3 aspiring filmmakers win Intel’s ‘Digital Showdown’

(L-R) Intel Phil. marketing manager Randy Kanapi, filmmaker RA Rivera, 3rd place-Gary Stephen Sta Cruz, 2nd place-Patrick Edison Uy, Grand prize-Jay Alde Jamoralin, and Intel Phil. country manager Ricky Banaag during the awards night of Digital Showdown in Makati City last August 24

MANILA, Philippines – The advent of technology has opened up many opportunities for aspiring filmmakers – and Intel Philippines’ digital shorts competition has done just that.

Intel Philippines’ marketing manager Randy Kanapi said “Digital Showdown” was part of their company’s campaign which tries “to harness the creativity of the Filipinos.”

Three contenders emerged as winners in the filmmaking contest – the grand prize going to Jay Jamoralin for his shortfilm “Chromatose”, second prize went to Patrick Uy for “Bagong Buhay”, and Gary Sta. Cruz, third with “Marvin’s Digital World.”

Local independent filmmaker RA Rivera, who along with fellow filmmaker Quark Henares, guided contestants in creating their short films and urged the youth to keep on making films, saying in Filipino that the conditions for kids to make their films were “good.”

Filmmakers can also easily show their work to various viewers, who may be total strangers, through the Internet, said Rivera.

Rivera recalled how processes in filmmaking were tedious when he was just starting out – and the first few viewers would be family and friends.

“A lot of processes are involved before your material can come out whereas now, you shoot, upload and you have a large audience,” said Rivera.

He also said that the computer has become an “editing machine” whereas before they had to pay for film editing. “Mas nagagawa nila yung gusto nila without thinking of expenses [Filmmakers can do what they want without thinking of the expenses].”

Technology has laid out an opportunity for filmmakers, said Rivera, telling aspiring filmmakers that there was little excuse not to create films since “ngayon madali na yung access for means to make films [now the access to making films is easy].”

But Rivera reminded filmmakers and those aspiring to be one that their drive to create films was more important than having access to computers and other gadgets. “It isn’t in the equipment but in the one who uses it . . . what is most important is the drive to make a film. Once that’s lost, that’s it.”

“While you still have the drive, make films – shoot from the hip, shoot now, think later,” said Rivera.