The First Final Schedule of the Experience (1st Term SY 2010-11)

This is not the schedule I chose to take because someone made the deed for me without me knowing. Although convenient, it would've been nice if I do it on my own accord.

Thankful yes but a line has just been crossed.

Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

The movie “Lords of Dogtown” gives us an inside look to the early days of the phenomenon that is skateboarding as well as the people who were a part of it. The film is not exactly the typical based-on-a-true-story type where the main characters are all portrayed as good-hearted people who think everything is possible for them. It is a coming-of-age story containing real characters with real depth and emotion.

Despite being a period movie, it doesn’t make itself look like one so it’s easier for younger viewers to appreciate the film as it is. However, “Lords of Dogtown” makes use of different filming styles, most especially with scenes that involves skateboarding and surfing. Some scenes were shot as if they were taken from an old 1970’s home video camera while there those that are taken from a camera’s point of view from a rolling skateboard, something that is commonly seen on televised skating competitions such as the X-Games.
Such a way of using two vastly different styles of shooting such scenes seems to mesh perfectly as it sort of balanced out the story.
The color effects give out a cooling mood when watching the movie. Despite being set at a sunny happy California location, the cinematography shows it as bluish and moody. These traits are found to be very complimentary with the kind of storytelling the movie is presenting to the audience: dark yet refreshing, light yet effective.

Music is a central part of the film as they give a representation of the different moods and mindsets of the characters in the movie. The movie don’t seem to rely much on music played during the 1970’s but their choice of alternative/pop-rock songs seems well-fit to the over-all premise of the movie. Many of the songs featured have this certain feel-good vibe, being played whenever the movie is showing the lighter moments of the characters, shown to be at the peak of their youth, where their friendship is at their strongest, and careless innocence remaining intact.

Even as the film came to a close, it left with a positive feel good song continuing to play at the closing seconds of the final scene. Never was there a “sunken feeling” even if not all of the characters were given happy endings, there is always the implication with the way the movie ended that life continues on with these characters as off-screen, they continue to face challenges and triumphs in their lives.

The people behind Lords of Dogtown succeeded on doing a new contemporary take on doing a 1970’s period movie. Never does it feel in its entirety as such nor does it try to be one. The movie succeeded on making a story that took place more than 30 years ago fresh and accessible for many to enjoy watching.

Blazing in a Sea of Blue

I have long heard of stories and beliefs as people's views about Ateneo de Manila University. Although I couldn't say anything bad nor good about it because I haven't been there myself. In fact, for the past few years I've been to different universities but never once did I think of going to ADMU. Basically, the reason for it is that it's simply too far for me to go to and besides, what reason do I have to go there in the first place? That question though got an answer just a couple of days ago. For more than a month now, I've been planning on joining this student filmmaking contest from an Atenean org, the Loyola Film Circle. It's called the Ateneo Video Open, a competition open to student filmmakers from different colleges and universities.

At the time, I was in the middle of doing my then current (and finals) project for Vidprod2, entitled "The Gift". I liked how the movie turned out although I still wished that it would have been better (better casting maybe for my lead character).

I made other films that are similarly good but given the mechanics that the AVO requires for their film screening, only "The Gift" has a good chance of not getting disqualified due to technicalities. I could submit my entry either to my school's org affiliated to the LFC but I'm not sure if Kino Eye nor MediaMax knew about the event. I didn't notice any posters about the AVO posted around campus. Plan B of submission is to do it the hard way: Bring it over to Ateneo itself. Crazy afterthought popped up all of a sudden but yes, it's the only way to do so. The first time I went there was last Tuesday (Jan. 26, 2010). I thought everything was going to be okay all the way but I forgot to bring one requirement so I had to come back the next day. Going to Ateneo is quite time-consuming, but fortunately, I didn't have classes at the time until later that evening. Hitched a ride at the LRT Line 2 in Recto then dropped myself off to Katipunan.

According to the street map at the station, ADMU is just a few blocks away but then again, it's quite a long trek. I don't want to take a tricycle/jeepney ride since I'm on a budget so walking seems to be the only viable option.

Once inside, I can't help but be amazed by what I'm seeing. Trees, benches, and wide open green fields dot the campus landscape.

Trying to figure things out around there, I ended up passing by this cool hang-out place near a parking lot, then later passed through a couple of brick-walled buildings then eventually ended up to my place of destination, the Manuel V. Pangilinan Building.

The building looks like a student center/mini-mall based from the number of establishments found in the first floor alone. They have an Apple store, a Figaro cafe, and a bookstore(?) among others. The LFC head office is found upstairs and finally, I got to pass my entry to them, including the last one, the registration fee the next day.

On the second day that I was there, I decided to walk around a bit in Ateneo, and maybe take some good rest sitting on one of their benches. By coincidence, I may have spotted a very familiar figure among the students I passed through, a very good friend of mine who goes there. Not sure if it was him but I remember he's with some friends. I could have give him a shout and greeted him but I thought it'd be an awkward moment. Well, you know me...hindi mapagkali.

Just waiting for the one text from the LFC to know if I made the cut as one of their finalist. It's going to be my first time joining a contest such as this so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

:)

The CSB Experience 3: "Pasta? Coffee Jelly?"

