With the gleaming success and widely positive reception of the Filipino movie goers to the film “Heneral Luna”, is it a sign that the Philippine Cinema is now evolving to a deeper, and socially-relevant content in films?
With the rave reviews from several film critics, blogs, publications and common Filipino audience, the film is being commended as timely, an eye-opener and mirrors the problem of the society today.
Being on a historical setting and based on facts about the happenings of the World War II, it is still undeniable that the symbolism, characterization and highlights of the film can be cited as similar and relatable to what the country is experiencing today, and the problem presented by the story is still present up to this day.
Unknown to most who might have seen the movie, Filipino-Spanish businessman, Fernando Ortigas has largely supported the film by contributing Php70 million as the largest financier and producer, joining other contributors namely Businessman Eduardo Rocha and Atty. Joji Alonso.
The said support went straight from his pocket for that he believes that the country needs these kind of films as a social awakening and reminder of the problem the Filipinos are facing. This may have been a new calling for the businessman, although has foreign roots, can be considered more Filipino that most for his passion and love for the country.
Mr. Ortigas has started producing films last 2014 with the titles like “K’na, the Dreamweaver”, “English Only, Please”, “Bonifacio: Ang unang pangulo” and the latest addition is “Heneral Luna”.
In an interview from Inquirer, it is his long-time “secret” desire to produce films. When a great script falls on his lap at the right time, he said, he will jump at the opportunity. As a result Mr. Ortigas, together with co-producers Ed Rocha and Jerrod Tarog, Artikulo Uno Productions was founded.
“We’d like to create intelligent entertainment that will help reverse the dumbing down of our local audiences,” Ortigas said. “Heneral Luna” is the first feature film produced by the production firm, and by the reception of the people, it was in great position for new films to follow.
“As far as budget is concerned, we’d like to spend money in a way that would make the audience come out of the movie saying, Gee, that was a damn good movie! or in Tagalog, ‘T–%g&#a (expletive), ang galing nating Pinoy gumawa ng pelikula. (We Filipinos are so darn good in making movies),” Ortigas said.
In the said interview, a question was raised why he chose such theme for the first movie of his firm, Ortigas said: “I found it really interesting how, if Heneral Antonio Luna got his mandate, the course of Philippine history would have changed. A question that comes to mind as I read the script is: Why are we Filipinos killing our own heroes?”
And when he was asked if he got some inputs on the movie, his response; a producer’s job is to give the director the tools to come out with his vision. The producer should not interfere in that vision, he said.
Mr. Ortigas is not new to films as he made a claim to fame, appearing on a Hollywood film. He shared he appeared on a three-second part in the 1979 American epic “Apocalypse Now” (set during the Vietnam War period and featured the late Marlon Brando), which was shot in Baler, Aurora. That film also served to catalyze the surfing culture in the area.
With these revelations, we are all glad that the local cinema is now going to a higher level, with more intelligent in content and most importantly, people like Mr. Fernando Ortigas, is there to support the dream of making films that may be potential for a Hollywood success.
