MOWELFUND

Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc or MOWELFUND is a foundation that was established in 1974.  It aims to develop and preserve the Philippine cinema and help movie workers behind it. Its primary goal is to protect the Philippine cinema and to promote the core values of the organization.

Having visited the MOWELFUND made me realize how important to value the history of our films throughout the years. As a mass communication student, it is also important to know how the Philippine history of cinema evolved throughout the years. I have seen how the organization preserve the important things that was used in different Philippine classic films like the dress used by Nora Aunor in the award winning film “ himala”, up to the costume used in different films and even the trophies of Eddie Garcia, Nora Aunor, Boots Anson Roa and others. Visiting also the museum of the late Fernando Poe Jr makes me remember my grandmother and some of my childhood memories since I grow up watching his movies in the province. I like how they protect and preserve the important things since it was very useful not only to us but also to those future people who wants to visit the institution.

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang( Weighed but found wanting is a 1974 film by Lino Brocka starring Christopher De Leon, Hilda Koronel, Lolita Rodriquez, and Eddie Garcia.

The film can be considered as an extraordinary film because I like the execution of the story. The first scene has been very striking and shocking since it showed how abortion was done. It can be reflected to the present situation since a lot of women commit the same crime. The film also shows how love can change everything since Kuala (one of the characters was ruined and how he gained her memory at the end. The film shows how money and power control a small town. It is somewhat related to the present time since it was the same as now where power control everything. The government did not take any action to respond the situation of Kuala and Berto that was being maltreated and bullied by the people. It has a great impact in the society since there are a lot of people that has the same condition as to them and experience the same thing. It also shows how hypocrisy dominated the Philippine context that time. I like the how the director showcase the exact situation of the Philippine culture of that time. The film primarily focuses on the true meaning of morality and humanity in the Philippines. In overall perspective, the film opens the mind of the viewers on how morality clauses affect someone lives.

Edge of Hollywood

When the time that mainstream films dominated Hollywood and the decline of it in the 1950’s and 1960’s, young directors who are new in the industry begun to make independent films. These directors make films primarily because they introduce a different kind of film making that does not require too much money and the help of the big studios. With the limited budgets they have, these directors are able to make films mainly to introduce the audience to the different side of storytelling. They dramatize things that depict the reality of the society by means of sexuality and violence. They began to introduce to the audience the unusual approach of dramatization and characterization of its plots by means of its jumbled chronology of events and characters and its twisted endings. This kind of storytelling might even reach to its superiority as its plots have not been the usual storytelling. This movement might be considered as free because directors are able to take risks in experimenting different kind of storytelling to open the minds of its audience the reality of life.

Star System

cary grant

joan crawford

Star system is a method in Hollywood wherein they would select young actors and create personas and even new backgrounds. It was concern on the image of the actors rather than the acting. Women were expected to act and dress properly while men to act gentleman.  Some of them were Cary Grant which was born as Archie Leach and Joan Crawford born as Lucille Fay Leusseur. Morality clauses are very important.

Studio System

Hollywood Studio System is the method of film creation, production and distribution dominated by the big studios in Hollywood from 1920’s to 1960’s. These studios produce movies primarily on their own filmmaking lots and locations. It is where the actors are under long term contract where they should only work for the studio they are signed in.

French New Wave

French New Wave was the name coined by film critics for a group of French filmmakers during the late 1950’s and 1960’. It was greatly influenced by Neorealism (a film movement started in 1943). The movement itself never became a formal movement but the characteristics itself define what the movement is all about.

Filmmakers rejected the idea of classical or the traditional kind of stories. Shooting on location became a norm. Instead of studio lighting, they replaced it available light. The protagonists often lack goal. Because of tight budget, Directors often have the method of experimenting with the film. They introduce fresh approach of creative storytelling. They have established expressing humanly approach stories than those who are in mainstream films. It has more realistic approach.  They often used improvised things for props and even involved and take part itself in the film because they major concern is their budget. 

It has a documentary style because it requires no set up time and it usually have long takes which at the end of the movie, the problems it established are not answered in the end. Finally, the French New Wave is focused on the technique and style itself. The film makers shows his vision and understanding on the world.

True Love...Romeo and Juliet

Considered the most tragic love story written by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet will forever be one of the greatest tragic love story in the world of literature.

The story of Romeo and Juliet was one of the best stories of young love and how situations and actions change the outcome of the story. Their love story proved how powerful love is. Their love against all odds proved how cruel life is to every individual in the world.

It is about fighting for your love and being able to conquer the obstacles that will come in your way. The story makes us realize how love can change everything and how it makes every individual overcome everything for the sake of love.

This reminds me how intelligent Shakespeare was for he was able to write such story. This was probably the best story in the world of literature.

The actors are also able to play well their characters and they execute the right emotions that are necessary for every scene.

This film makes us realize how love can be for it causes the two character’s lives. It may be a tragic story of young love but the learning it gives was excellent especially in family affairs.

This can be relate to present situations as to many teenagers are being into early commitment where they are being into relationship which they really don’t know how to handle it because they are just doing what they think is right.

In overall perspective, the film gives us better understanding of youth related problems such as communicating with family, love and true meaning of life.