#erikmatti

[jakepullsthetrigger]

Isang love letter kay dir. Erik Matti.

Unahan ko na: 1. Hindi ako fan ng Korean shows and music. 2. Marami akong mga gusto na pelikula ni dir. Erik Matti. 3. Mahilig ako sa pelikula, local and international, pero hindi super film buff. 4. Pero, parang may mali sa playing victim statement natin re sa ating Local Film and Entertainment Industry, sir, as published sa Tweet niyo at sa article na ito ng ABS-CBN News:

1. Hindi naman siguro kasalanan sa kahit anong industriya ang maging mas competitive sa market. E naging mas aggressive ang support sa kanila ng industriya, ng gobyerno, ng market nila e. E naging mas aggressive sila sa pag-angat ng content at tema nila (BL, Historical Drama, kung anu-ano pang topic na tinatalakay). E naging mas aggressive sila sa pagpapalago ng distribution ng mga palabas nila (Netflix, etc). Again, e kasi naging mas aggressive sila at wala tayong control doon. Pero para ibaling sa K-Drama Galore ang fearless forecast na "our TV and movie are doomed in the future" ay parang sinusukuan na rin natin ang kakayahan ng ating sariling TV and movie industry. Hindi ba natin kayang maging mas aggressive in terms of more relevant content and themes, in terms of clamouring support, in terms of production, etc? Kayo ang mas makakasagot niyan sir bilang isang direktor. Ang industriya rin ang makakasagot kung paano magiging mas competitive sa kalaban. Suggestion, why don't we try exploring content that are usually being shot down kasi "mukhang hindi bebenta" o "hindi pasok sa pangmasang formula"? Bakit hindi kaya tayo maghain ng bago aside sa mga content tungkol sa pangangaliwa, sa poverty porn, sa below-the-belt humour, sa pagkakapitalize sa mga pogi at magaganda LANG, etc, etc. Nakakaumay din kasi sir ang paulit ulit na inihahain sa lamesa, kaya naghahanap ng ibang putahe ang mga manunuod. Pasarapan sir, walang sisihan.

2. Sir, may problema rin ako sa statement niyo na "Faux cinderella stories with belofied actors whiter than white. And it’s all about love in the midst of this pandemic. " Una sa lahat, hindi ba masyadong overgeneralizing ito? Paano kaya kung sabihan din ang pelikula't palabas natin na "Masyadong angkla sa kahirapan o infidelity ang mga pelikulang Pililipino plus nafi-feature ang mga artistang matatangos ang ilong, mapuputi at makikinis plus parating ginagawang katatawanan ang pagiging bakla, pagiging maitim, o pagkakaroon ng kapansanan, plus okay lang mangmanyak ang bida ng leading lady?" Payag ka ba sir? Syempre, dahil generalize nga, damay na rin diyan ang mga peyborit kong pelikula niyo na OTJ, BuyBust, Honor Thy Father at Seklusyon among others. Ako kasi sir, hindi ako payag.

3. Huli na sir: mas may leverage tayo sa playing field. Mas may access tayo sa local distribution, channels at platforms. Mas naiintindihan natin ang gusto ng mamamayan, mas immersed tayo sa kulturang Pilipino. Given, tumataas ang Netflix. Pero sir, Netflix lang iyan. Hindi lahat ng mamamayan ay may access sa Netflix. Hindi rin lahat ng mamamayan ay may access sa internet, particularly mabilis na internet at malaking data para makapanuod ng maraming online videos. Malakas pa rin ang TV sa buong bansa sir. Mas may control tayo sa kung ano ang pwede nating ipalabas sa TV diba, sir? Suportado rin naman ng mga Pinoy ang mga content online. Basta maganda sir. Basta may quality, sir. Baka kailangan na nating irevisit kung anong uri ng mga content ang madalas nating pinapalabas sa telebisyon para mas maintindihan natin kung bakit nahuhumaliw ang mga tao sa Korean shows.

4. Ito, huli na talaga sir: 'Wag tayo matakot kung mas may access na ang mamamayan sa iba't ibang content. Una, mas nakakatulong ito magbigay ng ibang panlasa't perspektiba sa mga manunuod. Pangalawa, mapipilitan ang industriya natin na mas itaas ang antas ng mga palabas upang muling makuha ang atensyon at suporta ng mga mamamayan. Pangatlo, nagkakaroon tayo ng point of reference sa maraming bagay para makuha ng mga best practice, tulad sa content themes o storytelling, and even mas mapagbuti pa ang atin. Sir, 'wag tayo matakot sa access. Matagal nang takot ang gobyerno sa access at impormasyon, pati ba naman tayo sir sa industriya ng KOMUNIKASYON AT MALAYANG PAGPAPAHAYAG. Ironic yun, sir Erik. Mas magandang bukas ang entablado kaysa sarado't kontrolado (pamilyar, pamilyar).. Pero tayo sir, wag tayo matakot. Nandiyan kayo at ang iba pang magagaling na direktor na for sure na may mas malulupet na pantapat sa entablado ng mga pelikula't palabas. May mga kaibigan din akong nagsisimula palang sa film and entertainment industry, pero may malulupit din silang ideya at storya at kung anu-ano pa. Sir, 'wag tayo matakot kasi pasibol palang ang mas magagandang mga pelikula. Nasa atin na kung puputulin natin ang paglago nito.

