Aspiring filmmakers must confront the harsh realities of the movie industry while remaining steadfast to their original goals, filmmakers urged in a forum on March 25 at the Tanghalang Teresita Quirino, Benavides Building.
The forum, organized by the UST Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies and the UST MaKatha Circle, featured award-winning filmmakers Jeffrey Jeturian, Nigel Santos, and Jaime Pacena II.
Jeturian, director of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “UnMarry,” said watching Lino Brocka’s “Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag” enlightened him on how movies can serve as messengers for political commentary.
“I was so moved by it na parang sinabi ko sa sarili ko, kung films have this power to move you, I’d want to be a director someday.” he said.
Heavy topics are not necessarily a “hard sell” to audiences, he said, as viewers have the capacity to make their own judgments.
“I think if you have the passion to be a filmmaker at saka gano’n kayo ka-desperadong makagawa ng pelikula ngayon, mangyayari at mangyayari ‘yun e,” Jeturian said.
Santos, director for the Cinemalaya 2025 film “Open Endings” and a UST literature alumnus, said a film must enlighten the audience about the issues happening around them.
“For me, ‘yun ‘yung responsibility ng isang storyteller, ng isang filmmaker, magbigay ng statement,” she added. “To let people feel things at gawing visible ‘yung human experience.”
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Santos urged aspiring directors to take pride in their work and seize opportunities to present it to potential investors and crew members.
“Kailangan ilabas yung kwento,” she said. “Hindi siya kailangang tumigil sa four corners of your world.”
“For me, lagi natin narinig na struggling ‘yung movie industry, pero creatively, we are thriving,” she added.
Pacena, Cinemalaya 2024 Best Director and UST Fine Arts alumnus, emphasized the importance of collaboration in film creation.
“You have to leave your egos behind the door when you make a film. Hindi nakasentro ang mundo sa’yo kasi you’re going to work with other people,” he said.
The forum, titled “USTingan: Currents in the Philippine Cinema: Creative Practice and Industry Realities,” brought together filmmakers to discuss their experiences in the local movie industry. Charlize Anne D. Lavastida
