strangechiq

  Freshly cooked ready to serve Hardboiledeggs

by: Jed

          Cold, uptown city of Baguio has always been a healthy breathing ground for artist in any kind, musicians alike. Ushering the likes of well-known indie filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, talented singer Grace Nono and the band Session Road to name a few. These musicians somehow found its way to Manila and hit it big time in reach and popularity. A route that this new band from up north is seem quite taking, with members composed of: Rohan Rimando,23, lead vocalist/ guitarist, Rodel Hufana,22, guitarist, Emil Villanueva,22, bassist and the recruited drummer Sep Navalta,28, formerly from 7Ply band collectively known as Hardboiledeggz. Hbeggz is this years Red Horse Muziklaban grand winner held last September 9, 2006 at the CCP Complex. Emerged triumphant out of hundreds of hopeful rockers hailing from different corner of the archipelago, that was trimmed down to ten finalists.                                                                      

          These guys music had traces of grunge and progressive rock influences like Pearl Jam, Silverchair, STP, Soundgarden, Coheed and Cambria, 311, APC, Megadeath, Avenge Sevenfold, Dream Theater with local tastes of Eraserheads, Urbandub, The Ambassadors, Faspitch, Sheila and the Insects and the long list goes on.

          Its name Hardboiledeggz wasn’t intended to have deep and profound meaning that is common to its band members. After coming up with names like Intertropical Convergence Zone, Panic Algae Attack, Mentos and so forth, the term Hardboiledeggz hooked the bands attention and stuck with it ever since because of its ambiguity and  fun-ness in nature. A gastronomic treat ready to serve to anyone’s hungry for its freshness. As Rohan’s own words “ masaya kasi yung pangalan, pwede ka-magimbento ng ibig sabihin. Iba-iba para sa bawat isa. Tsaka versatile ang pinakakuluang itlog, pwede pang sandwich, pwede ring pang palabok.” Generally they described themselves as four normal guys trying to make music with every ounce of energy they can. Exists to give us a moment of insanity, nostalgia, anger or vindication.

          Band’s frontman describes their music as progressive rock while tackling issues on relationship that is quite emo far from their old sound back in the early 2000’s that is closer to funk and blues. A chorus from their song Grace “ so if you decided to change your mind, I’ll be waiting here for you without exception. Don’t it bother you at all? You’ve been acting like a wall. And I’ve been crashing into you with good intention…A little more than just good friends, that’s all I wanted us to be, so tell me now then why were here. Confused and drunk on a few beers. Never fear a million years may pass and I would still be….” Mushy lyrics coated with forceful voice and a heavy sound, just  like a soft egg inside hidden by a sturdy shell.

          The road to success was never easy and Hardboiledeggz wasn’t spared. The lead vocalist remembers it “ most of the time, alas dos na ng umaga kami nakakatugtog or more often una, walang tao pero andun pa rin mga kaibigan namin. Pati yung Muziklaban andun sila.. nauulanan…” Now they feel blessed in their achievement because they never though in a million years that they’ll win but luckily they did. After winning, they’ve gained more friends and followers, received more bookings sporadically and even seen guesting on Myx Bandarito on Studio23 a week after the contest. In effect, the band treats it as an opportunity to reach other places and share their music not only in Manila but soon to the rest of the country. Proving themselves worthy of their family, friends and hometown accolades back in Baguio.

          I’ve read it over their friendster site and found it interesting and damn sweet. Here’s the HBeggz message to all struggling bands, “ The climb is steep from here, but if we get there, we’ll throw you guys a rope…”  with tears rolling over, nah the latter part is just my overt appreciation to this emotive line. I’m moved!

          As I’ve gazed to the lighter side of things, these guys doesn’t seem to run out of punchlines. Just when I asked them a non-sensical question, which comes first chicken or egg? And why? With amusement the vocalist answered, “ hehe..uhuh…yung manok…sabi nung kaibigan namin kasi, sino daw ang uupo sa itlog? Pero mas nauna pa rin yung dinosaurs! I mean of course! This band can be serious at one time and in one second can be really amusing.

