Setting a higher line
At least from a mainstream point of view, Manila has always been the center of attraction when talking about the filmmaking industry. The capital, like no other place, hoards its share of stars—and like it isn’t bright enough already—is where the entire entertainment spotlight is pointed at. It’s not easy to be a filmmaker. And it’s not going to be easier being one outside Manila.
“It has always been Manila-centric,” comments award-winning filmmaker Ruel Antipuesto who’s with Above The Line productions as director of photography.
Despite the ragtag look carried by this bunch of film experts in Cebu, the people behind entertainment production company Above The Line (ATL) productions, actually have about 60 years of experience going for them collectively. They feed off each other’s creativity and are bound together by principle.
Not that this “principle” has been set in stone, but they all agree that they’d like to raise the bar for Visayan film productions.
“We’d like to see someday, more films that cater to the Visayan-speaking regions of the country,” Ruel shares the entire group’s sentiment.
Much of his opinion perhaps, is easily drawn with facts.
Every December, regular screening schedules are halted in almost, if not, every major cinema house in the Philippines to make way for the Metro Manila Film Festival.
In record time, this festival rakes in millions and millions of pesos in a span of a few weeks. From this point, it could be said that Metro Manila has turned itself into a single-city, box office hit filmmaking company.
“I’d like to say that what we’re doing here at ATL is just paving the way for the future generation of filmmakers,” shares producer and writer Jiji Borlasa, with the future of Cebuano students in mind. “I don’t even think we’ll live to see the fruit of our labor.”
“All this that we’re doing? This is actually for them,” states production designer Kaloy Uypuanco, referring to their company as a venue in the local scene, where students interested in the arts of filmmaking and the like can immerse themselves in.
Kaloy, who teaches in some universities in the city, expressed his concern that what is being taught generally in school is what’s a person to do in front of a camera, and not the other responsibilities that make a show, a show.
But then it could lead to a “chicken or egg question” again, as Jiji thinks that Cebuano talents are not as trained, experienced and honed enough due to a lack of a professional and high-quality local working environment.
But whatever the case, ATL is here to do their part starting things up in Cebu.
ATL is the brainchild of executive producer Jill Anoba-Yap. It was back in 2006 when all six members met each other for a film project. That’s Jill, Ruel, Jiji, Kaloy, Earl Yap and Frances Nuñez. All six were freelancers, going about what they do best in their respective crafts. But it led to a point due to Cebu being a small town and all, where all six would still be working together for projects even if they were supposed to be freelancers.
“We set up the business plan in 2010, proposed a bunch of corny names for the company,” recalls Jill, “names that sound, not too credible actually.”
According to an online definition in Wikipedia, “above the line” is a filmmaking term that “refers to the list of individuals who guide, influence and hopefully add to the creative direction, process and voice of a given narrative in a film and their related expenditures. These roles include but are not limited to the screenwriter, producer, director, casting director and actors.”
ATL has been involved with producing quality independent films. Sometimes, it is also hired for other national and international projects. But perhaps its most popular work for Cebuanos to date would be Victor Villanueva’s Visayan romantic comedy My Paranormal Romance.
Sure, the film won’t make the audience kneel and shed a tear or two as if witnessing a cinematic masterpiece. But for Visayans who are honest enough to admit how most our sitcoms and films usually turn out—Villanueva’s film definitely upped the ante; a full length movie with a modern Cebuano dialogue that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Each and every member of ATL has garnered enough skill to compete with the big leagues in Manila. But passion is a dangerous thing, and so far, has kept this gang wanting to do something greater for their fellow bisaya— that is, to help establish a functioning local filmmaking scene that competes with not just any other standard set out there, but that only which the global scene raises.