I'm trying to recall when was Chef's Station-SDA's first day of operations. If I didn't knew any better, the stall's been up and running since August 14, 2009 which also happened to be the day I got @#@#$#%^*&^%*@ but I see no need to elaborate.

Back to the topic: Fast forward to now, Chef's Station is finally a go-to place among the sophisticated SDA crowd. Gone however the early days when they had metal tables placd in front to create a "restaurant-esque" which I guess didn't worked out for the first batch.

Early this term, I found out that Nikko DS is already doing his practicum at the SDA as one of the MWF batch of student chefs who, through sweat and blood, bring world class cuisine on a student-friendly price of Php60. Nikko encouraged me into trying out whatever's in they're serving from their menu and I obliged out of our friendship (Arts Club days nga naman 'no? Hehehe!).

I guess what I like initially was what he described as "Chef's Station's bestseller", the undying  coffee-jelly. At only 20 pesos, I immediately fell in love with this concoction of theirs so thus started my "relationship" with the guys and girls of the said station (Just trying to avoid being redundant).

As the term continue to progress, it seems like I was becoming more of a permanent fixture as a suki to Nikko's co-interns/co-chefs. Given the obvious connection, the chefs have already memorized my usual choice of food from their menu: Pasta with Ice Tea, and Coffee Jelly. Add to that the greeting I get every time I visit Chef's Station:

"Hi, Jaime!"/"Jaime!"

Namumukhaan ko na rin ang ilan sa kanila, although I'm a bit weak with memorizing names so I always try to remember their names stitched onto their uniforms. Isa singkit, isa may bigote, isa iyung nakausap ko minsan nung binantay niya iyung cash register, and what I assume to be, their OJT adviser (Smack me if I'm wrong haha).

Some say, "a key to a person's heart is through his stomach". But in this case, a key to a person's stomach, is through the power of coffee jelly"...Haha! Corny I know but that's what I could help describe the kind of friendship that was built upon my frequent order of pasta and coffee jelly. To show my appreciation, I even brought home from my recent retreat in Tagaytay a pack of piaya. A token for the excellent service they put with the food they serve every hour of every day they're in SDA.

As tomorrow (Friday March 19, 2010) nears, I am counting down the hours before I could have another fill of pasta and coffee jelly.

Cheers!

The CSB Experience 3: Those Awkward Conversations

I detest being placed on the hot seat. I was never comfortable answering such personal questions so it's always better for me just let them go unanswered.

It's not that I want to lie nor deny but really, it's really something that I don't wanna talk much less talking about in public. Don't try to say that it's the freakin' 21st Century already and that today's generation are liberated and are free to talk about things that weren't much of a central conversation back when our grandparents were teenagers.

As in any case, I just want to stray away from it because I'm not too keen on being open about it. Don't say I'm such a killjoy, I only prefer to be it that way.

Not talking about it does not make me less of a man, nor talking such does not make me any more either. If you wanna talk what you wanna talk about then fine, I'll just sit right there blending in the background.


Cheers! :)

The CSB Experience 3: An Intern for the Rhythm (Late Entry)

The city's got me running,
but I ain't losing ground.
The music's got me hummin',
moving to the sound.
Metro Manila, like a lover,
you're always in my heart.
The rhythm rocks me to and fro,
brings me where I want to go.
Move me, move me...
Metro Manila's 99.5 RT!

Can I just say how happy and speechless I am now knowing that I was able to grab a chance to work for a radio station which have been considered as a living piece of history the industry? Even if it's been more than a week now since I got "hired", I still feel the shivering excitement knowing that I will be having my practicum in the legendary 99.5 RT.

Although I'm not exactly working for the station itself, I made myself part of the production team on one of their shows, RT's flagship chart show the RT30 (short for the RT Top 30). The team is composed of the Inka, the show's host, her producer, Jose, and her minions of interns (including me).

I don't exactly know the names of all my other co-interns but I managed to hang on to a couple of names: Clarisa, and Carla (a fellow Benildean). They introduced me to the kind of works they're engaged in to bring about a good show to present every Friday.

With the nature that my job requires, I have to listen to Top 40 radio  every so often to keep myself updated on everything that's about music. Doing research about the artists and the songs that are charting on the countdown as well as trying to come up with a script for a 3-hour show that otehr than being informative, must also be set in the language of the station's target market, the youth (which makes up a majority of RT's listenership).

Have I mentioned that majority of the production team, including Inka and our producer, are from DLSP schools? (Animo La Salle!)

Although no job is easy. We are in strict compliance with what the station is trying to maintain. Being a station that gets to play potential breakout hits in pop music ahead of the other stations (like Astro Nut's "As Strong as the Sun", Owl City's "Fireflies", Calvin Harris' "I'm Not Alone", to name a few), we are sworn not to reveal to anyone else outside the station the identity of the majority of songs they're playing. Same goes with having insider knowledge with current chart positions of songs in the RT30 days before the show itself airs.

By this point, I have to really dedicate myself on this line of work. Although the MMA-OJT program calls me to produce an output in time, I'm hoping the higher ups would count the scripts that I'll be making with the rest of the interns since it is a collective effort coming from all of us.

And I'm hoping I could manage to pick-up what I've learned right away.


(Writer's note: This piece was written way back couple of months ago with the intention of having it published at a later time. A follow-up entry will be put up ASAP)