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.