Movie Blog of the Month: Rianne Hill Soriano talks about Filmmaking and Film Blogging

Sorry dear readers for the slight delay on this one. The Movie Blogger of the month here at Penstalker is not just a film blogger, she’s also a filmmaker. In this email interview I had with her, she shares with us the joys of being a film maker and blogger. Rianne Hill Soriano publishes her thoughts online at www.riannehillsoriano.com/blog. Read on.

When did you start blogging about movies?

Prior to blogging, I really started with writing film reviews for Yehey.com way back 2004 or 2005 (I’m not that sure anymore of the year but I’m quite sure it was around January or February). The COO met me and asked me to review any film showing that time to see how I write, then send it to him. I wrote a review for the sequel for Blade. After that, the Channels Manager emailed me with cc to the COO and told me that they posted my article at the Movies Page of Yehey.com. Since then, they hired me as a professional writer for entertainment, primarily doing film reviews. They also tap me for other things once in a while – doing write-ups for their lifestyle section, writing for events, attending presscons, etc. Though I preferred doing film-related events and of course, watching films and writing about them.

That time, I wasn’t that much of a blogger yet. But being an internet savvy person, it didn’t take too much time until I started to come up with a film blog. I decided to continue writing about films through blogging. I started with Friendster, then Multiply, until my former boss encouraged me to buy my own domain name www.riannehillsoriano.com. He convinced me and helped me out with it – setting up my official film blog, etc. This was around 2006. By 2008, Yehey asked me to do film articles the way a regular columnist would do. So I also started writing more film articles more than just film reviews.

But I have a confession. When I started with my film blog, the main goal on top of my head was to keep an online archive of my articles. Yeah, considerably, it’s out of the paranoia that in case my hard drive fails, I have a backup! That’s true. Then like any other thing in the world, it started to evolve. And now, I’m starting to realize that I have lots of articles already, hundreds… I got surprised myself when I looked over my blog, especially the older posts. Made me nostalgic with some things… And it’s funny looking back to how I used to write before and how I am now… Now, I’m keeping up the blog not just for the sake of backup anymore, but because I fell in love with it.

Why did you blog about movies and not any other topic/niche?

It’s because cinema is my first love above all things (but of course family/loved ones are of a separate category =p ). I’m a filmmaker and I also love to write. And blogging about something close to your heart keeps you driven. As a filmmaker, I shoot, write scripts, improve my technical know-hows everyday. As a film writer and blogger, I watch films, learn from what I see on screen, ponder on them, write about them. I express myself on both media, and they both help me grow as a person and artist. I can’t live without films. I think in a year I watch at least 100 films, haha! (theater releases, DVDs, and film festival releases). I was a journalist since I was in grade school through our school paper. I was the EIC of our school paper when I was in high school. But when I went to college, it’s clear to me that I really love to take up film, which I did. But it’s great to know that I’m both making films and writing about films (I was able to utilize my being a film graduate and my being a journalist way back in grade school and high school with it). =D

What is it like to be a movie blogger and a film maker at the same time?

It’s fun, but it’s hard… First on the good part… Watching lots of films helps me grow as a filmmaker. I see great films, crappy films, films that are kinda crappy but with some good enough parts, films that are very good but with some goofy parts… all kinds! I always find them as opportunities to learn – everytime I sit there and watch… There are always realizations, new knowledge, fun times, and bad times… But film is my life. So watching films is really something vital to my system. And more than just graduating from film school, watching films makes me a better filmmaker. Another thing is that it’s an advantage to write about something that you are adept to, because you have the know-hows, you know the whereabouts, the terms, the language… If someone challenges your opinion, you don’t just have the credibility, you also have the knowledge and skill to keep up with your convictions. And as a filmmaker myself, it wouldn’t apply the words from others when they say something like this (or similar/yielding to this): “Don’t just criticize, you don’t make films and you don’t know how it’s like to be out there…”

On the not so good part, since I am a filmmaker myself, it’s quite a challenge writing about local films. Why? Because most of the time, I know the people behind the films. Some of them are even my friends, my teachers, my colleagues. The thing is, with all the film reviews I wrote, I always say the truth, my insights are always my own – never compromised by other people. And I write what my convictions tell me even if I have to say something like – the cinematography is not good – and the cinematographer is my friend. It’s quite tough! One time I even got an email from one of the producers of a really bad quality local film because of my review. Apparently, after a nervous opening of the email, I got a response saying I said the truth anyway… whew!

And it’s even more challenging when you come out with your own films because there tends to be a higher expectation… And you have to always keep up with that. And sometimes, my work with the various production outfits gets affected by it, too (or my work is affected by certain turn of events related to the things I write).

What can you say about Philippine Cinema?

I will answer your question in the perspective of an optimistic independent Filipino filmmaker:

Cinema has a great contribution in defining the contemporary culture that shapes the Filipino of today. As a powerful art medium, films can help shape societal values and enlighten the people in many respects. Until now, it is at the stage of continuously refining and formulating its own conventions and sensibilities. And as a source of truth, entertainment, and artistic expression in the country, Filipino filmmaking, whether in the commercial or the independent circuit, has developed itself as a locus of national culture and identity – Philippine films have influenced Philippine culture and vice-versa.

Philippine cinema is slowly, but surely, finding its place today. The Philippine film industry is still to reach full circle. But with its steady growth for the past three years through the boom of independent and digital filmmaking, the country has already earned a description at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival as: “The New Mecca of Independent Films in Asia.” I saw this when I attended the film festival last October 2008. Indeed, digital filmmaking has spurred a renewed interest in Philippine films both in the local and international arena.

As the industry starts to find its way back, the graph showing the growth of the Philippine film industry rising is something to look forward to. The mark of Filipino films reflecting its general limitation on film budget, knowing that the Philippines is still a developing country, becomes a challenge for filmmakers to make the best of the storytelling medium without much dependence on special effects and the newest technical advancements (mainly, as compared to Hollywood). Filipino films, both the art films and commercial films alike, take advantage of the digital medium, mainly HD and DV formats, for their films.

The digital revolution has a big contribution to the slow but steady growth of Philippine cinema – as a number of filmmakers find more opportunities in making digital films today. More and more grant-giving bodies are getting into the picture. And as most of these independent (indie) films are the ones consistently bagging the most honors in award-giving bodies and film festivals both inside and outside the country, more and more people are becoming more interested in watching indie films. And along with this, a number of producers are now opening themselves to the “new breed of filmmakers” as they collectively provide such a spark of hope for the industry.

What kinds of movies do you love watching and writing about?

II watch all kinds of films. But of course, the least thing I want to watch would be crappy, brainless flicks. I have always been a follower of expressionism, action, suspense, fantasy, and epic films. Film with high energy and involving really great fight, action, battle scenes excite me. They are on top of my list. I love watching art films and film classics as well. I can go for plot-driven and/or character-driven films. Anything goes as long as they pay respect and enough value to the medium and their audience.

Tags: filipino film makers, film bloggers, independent film Philippines, Philippine Cinema, Rianne Hill Soriano