when they learned about my idea they joined me in my courageous search for my kind of experience. Now I heard almost everyone in our class learned about my secret, and they wanted to do a double-training this summer as well. I’m not the only inane person in the world after all.
What am I looking at anyway? It’s this: this summer, I will try to get as much hands-on experiences as I can, without crediting any of them for my Practicum course. Just work, work and more work, and hopefully it will be on those small time or indie companies–they’re the ones that really grind you and give you the real training, or so I’ve heard. I’ve found a place right now somewhere around Herrera in Makati, this production company that’s into films. It’s just starting out, I believe, but the guy spearheading the group has already made a mark on the young generation of indie/guerilla filmmakers. They have the ideals which I share with them, so I thought it’s fit I start out with the company.
Before, when we were starting out with our thesis we were trying to move a proposal that students should have at least 2-3 different practicum experiences in different areas of Comm expertise: Advertising, Radio Production, Television Production, Print Journalism and even Film. The idea was scraped because we learned eventually that we can actually choose to be trained on different areas as much as we want if we choose to, only students opt for single-training because of the hassle of complying with the hours; we were also scraped due to the fact that our advisers thought we were valiant but insane. Ergo, I am going to prove to them that I, JC, the head damsel of the distressed council of idiots, am indeed, uh, insane.
If the work goes well, I am then looking at another training experience for this coming semester, another on the sembreak (the main practicum I’ll really credit), and the last blow come 2nd semester. Hopefully I wouldn’t end up too deranged by then.
But for now, I’m sticking to that Makati-based production. Day by day I’ll try to record the things I have learned or encountered all through out the time I’ll be there. If pictures would be available/possible, then I’ll thank my lucky stars for that, and of course, I’ll show it here. But for now, I’m going to take it one step at a time. One neurotic step, I might add.
(Blog transfer from the now down http://ojtfiles.blogspot.com:
The Dummkopf goes to the city…to, uh, work? Oh God.)
