10 Philippine Showbiz Today
July 22 - August 7, 2016
Live Reviews
by ALAN SAMUEL
The Music of Strangers (G) ***
High Note !
Do make Vancouver’s Park Theatre your destination to check out
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Ensemble. Watch in
awe as this humble New Yorker over a 16 year period brings together
some of the world’s most vibrant musicians In a truly unique project.
Our director here is John Neville. You May not know the name
but this classy filmmaker shed a bright light on back up singers in his
inspirational 20 Feet From Stardom a few years back. Now the darling
of unique musical documentaries turns his considerable talents on a
group of world musicians not afraid to speak out. And stand out they
do!
Born out of an idea from Yo-Yo Ma, The Music of Strangers really
is all about peace. Somehow Ma cobbled together a group of very
talented individuals from various parts of the world. Two things they
have in common: tremendous musical talent and accomplishments
and a desire to better the world by using music as a bridge to peace
and way to overcome problems. How noble is that!
Off we go on a bit of a travelogue intertwined with bits of history
to such hot spots as Tehran, Syria and Beijing, plus Spain as some
very noble musicians/statesmen explain what inspired them to take up
an instrument and how local cultures and governments reacted.
Great music jives with tender heart-warming and heartbreaking
tales to make The Music of Strangers a truly uplifting and engaging
film.•
Grace Poe fi les bill to give
incentives for indie fi lms
As several Filipino films – mostly
independent – have received honors in
prestigious film festivals abroad, Sen.
Grace Poe has filed a bill which would
give incentives to these.
Senate Bill 165 or the Philippine
Independent Film Incentives Act
proposed by Poe, Filipino “independent
films winning the Best Film prize in
respected international cinema festivals
shall be given monetary incentives to
honour their work.”
“We have a great pool of artists
and creators who have brought honour
to our country through outstanding
films. It is high time to recognize them
and encourage the rest of our indie
filmmakers to make their mark, as we
help the industry flourish.”
Bill 165 would grant an award-
winning 90 to 120-minute full-length
or documentary film a grant of PhP 5
million, while a short film that runs for
20 minutes or less shall be given P3M.
Eligible full-length films “must be
made by Filipino filmmakers who have
not yet directed more than 3 full-length
commercial feature films.”
Sen. Grace Poe
and her late father
Fernando Poe,Jr.
The total production budget of the
full-length or documentary film should
not exceed P3M, while for short films, the
budget cannot be more than P1 million.
Poe said that films are a “mirror of
our rich culture and a Filipino identity,”
thus it should be given an importance
by government. The independent film
industry has my unwavering support. Our
filmmakers and actors have added greatly
to the wealth of our culture and heritage.
It is only proper for the government to
acknowledge their efforts.”
She cited the movie Ma’Rosa
directed by Brillante Mendoza which
gained
international
recognition
following the Best Actress win of Jaclyn
Jose at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Mendoza also won Best Director in
the 2009 edition of the same festival for
the movie Kinatay.
Lav Diaz’s Hele Sa Hiwagang
Hapis won the Silver Bear at the Berlin
Film Festival, and his short film, Ang
Araw Bago ang Wakas, also won at
62nd International Short Film Festival in
Germany.•
– Rappler