Basta ako sir, 'di ako payag na mababa ang tingin ng ibang tao sa lahat ng palabas na Pilipino, kasama na ang malulupet na pelikula niyo, sir. Malaking insulto sir kapag sinukuan natin ang sariling atin.

Nagmamahal at excited sa mga future na pelikula't palabas na Pilipino, Jakeyboy.

[aseo]

Buy Bust Tribute key art posters.

[mitoystaana]

The original #ErikMatti babies! Friends from many moons back! Finally, nagkitq kita! @erikmatti @darthchef007 @eginigo @deniseochoa @msgina201 @adelinaleung @crownjules92 (at Senta) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2wWJEchVIW/?igshid=fno1pvwry28d

[cazedmunds]

Boy, did we not see that twist coming. Happy that @erikmatti is back in the genre where he shines. Brilliant and jaw-dropping performance by @johnarcilla. Cruel and twisted and effectively Evil. Best performance ever. Go see it in cinemas now! 🎬🎥🎬 . . #Kuwaresma #KuwaresmaMovie #ErikMatti #Horror https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxllts9FmM9/?igshid=ppc1hjoqe36o

[harveycast]

View this post on Instagram

Time por da monies!🇵🇭 #Repost @buybustmovie ・・・ See the transition of Rico Yatco from a gentle giant to a killing machine, once provoked. Papalag ka ba sa kanya? Catch ONE Champ @brandonthetruthvera in his exciting cinematic debut. BUYBUST hits Philippine theaters August 1st 💪🏼 #BuyBustMovie #RealityEntertainment #VivaFilms #movies #actionmovies #action #ErikMatti #AnneCurtis #BrandonVera #XYZFilms #WellGoUSA #VivaArtists #VivaArtistAgency #VivaEntertainment #VirtualPlayground #ONEFC (at National City, California)

[patrickcrain]

Now watching - ABCs of Death 2 (2014) #rodneyascher #julianbarratt #robertboocheck #alejandrobrugués #julienmauryandalexandrebustillo #larryfessenden #juliangilbey #jimhosking #lancelotoduwaimasuen #elkatz #stevenkostanski #marvinkren #juanmartinezmoreno #erikmatti #robertmorgan #chrisnash #vincenzonatali #hajimeohata #ahronkeshales #navotpapushado #billplympton #dennisonramalho #toddrohal #jeromesable #kristinabuozyte #brunosamper #soskasisters #soichiumezawa (at Crain Manor)

[xerjj-blog]

Just watched the uncut Seklusyon 😁 Congrats to the whole team! -- It is indeed unlike any other film's screenplay and undoubtedly why it is highly acclaimed technically. It is truly brave that it dives deep into how strong man's faith in God to follow the truth, and it is tremendously powerful in a sense that it leaves the realization of you choosing the widest and easiest path rather than choosing what is righteous in His eyes. -- Another masterpiece from none other than Erik Matti (Thank you for this selfie Direk) #SeklusyonUncut #ErikMatti

[rcdmendoza]

MMFF 2016: ‘Seklusyon’

Yes, here I am again, alive and kicking. Hahaha. Happy with the drastic changes in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, I rushed to the nearest cinema to watch one of the entries. And here’s my take.

Every Christian, regardless of sect or denomination, is always faced with an everyday yet extraordinary battle: Temptation. Whether fulfilling his/her everyday duties or pursuing a chosen vocation, the lures of the 'evil one' will always be there to distract an individual or pull him down to sin.

In the 2016 MMFF entry 'Seklusyon', candidates for ordination to the Priesthood were faced with a seven-day test. That is, to test themselves whether they are really fit to say yes into such a sacred commitment. It is believed that the last days prior to an ordinand's reception of Holy Orders can be plagued with temptation, mostly with flashbacks of his past sins (mortal sins in particular) and lifestyles, in an attempt by the devil to turn a person's back to his vocation or to continue receiving orders with stained consciences.