Finally, maybe if there is one thing I’m certain about these bunch of eggs, I mean guys is how they prefer their eggs just like they create their music but hard boiled and no other way possible. Well done… guys!

<For violent reactions and raving comments, send it to strangechiq@yahoo.com>

( hope this article will be publish….in this case you guys are the frist one to read it in advance..)

Can we market independent films without conforming to the standards of mainstream cinema?

(From the business perspective of Ric Camaligan of SM Leisure Group)

Jed G. Medrano

Introduction

One of the most important developments in the recent years was the discovery of digital technology in the aspect of film production in our Philippine cinema. As it was predicted before by Cinemanila’s director and festival organizer, Tikoy Aguiluz stating that * “within the decade, Digital Video technology will realize its full potential and revolutionize filmmaking in our country.” A technological breakthrough that allowed artistic freedom and option for both amateur and professional filmmakers in contemporary times to create or continually produce films with lesser limitation of the escalating productions costs.

** With the use of video technology, filmmakers can easily substitute film celluloid to digital tapes through mini DV though were initially hampered because of its poor resolution. Even these had undergone fine tunings, now this mini DV have better broadcast quality with the use of digital cameras. These advancements lured filmmakers to produce more films.

On a personal note, even I was reluctant at first of calling the a by-product of digital video as films for the basic fact that they are not made in film per se. Eventually though, I called it digital film or movie as others coined it.

Director Tikoy Aguiluz was right when he said that it ***revolutionize filmmaking, a phase were all into the present times. Ironically our film industry was dead with low production output every year that is rooted from commercialism, censorship and high production cost etc.

Successful Indie Films

Last year up to the present seems to be a successful and exciting times for young indie filmmakers. Evidently to the number of independently produced digital movies that had its theatrical runs to commercial movie houses such Robinsons Malls, Glorietta, Promenade Greenhills, Gateway and the widest of all is the SM chain of cinemas. I’ve seen Pepot Artista being shown at Promenade. And last February, I’ve seen Big Time at Megamall. The recipient of the 2005 Cinemalaya’s Special Jury Prize, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros was shown to the SM chain of malls ****averaging P100,000 per cinema per day. “In the first six days, it made P600,000 in Megamall. In SM cinema alone it made more than P2 million in it’s first week. “An interview with Mr. Camaligan, vice president of the SM Leisure Group operating SM cinemas. An opportunity and a big break that doesn’t happen to every filmmaker.

Film as a Business

I want to borrow a popular television phrase that “there’s no business, like show business”, which can be put in the context of film production as a business. In my idea that even if a film is an artistic product it is still treated as a commodity, a money-making business for the capitalists. With these in mind, I would then try to make a connection of this concept in context of the emerging independent film as a business opportunity for commercial establishment.

For Mr. Camaligan it is still a far out idea and still not possible now maybe in the near future for an independent film with no big star cast, non-formulaic story and minimal marketing activity in it to penetrate the mass audience unless it would be competitive to the existing standard of commercial movies. In able to turn these independent films into a profitable business it might compromise its artistic freedom. In this case, I don’t think no indie filmmakers would dare do.

Art and Business

            I think the basic question would be, is it possible for art (indie films) and business to work together smoothly without comprising to one another? But who said that commercial movies don’t have its artistic quality? While generalizing that all indie works were done in an artistic taste. Who’s metric standard are we referring to anyway? And that’s another aspect to ponder or problematize about.

Conclusion

             To answer the question, can we market independent films without conforming to the standard of mainstream cinema? The answer is not simple and could be very problematic. But from a businessman point of view like Mr. Camaligan he said that it’s not possible with the current system of business set-up and its current consumer the mass audience. Is it possible to mix art and business? Yes, in the idea that if only the businessman will market the end product without changing the process of doing in it. Promote and market indie films as indie films with its unique selling proposition such as unconventional storytelling, tackles subjects that mostly mainstream movies avoid, no star cast etc.  Sell the product (film) as it is.