MEDIA-BASED ARTS AND DESIGN IN THE PHILIPPINES Noteworthy Philippine Photographers

INTRODUCTION
The Philippines has joined the rest of the world in
applying the wonders of modern photography to every aspect
In this quarter, the modern techniques and trends in
photography, film, print media, digital media, and product and of life—from personal to professional to national to global.
industrial design will be explored. Most notably the talent, And with our country’s natural beauty, a number of local
creativity, and quality workmanship of Filipino artists and photographers have taken on the Philippines and our people
designers in all these fields will be recognized and celebrated. as a major focus of their lenses.
Not only have these brought Philippine artistry to the
world’s attention, but they have opened up an entire range of
- Among these are George Tapan, John K. Chua, Manny Librodo
Opportunities for young Filipinos to develop and apply these
talents—and earn a living while doing so. and many other talented members of the Federation of
Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF)
Among the results have been exciting innovations in
materials manipulation, coloring and embellishment George Tapan is an award-winning travel photographer who
techniques, and creation and production processes applied to has won two Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA) Gold
all today’s media—whether physical and tangible, or virtual in awards, an ASEAN Tourism Association award, and first place
cyber space.
in the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest. His highly-
Photography acclaimed work has been published in five travel photography
books.
- In its early stages during the late 19th century, photography
was viewed as a purely technical process, that of recording
visible images by light action on light-sensitive materials.

- In fact, its very name—from the Greek “photos” (meaning

light) and “graphos” (meaning writing)—states this process
literally.

The Photographer as Artist

- In a pictorial shoot, the photographer may position lighting,

modify the lens setting, or use filters to create an effect he or
she has conceptualized beforehand.
- The tools and techniques may not be those of the traditional
artist, but the aesthetic principles are the same.

- For today’s photographers, the process goes even further.

They may take the exposed film into a dark room or subject the
digital images to their photo editing software—and there
manipulate the images with the myriad of photo enhancement
techniques and tools currently available.
Into the Green Zone
Tapan’s 1st place-winning image in the 2011
- Whether left untouched from the instant the image was
National Geographic Photo Contest
captured or was digitally or manually altered, the resulting
photographs can be startlingly impactful. It becomes clear how
the photographer has captured the elements of form, color,
light and shadow, texture, and composition to create a true
work of art.

Photography as Communication

- Photography is now being viewed as being more than just

beautiful. It is also considered one of the most powerful means
of communication.
- the photographic image is today’s most important means of
conveying information and ideas, expressing emotions, even
championing causes.
- This power comes from two distinctive characteristics of
photography: immediacy and detail.
- photographs are vital tools in communication fields such as
journalism, advertising, education, and even in courts of law.
They have also been used to eloquently speak out against social
and political issues.
 to your assigned/chosen theme. Store the best ones in your
devices for group evaluation.
John K. Chua is best known as an
advertising and commercial As a group, select one photograph taken by each of your group
photographer, with over 40 years of members that best captures the theme. If there are five groups,
experience in this field and numerous there will be 5 selected photos.
local and international awards for his
work. At the same time, he has applied Plan with your group how and where to have these selected
his photo artistry to showcasing the photos printed on letter-size paper (8½” x 11”). Then, turn these
beauty of the Philippines. over to your Arts teacher for safekeeping until they will be
presented in the culminating exhibit.

FILM
Snake Island, Palawan
Another art form which has risen to tremendous heights within
the last century is film or cinema. As its early name “motion
pictures” declared, film brought yet another dimension into play
—that of moving images. The possibilities of this medium
created a new art form that was to become a powerful social
and economic force, and a legacy of the 20th century to the
world.

A Technology-driven Art

**Cinema, just as all modern arts, has been greatly influenced

by technology. In the case of cinema, however, it is an art form
that came into being because of technological advances.

**The transition from still photography came in the late 1800s

with “series photography” and the invention of celluloid strip
film. This allowed successive still photos of a moving subject to
Gulf of Davao be captured on a strip of film advancing through a single
camera. This was the seed of the highly-advanced film medium
we enjoy today.

