EKSENA, An Independent's Night!October 19, 2006
9pm onwards
Php100 Entrance Fee(with one FREE beer)
Purple Haze Bar and Cafe
37 Tomas Morato Avenue cor E.Rodriguez, QC
"Where Rock n' Roll Lives"
For Inquiries:
+639166129774 / m_pancho@yahoo.com
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Independent's Night!
EKSENA, An Independent's Night!October 19, 2006
9pm onwards
Php100 Entrance Fee(with one FREE beer)
Purple Haze Bar and Cafe
37 Tomas Morato Avenue cor E.Rodriguez, QC
"Where Rock n' Roll Lives"
For Inquiries:
+639166129774 / m_pancho@yahoo.com
Friday, September 08, 2006
iSNATS, Cinemalaya 2005
Staff and Crew
(Aren Adao, Lawrence Fajardo, Jobin Ballesteros, Anjoo Afed Archi Adamos, Joel Olaño, Mike Dagñalan, gaffer, Jun Aves, Charisse, Armand Samonte)
Rudy's Gang
(Nick Milligan, Lili Chu, Philipp Harth)
cover design by Ma-an Asuncion
Mike Dagñalan
writer-director
Crew
Joel Olaño as Sam
Blocking
Bonsai Gang
(Anthony Nabor, Ronald Tupas, Sig Sanchez, Reinier Laiño,
Bombi Plata)
Cultural Center of the Philippines
CCP Cinemalaya showroom
iSNATS Director @CCP
iSNATS comments
********
Ang galing ng "iSNATS"! it's like a good book, compelling me to keep turning the page -- unable to stop reading -- anticipating what next?. it has scenes that seems so painfully real my heart feels like imploding! but maybe it's just me. then again, i'm only speaking as the next regular ardent movie-goer, who when watching a film hopes to be treated with something more than entertainment. "iSNATS" is well-researched to give us a personal look inside the world of snatchers and gangstas, not to justify their actions but to make us understand and be aware of such lives other than our own. that we all have our addictions, and we merely try to get through each day satisfying them. such as the lead character J, whose addiction to the almighty gadget that is the cellphone takes him and his loyal friends to a chaotic web of drama and violence that spins out of control. (little did he know that his latest acquisition was jinxed!) and because this is the Philippines, there is humor and laughter amidst all the mess.in "iSNATS" the characters are competently portrayed, the dialogues superbly realistic, the entire atmosphere magnificently Pinoy. the chosen background music enhanced the pacing and color of the action. the story is brilliantly told, with details here and there that you shouldn't miss. the open-minded viewer (and listener) would find not-so-hidden meanings in between. I shall say no more. just watch the film... and CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE!
-Joyce Morrison
********
iSNATS (Snatch) is probably one of the best examples to debunk the common attribution to the life-changing impact of technology in the so-called information age. The story revolves around the life of a small-time snatcher of cellular phones -- a small-time crime gone big, a cellphone snatcher who got involved into the myriad of crimes that led to loss of friends after snatching the cellphone of a motorist who turned out to be part of a drug syndicate (synopsis here). It wasn't just a snatch of reality, but a snatch of the status symbol, a depiction of how life is replicated in the realms of a kind of living for the deprived.While the cinematography portrays so much of the rather quite often-used shots of railways life, of that old Philippine National Railways, the shantytowns and the dark streets in contrast to baywalks, promenades and the city lights. To me, it almost made a documentary of Manila's famous and infamous streets where all sorts of things have happened -- from protests to massacres, it nonetheless showed how poverty breeds the kind of system working for its own. But the treatment was given a twist by showing how snatchers weren't committing crimes just to augment the need of the stomach, but rather, an obsession to things one doesn't have. The film also showed how life is enjoyed by and how dreams are not even articulated, instead just moments enjoyed, existential to a point. Being the independent film that it is, the leading roles where acted by actors hardly seen on TV. In fact, I doubt if they ever appear in local television shows, but they acted as good a s any actor, faces as ordinary as the circumstances they render. The story was careful to present the character without having to condemn and yet without attempts to moralize -- just a sheer presentation of how a culture of crime and consumption leads to an inevitable existence of the basic need to survive. The cellphone was used as a symbol of advancement, the changes in society, that people keep coming and going in the decaying streets of the city, yet the institutions and structures remain the same, also a witness to the perpetration of cultures and subcultures it doesn't care about at all.The film didn't win awards, but at least it was an honest film, faithful to what it can only give and what it can't. I am just so proud I know the guy who made this one. I just realized it makes a lot of difference to appreciate an art piece when you know where it is coming from than just being a clueless spectator.
