prewar report
TRANSCRIPT
PINOY PRE-WAR CINEMAFilipinizing Cinema and the Rise of the Studios (1919-1941)
Report Outline
Historical context
Filmmaking during the era
Pre-war film aesthetics and themes
Distribution and audience reception
1919-1941:HOW WAS THE COUNTRY
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD?
After the Filipinos lost the war to the Americans in 1901, we did not really stop fighting for their
independence.
1919-1935
Hare-Hawes Cutting Law: 1932Tydings McDuffie Law: 1935
1935-1941COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINESPRESIDENT MANUEL L. QUEZON
FILMMAKING DURING THE ERA
Film Production
1929 - 7 films were made
1930 - 9 films were made
1931 - 9 films were made
1932 - the last year of the silents, 25 films were made
Pre-war - over fifty Films were produced each year.
During the war- more than sixty films were produced a year
Factors Responsible for the Increase in Film Production
Jose Nepomuceno was producing a film almost every two months
Filipinos who left the country to visit or work in Hollywood returned home and established their own film companies
Manila’s elite ventured into the film industry knowing it was a lucrative investment
Some Americans escaped the great depression in the U.S. by undertaking filmmaking in the Philippines
Pre-war Cinema PioneersJose Nepomuceno established Malayan Pictures in 1917 and made the first Filipino film, Dalagang Bukid (1919)
Vincente Salumbides established Salumbides Film !! ! ! Company in 1927, some of his films include Miracles of Love (1926), Fate or Consequence, The Soul Saver, Ibong Adarna (1941)
Julian Manansala is known for his nationalist films, pioneered Banahaw Pictures in 1929, among the films he made were Patria Amore (1929), Dimasalang (1930)
First FilmmakersOctavio Silos - Tunay na Ina (1939), Pakiusap (1940)Carlos Vander Tolosa - Giliw Ko (1939)Gerardo de Leon - Bahay Kubo (1938), Ang Maestra (1941)Lamberto Avellana - Sakay (1939)Manuel Conde - Sawing Gantimpala (1939)Ramon Estella - Bayan at Pag-ibig (1938), Huling Habilin (1940)Gregorio Fernandez - Azahar at Kabaong (1937), Señorita (1940)Brigida Perez Villanueva - first woman filmmaker
The Studio System
paved the way for discovery and development of filmmakers and actors
studios patterned its mode of production after Hollywood
the system was departmentalized
contract stars were signed up
each studio had a distinct quality on its movies
First Philippine Film Studios
Filippine Films, 1933
established by Eddie Tait & George HarrisAng mga Ulila (1933), Mag-inang Mahirap (1934)
Parlatone Hispano-Filipino, 1934
Jose Nepomuceno reorganized Malayan Pictures into Parlatone Hispano- Filipinoits first film was Diwata ng Karagatan
First Philippine Film Studios
Excelsior Pictures, 1937founded by Don Ramon Aranetaconsidered the most modern studio at the time Ang Maya was its first film
Sampaguita Pictures, 1937established by Jose O. Vera; his children took positions in the family company including matriarch Dolores Honorado Vera, or famously known as “Mommy Vera” known for having melodramatic movies and films that centered on family valuesits first film, Bituing Marikit was a huge success
First Philippine Film Studios
LVN Pictures, 1938
formed by three friends, Doña Narcisa “Sisang” de Leon, Carmen Villongco, and Eleuterio Navoaknown for having comedies and musicalsits maiden film, Giliw Ko (1939) was a box office hit
First Philippine Film StudiosX’Otic Films, 1941
Jose Nepomuceno, after having been ousted from Parlatone in 1936, resurfaced with X’Otic films in 1939 with co- founders Jesus Cacho and Julian Salgadoits first production was Punit na Bandilathe company would later be reorganized into Movietec after the war
Other studios: Cervantina Filipina CorporationDel Monte PicturesWaling-Waling PicturesAcuña-Zaldarriaga Productions …and many others
Advent of Sound in Film
The Talkies
Newspaper advertisements heralded the “talking and singing” features which signaled the advent of sound technology
The first picture with sound reached Manila in 1910, using the Chronophone.