**The need to view these moving images led to the rise of the
Kinetoscope - a peepshow cabinet with an eyehole through
which these earliest “movies” could be viewed one person at a
time. A motor inside the cabinet moved the film strip along in a
loop, with an electric bulb providing illumination from
beneath.

Photography Group Project: “Images with a Message” **In the meantime, European and American inventors were
providing one technological advancement after another. The
For this group project, your teacher would have asked you to French developed the “cinematographe,” - a hand- cranked
bring to class any available device for taking photographs (point- camera, printer, and projector all in one that was lightweight
and-shoot camera, DSLR camera, mobile phone, android phone, enough to bring outside the studio.
tablet). Those who do not have their own device may share with
other classmates. **By 1901, the earliest motion pictures were rapidly
progressing from one-scene, studio films to multiple-scene
The class will be divided into groups of five. Each group will be narratives filmed outdoors. Driven by these and many more
assigned a theme such as: advances, the art aspect of filmmaking was born.

1 - People/Personalities The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking

2 - Our School
3 - Nature Filmmaking, because of its technical complexity, involves entire
4 - Insights teams of artists, writers, and production experts, supported by
5 - Humor technicians taking charge of the cameras, lighting equipment,
(Note: The groups may also think of their own themes, if they sets, props, costumes, and the like—all under the
wish.) supervision of a film director.

Together with your group, move around the classroom and

school grounds on your own time, taking photographs according
Film Directing
Film Genres
- It is the director, like the painter and sculptor in traditional
art, who envisions the final effect of the film on its viewers, **The public response to motion pictures was immediate and
visually, mentally, and emotionally. enthusiastic.

- the painter and sculptor work with physical materials. **From makeshift nickelodeons (movie theaters charging a
nickel for entrance) in 1904 to luxurious “dream palaces” for
- the film director works with ideas, images, sounds, and other middle class moviegoers by 1914, public showings of movies
effects to create this unique piece of art. were a big hit.

- He or she conceptualizes the scenes, directs the acting, **With World War I over and the establishment of Hollywood
supervises the cinematography and finally the editing and as the center of American filmmaking in 1915, the movie
sound dubbing in much the same way as a visual artist industry was on its way to becoming one of the biggest and
composes an artwork. Clearly, however, the director does not most influential of the century. With financial success came the
do all these alone. rush to release more and more films, in an ever-wider variety
— leading to the many film genres we know today.
Through the years, the complexity of filmmaking gave rise to
numerous allied arts that did not previously exist. **First there were the silent films starring Charlie Chaplin, and
the “slapstick comedy” films of Buster Keaton and later Laurel
Acting and Hardy.

- First and foremost, there was the art of acting for film. With - With sound still unavailable, these films relied on purely
live theater as the only form of acting at that time, film actors visual comedy that audiences found hilarious. Then, there
had to learn to express themselves without the exaggerated emerged the gangster movie genre as well as horror and
facial expressions and gestures used on stage. With the fantasy films that took advantage of the sound technology that
addition of sound in the 1930s, they then had to learn to was newly available at that time.
deliver their lines naturally and believably.

Cinematography

- Behind the scenes, there was cinematography or the art of Charlie Chaplin
film camera work. This captured the director’s vision of each A Dog’s Life
scene through camera placement and movement, lighting, and
other special techniques.