- BLiNKiNG SENSES
Ang galing ng "iSNATS"! it's like a good book, compelling me to keep turning the page -- unable to stop reading -- anticipating what next?. it has scenes that seems so painfully real my heart feels like imploding! but maybe it's just me. then again, i'm only speaking as the next regular ardent movie-goer, who when watching a film hopes to be treated with something more than entertainment. "iSNATS" is well-researched to give us a personal look inside the world of snatchers and gangstas, not to justify their actions but to make us understand and be aware of such lives other than our own. that we all have our addictions, and we merely try to get through each day satisfying them. such as the lead character J, whose addiction to the almighty gadget that is the cellphone takes him and his loyal friends to a chaotic web of drama and violence that spins out of control. (little did he know that his latest acquisition was jinxed!) and because this is the Philippines, there is humor and laughter amidst all the mess.in "iSNATS" the characters are competently portrayed, the dialogues superbly realistic, the entire atmosphere magnificently Pinoy. the chosen background music enhanced the pacing and color of the action. the story is brilliantly told, with details here and there that you shouldn't miss. the open-minded viewer (and listener) would find not-so-hidden meanings in between. I shall say no more. just watch the film... and CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE!
-Joyce Morrison
********
iSNATS (Snatch) is probably one of the best examples to debunk the common attribution to the life-changing impact of technology in the so-called information age. The story revolves around the life of a small-time snatcher of cellular phones -- a small-time crime gone big, a cellphone snatcher who got involved into the myriad of crimes that led to loss of friends after snatching the cellphone of a motorist who turned out to be part of a drug syndicate (synopsis here). It wasn't just a snatch of reality, but a snatch of the status symbol, a depiction of how life is replicated in the realms of a kind of living for the deprived.While the cinematography portrays so much of the rather quite often-used shots of railways life, of that old Philippine National Railways, the shantytowns and the dark streets in contrast to baywalks, promenades and the city lights. To me, it almost made a documentary of Manila's famous and infamous streets where all sorts of things have happened -- from protests to massacres, it nonetheless showed how poverty breeds the kind of system working for its own. But the treatment was given a twist by showing how snatchers weren't committing crimes just to augment the need of the stomach, but rather, an obsession to things one doesn't have. The film also showed how life is enjoyed by and how dreams are not even articulated, instead just moments enjoyed, existential to a point. Being the independent film that it is, the leading roles where acted by actors hardly seen on TV. In fact, I doubt if they ever appear in local television shows, but they acted as good a s any actor, faces as ordinary as the circumstances they render. The story was careful to present the character without having to condemn and yet without attempts to moralize -- just a sheer presentation of how a culture of crime and consumption leads to an inevitable existence of the basic need to survive. The cellphone was used as a symbol of advancement, the changes in society, that people keep coming and going in the decaying streets of the city, yet the institutions and structures remain the same, also a witness to the perpetration of cultures and subcultures it doesn't care about at all.The film didn't win awards, but at least it was an honest film, faithful to what it can only give and what it can't. I am just so proud I know the guy who made this one. I just realized it makes a lot of difference to appreciate an art piece when you know where it is coming from than just being a clueless spectator.
- BLiNKiNG SENSES
Thursday, September 07, 2006
iSNATS, First Philippine Independent Film Festival
*****
my film, iSNATS, is an entertaining and educational "barkada" movie on the phenomenon of cellphone snatching. shot in the gritty streets of Manila and Cubao. it has comedic scenes courtesy of TEDDY CORPUZ( from GMA-7's SUGO/IDOL KO SI KAP/ROCKSTEDDY), BERTING LABRA and indie actor ARCHI ADAMOS. JOURDAN SEBASTIAN (SALT Host/studio 23) and JOEL OLAÑO plays the main roles.
*iSNATS is a Finalist and Fund Grantee of the 1st CINEMALAYA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 12-17, 2005.
*Cinemalaya is the First Philippine Independent Film Festival.
*iSNATS was also screened at the UP Cine Adarna which was sponsored by the UP Film Institute last July 20, 2005
*iSNATS is a 2002 DON CARLOS PALANCA AWARDEE FOR LITERATURE.
FIRST PRIZE WINNER in the SCREENPLAY CATEGORY.
*iSNATS is also a Fund Grantee of THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS (NCCA).
SYNOPSIS:
iSNATS, dubbed as neo-realist, is a story of a cellphone snatcher-collector ( J ) who got into trouble when he steals SAMs cellphone (a former cop - drug dealer). J thinks he hits it big-time when he gets a drug delivery through the snatched phone. but drug lord RUDY wants his drug money and so orders/threatens SAM to get it back. but then again, local gangster BONSAi gets in the way and pushes J and SAM into deeper trouble. SAM and J team up to survive and eventually escape on a rusty PNR Bicol Express Train. the duo then DECIDES TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES as they reach the province. drug lord RUDY eventually gets caught by the police when he throws the cellphone away that caused them all this trouble. shot in the gritty streets of Cubao and Recto Manila, the film portrays man's attachment to material things thatleads him to bad decisions/situations.
