FIRST ONLINE DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL GETS UNDERWAY IN LU
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: GPC-LUPTO | Date: April 14, 2021
The Provincial Government of La Union organized the first Online Film and Documentary Making Workshop for La Union on April 13 – 14, 2021 through video conferencing. The workshop initiated by the La Union Provincial Tourism Office was conducted to capacitate the participants with technical skills that will enable them to produce quality and world-class documentaries for La Union focusing on reintegration. After the workshop, the 5 official production teams are expected to produce 15 to 20-minute documentary features that focus on actual stories embedded in the beauty and importance of natural endowments, resources and landscapes of La Union.
As part of the production rounds of INAIG: Dokyu-Kalikasan Fest (Inaig), the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO) held an Online Film and Documentary Making Workshop on April 13 – 14, 2021 through video conferencing. The workshop was participated-in by the top five finalists of the said documentary competition.
LUPTO Officer-in-Charge Mr. Arthur S. Cortez, Jr. congratulated the top five teams for making it to the finals out of 15 entry submissions. He said that they are great examples of how local artists and filmmakers are making a difference in the community.
“As these local cinematographers and filmmakers are showing us, it is a message that can be told powerfully through documentary or film because that is a media that connects with people and stories we might otherwise never know,” Mr. Cortez said. “I know this group will be going to make an even bigger impact for our community and the province in general. I understand the hard work and commitment it takes to produce a documentary or film, the PGLU and LUPTO celebrate with you and want to help your documentaries, films and outputs get the industry attention it deserves,” he added.
The two-day workshop was attended by 25 participants from across the province including Northern Circuit’s “Lata iti Arapa-Ap” with team leader Kelvin Villanueva; Central Circuit’s “Ang Dagat ang Pinagmulan” with team leader Michael Eijansantos; Central Eastern Circuit’s “Papel sa Kalikasan” with team leader John Kirby Savellano; South Circuit’s “Pukkaw ti Napukaw” with team leader Marco Antonio Campos; and South Eastern Circuit’s “Agsala” with team leader Vernon Albert Cabading. The workshop was conducted to equip the production teams with technical skills that will enable them to produce quality and world-class documentaries for La Union.
The short course consisted of different aspects of filmmaking such as visual and practical sessions wherein participants learned story development, treatment writing, cinematography and editing. The workshop capacitated the participants with skills on producing documentaries focusing on reintegration.
Renowned filmmaker and cultural worker Carla Pulido-Ocampo, producer of the acclaimed documentaries “Walang Rape sa Bontok” and “Tokwifi”, served as the festival mentor during the workshop. She reaffirmed that people might never know if it will not be properly filmed or documented.
“Hindi biro ang paggawa ng dokumentaryo. Kailangan ng mental preparedness sa paggawa.. at hindi basta basta pagdating sa kalikasan at sa sarili nating ili o bayan,” she mentioned. During the sessions, she gave emphasis on making sure that documentary stories should have clear messages and be packaged in the most effective platform in keeping up with the demands of the audience. “The best means for us to tell these stories with more impact, with more heart is through documentaries, because documentaries are stories of truth and today we are here to share truth to the world,” she added.
This year’s festival theme is “Kalikasan Naman” which is aligned to one of the core initiatives of the PGLU’s medium term strategy plan of building a Stronger La Union. After the workshop, the production teams are expected to produce 15 to 20-minute documentary features focusing on actual stories embedded in the beauty and importance of natural endowments, resources and landscapes of La Union until June 5, 2021. The Inaig festival proper will be held on June 14 – 28, 2021 as part of PGLU’s celebration of the Philippine Environment Month.
Inaig is one of the three components of the program “TAWID TAOID: Bridging Arts and Nature, Building Sustainable Future'' which aims to increase local community’s environmental awareness by bridging La Union’s local arts community.