The story revolves on the four men who are about to receive ordination to the Priesthood, a priest who saw himself delving into investigating a child-healer under the control of a runaway nun thus causing stir between him, his superior and his local ordinary (the diocesan bishop), and the master of the 'seclusion house'. The normal process of the seven-day seclusion reached its height when the master, an estranged priest himself, left the house over the care of the nun and her ward, the child-healer whose parents were killed for several, unverified reasons.

Three of the candidates were plagued with temptation of choosing between their caprices over self-emptying. Frail human beings as they are like us, they easily fell to the tricks of the devil who keeps on telling that God never wanted them to 'deprive themselves of their desires'. (Thus, the concept of 'free will') As the story is about to conclude, the child-healer used by the devil to play tricks over the ordinandi revealed his plot to infiltrate the church with bad clergy (and religious) so as to confuse people to see who are the good guys and those on the other side. The priest-investigator ended up with a failed exorcism over an argument with the child-healer possessed by the devil and the other candidate, recognizing the terrible sins he made in the past, saw himself unfit to be ordained and ended up killing the child who caused them confusion. That is, the very same child that is the fruit of his own sin, the child that led his old lover into despair and suicide!

The story ended with the three men being ordained to the priesthood, with the renegade nun present in the solemn rites. The devil was able to carry his plan, so to speak...infiltrating the church with men and women who chooses their caprices over doing good.

Story wise, Seklusyon can be a tool for those who are into discernment, to seriously think about the vocation they wish to pursue, that what they are about to enter is no joke nor a trial-and-error test. He/she must be strong enough to overcome temptations that may come along his/her journey. Yes, some ordinandi may pass tests such as seclusions but if they are not strong enough to resist temptations and worldly desires because of 'free will', that can be a powerful tool for the devil to destroy the church gradually by infiltrating her with wolves, in the form of the clergy and the religious who deliberately chooses worldly desires than to do good and being fathful to their commitment. Yet, the viewer must be matured enough to grasp the complexity of the story and he/she must open his/her mind that the story is not just a product of a screenwriter's creative imagination, but also a present-day reality. How we wished the MTRCB rated the film as R-16 (or R-18 if the evaluators see it fit) instead of R-13.

Now, to the production aspects. I have to admit, I cringed when I saw some parts of the film, to be particular: the use of religious images to portray the devil's attack to the characters, and some parts of the liturgy like the formula of absolution during the protagonist's confession at the start of the movie and the rites of ordination. (I have to beg Pope Francis' pardon for being so 'rigid' in this particular aspect. Hahaha!)

Yes, some of our kinsmen especially the oldies (beep-beep!) may believe that religious images can be possessed by the devil. But come to think of it, how can an object blessed by consecrated hands be infiltrated by the devil? Objects intended for sacred and pious usage are intended to aid us in praying fervently and faithfully, not to replace God nor be the focal point of our piety. So we must be careful that our popular devotions must not lead us to mere fanaticism. And also, speaking of the images used in the set, how we wished they could have been dressed in a more reverent way. (Shout out to our santo enthusiast friends. Haha!)

If ever you go to confession frequently, you might observe in the movie that the proper formula of absolution was altered. (Yes, my rigidity starts to pour here, haha!) Yet, the priest-confessor's persistence to cleanse the soul of the ordinand-penitent deserves our applause. Meanwhile, in the rites of the ordination at the end of the movie, there are things that will make liturgists and liturgy buffs grab packs of aspirin and even ask for cold compress. Yes, aspirin and cold compress...haha! In the rite, the ordinandi faces each other instead of facing the ordaining prelate (who by the way, was dressed in drab imitations of pontificalia you usually see in theaters and fantasy films, the miter was good tho). Not only that, during the part of the litany wherein they will prostrate themselves in prayer, they are still in circular form, and their hands outstretched as if they are chanting the 'Suscipe'. And oh dear, the ordaining prelate was not the one who anointed them with Sacred Chrism (the oil used for consecration and the celebration of the Sacraments), but a concelebrating priest who, anointed them not in the palm of their hands, but on their foreheads. Makes me wonder, is this really an ordination, or confirmation? Now, I'll stop here. Sorry for being so rigid, Holy Father. Hehehe.

Yes, whenever yours truly watch films that tells something about the church or portaying churchmen, I always look if not meticulously, at least at a close range to the production design of the film. And yes, the critic in me can no longer silence himself. As Bernardo Bernardo said in one of his movie portrayals: "Kung sino man ang Production Designer nito, dapat bitayin!" (Whoever the production designer is, he must be hanged!) Joke lang po. Hehehe.

But overall, this 2016 MMFF entry must be lauded in its own right! There are story and production headaches in the movie, yes, but this is indeed a step closer towards improving the quality of Filipino films, instead of the usual money-making trash where we burn or christmas bonuses and our kids' long-waited aguinaldos. Here you go, grab my Four Stars. Kudos!