production company:
NATURAL LIGHT PRODUCTIONS
genre:
ACTION/COMEDY
running time:
120 minutes (NTSC)
actors:
JOURDAN SEBASTIAN as J
JOEL OLAÑO as Sam (munich-based german actor of filipino descent)
IDA RAMOS as Girlie (hot legs dancer)
TEDDY CORPUZ as Gani
BERTING LABRA as Mang Jun
ARCHI ADAMOS as Rudy
RONALD TUPAS (aka Wacky Tupas) as Bonsai
MAUI MANALO as Dennis
OZ MENDOZA as Gino
PHILIPP HARTH as Rudy's gangster (munich-based pinoy-german actor)
NICK MILLIGAN as Rudy's gangster (berlin-based german actor)
LILY CHU as Rudy's Gangster
director of photography
JUN AVES
associate director
BOMBI PLATA
production manager
ANJOO AFED
assistant director
LAWRENCE FAJARDO
editor
MILOS CURAMENG
music
JOBIN BALLESTEROS
production design
ARMAND SAMONTE
costume design
JELLIE TAN
actor's workshop director
BOMBI PLATA
casting
ACTNOW STUDIOS
storyboard artist
LANCE SALVOSA
trailer editors
SYKE & JOBIN BALLESTEROS
poster design
MA-AN ASUNCION
original music
MIKO PEPITO
SYKE
JOBIN BALLESTEROS
MALEK LOPEZ
POETIKAST
LA MARGA
RADIOACTIVE SAGO PROJECT
producers
MIKE DAGÑALAN
JUN AVES
JAY GUEVARRA
writer & director
MIKE DAGÑALAN
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/cinemalaya-isnats.htm
my film, iSNATS, is an entertaining and educational "barkada" movie on the phenomenon of cellphone snatching. shot in the gritty streets of Manila and Cubao. it has comedic scenes courtesy of TEDDY CORPUZ( from GMA-7's SUGO/IDOL KO SI KAP/ROCKSTEDDY), BERTING LABRA and indie actor ARCHI ADAMOS. JOURDAN SEBASTIAN (SALT Host/studio 23) and JOEL OLAÑO plays the main roles.
*iSNATS is a Finalist and Fund Grantee of the 1st CINEMALAYA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 12-17, 2005.
*Cinemalaya is the First Philippine Independent Film Festival.
*iSNATS was also screened at the UP Cine Adarna which was sponsored by the UP Film Institute last July 20, 2005
*iSNATS is a 2002 DON CARLOS PALANCA AWARDEE FOR LITERATURE.
FIRST PRIZE WINNER in the SCREENPLAY CATEGORY.
*iSNATS is also a Fund Grantee of THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS (NCCA).
SYNOPSIS:
iSNATS, dubbed as neo-realist, is a story of a cellphone snatcher-collector ( J ) who got into trouble when he steals SAMs cellphone (a former cop - drug dealer). J thinks he hits it big-time when he gets a drug delivery through the snatched phone. but drug lord RUDY wants his drug money and so orders/threatens SAM to get it back. but then again, local gangster BONSAi gets in the way and pushes J and SAM into deeper trouble. SAM and J team up to survive and eventually escape on a rusty PNR Bicol Express Train. the duo then DECIDES TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES as they reach the province. drug lord RUDY eventually gets caught by the police when he throws the cellphone away that caused them all this trouble. shot in the gritty streets of Cubao and Recto Manila, the film portrays man's attachment to material things thatleads him to bad decisions/situations.
production company:
NATURAL LIGHT PRODUCTIONS
genre:
ACTION/COMEDY
running time:
120 minutes (NTSC)
actors:
JOURDAN SEBASTIAN as J
JOEL OLAÑO as Sam (munich-based german actor of filipino descent)
IDA RAMOS as Girlie (hot legs dancer)
TEDDY CORPUZ as Gani
BERTING LABRA as Mang Jun
ARCHI ADAMOS as Rudy
RONALD TUPAS (aka Wacky Tupas) as Bonsai
MAUI MANALO as Dennis
OZ MENDOZA as Gino
PHILIPP HARTH as Rudy's gangster (munich-based pinoy-german actor)
NICK MILLIGAN as Rudy's gangster (berlin-based german actor)
LILY CHU as Rudy's Gangster
director of photography
JUN AVES
associate director
BOMBI PLATA
production manager
ANJOO AFED
assistant director
LAWRENCE FAJARDO
editor
MILOS CURAMENG
music
JOBIN BALLESTEROS
production design
ARMAND SAMONTE
costume design
JELLIE TAN
actor's workshop director
BOMBI PLATA
casting
ACTNOW STUDIOS
storyboard artist
LANCE SALVOSA
trailer editors
SYKE & JOBIN BALLESTEROS
poster design
MA-AN ASUNCION
original music
MIKO PEPITO
SYKE
JOBIN BALLESTEROS
MALEK LOPEZ
POETIKAST
LA MARGA
RADIOACTIVE SAGO PROJECT
producers
MIKE DAGÑALAN
JUN AVES
JAY GUEVARRA
writer & director
MIKE DAGÑALAN
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/cinemalaya-isnats.htm
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