Advent of Sound in Film
By 1930, the talking pictures was already one year old in the country with the showing of Syncopation, this was achieved by synchronizing phonograph records with the film.
Jose Domingo’s Collegian Love (1930) was considered the first Filipino sound production
The first film made in the Philippines to feature optically recorded sound was George Musser’s Ang Aswang (1933)
Other early films to feature sound was Jose Nepomuceno’s “Ang Punyal na Ginto” and “Makata at Paraluman”
PRE-WAR CINEMA THEMES AND AESTHETICS
Content and Themes
Sarswela and Komedya
Philippine Literature and History
Socio-political issues
Exotic Philippines
Hollywood Genres
Sarswela and Komedya
one act, melodramatic operas
popular, readily marketable
ready materials
themes of good vs. bad
middle-class, rural stories
Octavio Silos’ “Tunay na Ina”
Carlos Vander Tolossa’s “Giliw Ko”
Carlos Vander Tolossa’s “Giliw Ko”
Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid”
Philippine Literature and History
Jose Rizal’s life and works
author’s novels, short stories, poems
historical events, revolution
Lamberto Avellana’s “Sakay”
Jose Nepomuceno’s “Noli Me Tangere”
Vicente Salumbides’ “Ibong Adarna”
Vicente Salumbides’ “Florante at Laura”
Socio-Political Issues
nationalistic themes
anti-Spanish, anti-establishment
very few films, almost censored
Julian Manansala’s “Patria Amore”
Exotic Philippines
native culture of indigenous people
featured different customs and traditions
Eduardo de Castro’s “Zamboanga”
Ramon Estrella’s “Paraiso”
Consuelo Osorio’s “Perlas na Itim”
Hollywood Genres
categorization of films into Hollywood film genres
first horror films
Jose Nepomuceno’s “Tiyanak” and “Mang Tano: Nuno ng mga Aswang”
Aesthetics and Styles
Cinema heavily borrowed from the traditions of drama and theater.
Lacked Film Language
shot selection and shot sizes
cutting, editing, montage
screen direction, 180-degree rule
Basic Camerawork
camera movements were present, but not fully utilized
static camera
straight-on, eye-level angles
long shots and takes
Theatrical Direction and Acting
big movements
exaggerated acting
big facial expressions
Silent-film-like Make up
visible traces of expressionist, exaggerated facial features
Script and Story
talky narration
poetic dialogue
arbitrary happy ending
loose plot
Catholic Imagery in the Mise-en-scene
saints
churches
crucifix
altars
priests
prayers
DISTRIBUTION AND AUDIENCE RECEPTION
Language
As of December 31 1929,66,000 readers of Spanish newpapers/publications36,000 readers of English newpapers/publications 62,000 readers of Tagalog newpapers/publications
!!
Lobo del monte (Mountain Wolf) / Gratitude de un joven (Young Man’s Gratitude)
In 1931,181 films had English titles
34 were in Spanish1 title was Tagalog
Jose Nepomuceno’s “Punyal na Ginto”
Film Culture
native filmmakers grabbed the opportunity of expressing their anti-Spanish sentiments
escapist entertainment
film fascinated Filipinos and it easily became the most popular medium
influenced by culture, politics, business, and development of language
Market Competition
1933: Star System became more apparent
!
Mary Walter
!
Gregorio Fernandez
Nick Deocampo. Cine: Spanish Influences on Early Cinema in the Philippines. Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. 2003Sotto, Agustin L. Pelikula II. Philippine Film 1897-1960. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1992.Del Mundo, Clodualdo Jr., 1998. Notes on the Approaches to Teaching Film. In Humanities: Art & Society. Quezon City: Commission on Higher Education.Flores, Patrick D. 1998. Philippine Cinema and Society. In Humanities: Art & Society. Quezon City: Commission on Higher EducationArsenio "Boots" Bautista, "History of Philippine Cinema"http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?i=115&igm=1. Accessed December 5, 2010.