Editing

- This was joined by film editing, the art of selecting the precise
sections of film, then sequencing and joining them to achieve
the director’s desired visual and emotional effect. Sound Sound plus color then allowed for further development of
editing was also developed, as films began to include more animated feature films, as well as what became the major
ambitious effects beyond the dialogue and background music. American genre of the 1930s—the movie musical. Here, the
spectacle of theater productions was brought to the movie
Production/Set design screen, incorporating singing, dancing, and elaborate
production numbers enhanced by emerging film techniques.
- Underlying all these was the art of production and set design.
This recreated in physical terms—through location, scenery, Further developments in cinematic and sound technology led
sets, lighting, costumes, and props—the mental image that the to even more genres:
director had of how each scene should look, what period it
should depict, and what atmosphere it should convey. This war and disaster films, westerns or “cowboy movies,” thrillers
included creating worlds that did not exist as well as worlds or suspense films, historical or biographical films, film epics,
that were long gone, designing each production component and film adaptations of literary classics. In a similar way, the
down to the very last detail. . tremendous advances in computer technology in recent
decades have fueled the rise of futuristic or science fiction
**Again, all these allied arts were made possible through the films, as well as special effects movies featuring live actors,
advances of modern technology. animated characters, or live actors and animated characters
together.
- From cumbersome machines that could barely be moved,
today’s highly- sophisticated cameras and accessories can Documentary films - a non-fiction genre, were made using
handle even the most demanding camera work. From the era real-life footage as well as file materials, in many cases to
of silent films, today’s films incorporate a vast range of voice, present an issue.
music, and sound effects to suit an ever -widening array of film
genres. Finally, a special genre known as art films (“indie” or
independent films) caters to a small group of viewers and
- From manual rendering, today’s animated films use the critics, consciously concerned with the artistic merits of a
awesome capabilities of computers to amaze moviegoers of all motion picture.
ages.
Philippine Filmmakers

**In the Philippine film scene, the American influence was **Crossing over easily between projects for television
evident in the pre-World War II and Liberation years with song- and for the big screen is veteran film director Maryo
and-dance musicals, romantic dramas, and comedy films. J. delos Reyes. The heartwarming drama film
Magnifico won for him the Best Director distinction
**Beginning with the turbulent 1970s, however, progressive
Filipino directors emerged to make movies dealing with
at the 2003 FAMAS Awards and garnered other local
current social issues and examining the Filipino character. and international film awards as well. Delos Reyes
continues to be active in both film and television
Among them were: Lino Brocka (Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, media, having become known for well-loved
1974; Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag, 1975), Mike de Leon teleseryes (television drama series)
(Itim, 1976; Sister Stella L, 1984; Bayaning 3rd World, 1999),
Ishmael Bernal (Himala, 1982), and Peque Gallaga (Oro, Plata,
Mata, 1983).

Another Filipino film director who has brought the

Lino Brocka Mike de Leon Ishmael Bernal country to the cinema world’s attention is Brillante
Mendoza. Mendoza was originally a production
Outstanding female directors have likewise made their mark in designer for films, commercials, and music videos,
Philippine cinema. Among them are Laurice Guillen and and started directing films in 2005. But in just four
Marilou Diaz Abaya. years, his film Kinatay (The Execution of P) won
for him the Best Director award at the highly
Laurice Guillen’s Salome (1981) earned international acclaim at
the Toronto International Film Festival. Her more recent films, prestigious Cannes Film Festival of 2009.
such as Tanging Yaman, (2001) which won Best Picture in the
Metro Manila Film Festival, American Adobo (2002), Santa
Santita (2004), and Sa ‘Yo Lamang (2010), all gained her
recognition among the current generation of Filipino
moviegoers.

Film Group Project: “Moving Selfies!”

Your teacher will divide the class into groups of eight

to 10 students each.
Together with your group mates, arrange for
access to at least one of any of the following
Marilou Diaz Abaya captured the attention and respect of the devices with video capabilities:
viewing public with powerful films such as Jose Rizal (1998), a mobile phone with video camera
perfectly timed for the centennial celebration of Philippine a tablet with video camera
independence; Muro-ami (1999), which bravely exposed the
deadly practice of using child-divers to pound for fish in the
a digital video camera
Philippines’ coral reefs; and Bagong Buwan (2001), which dealt As a group, choose a catchy tune or song of about two
with the human cost of the Muslim-Christian conflict in minutes in length.
Mindanao. On your own time outside of class hours,
create with your group a series of “video
selfies” of yourselves with that tune as the
background music.
Using a video editing program , work
together to synchronize the video segments
with the beat and lyrics of your chosen song.

Save the finished video and turn it over to

your Arts teacher for safekeeping until it will
be presented as part of the culminating
exhibit.

wed as bei

ng