When I got a copy of the SGP’s Yearbook 1989-1990 (courtesy of Jose Datiles), I felt that I should do something to keep SGP’s legacy. Former presidents, board of directors, and members of SGP were al all notable writers. Among them were:
Former presidents, board of directors, and
members of SGP (from Left) Lualhati Bautista (photo from
rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph) , Carlo J. Caparas (photo from spot.ph), Jose N.
Carreon, Jose Dalisay (photo from trueknowledge.com), Peque Gallaga
(photo from PEP.ph), Pablo S. Gomez, Jose Lacaba (photo from
agimat.net), Ricardo Lee and Domingo Landicho (photo from hindu.com)
Lualhati Bautista – a recipient of several Palanca awards for her novel.
Carlo J. Caparas – award winning comics novelist turned award-winning scriptwriter.
Jose N. Carreon – newspaperman turned award-winning screenwriter and director.
Jose Dalisay – multi-awarded short story writer and playwright. As screenwriter, he wrote the notable film “Ina ka ng Anak Mo”.
Peque Gallaga – award-winning screenwriter and director and known for his film “Oro, Plata, Mata”
Pablo S. Gomez – one of the most talented and prolific comics novelist, whose work were aired in ABS-CBN even after his death.
Marina Feleo Gonzales – multi-awarded television and movie writer who wrote one of the best Filipino films “Minsa’y Isang Gamugamo”
Jose Lacaba – multi-awarded journalist, poet and screenwriter. His most notable filmed screenplays were “Jaguar” and “Kapit Sa Patalim”.
Amado Lacuesta – investment analyst turned screenwriter. He won the best screenplay award for “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” in 1984.
Domingo Landicho – multi-awarded short story writer, playwright, novelist, essayist, editor and columnist.
Armando Lao – Urian winner for his screenplay “Itanong mo sa Buwan” and won best screenplay for “Takaw-Tukso”.
Ricardo Lee – multi-awarded screenwriter. He wrote the screenplay of “Himala”, “Brutal”, and “Salome”.
Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.- multi-awarded novelist who wrote the screenplay of “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag”, an adaptation of Edgardo Reyes’ novel.
I have mentioned 13 of the best scriptwriters to emphasize the legacy of the Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines. There are still a number of prolific writers worth noting here, but the space may not be enough to mention all of them.
How are we going to maintain SGP’s legacy? That’s the question that I have to answer as the current president of SGP. We paled in comparison to the names mentioned above. But I do believe its no simple task to recruit the best minds in the movie industry. Some of them are too busy, even to renew their membership. But we cannot just put in anybody just to fill-in the void left by these busy screenwriters. After all, we owe to give reverence to our predecessors, that is why selection of members should be done with utmost care.
Palanca-award winning writers: Jerry Gracio and John Iremil E. Teodoro (photo from adamsanandres) and Paul Abellera, creative manager and scriptwriter of ABS-CBN
Another step to strengthen the membership is to amend the By-Laws since all members are classified as regular member, even when some of them do not have formal training in scriptwriting. In the amendments, there will be three classifications of members: regular, associate and apprentice. Those who have not written a script cannot be considered as regular member nor can be elected as officer or board of director.
As what Conrado Leonardo, Jr. have said after the 2009 election: “Hindi basta inutusan lang bumili ng suka, pwedeng maging member na.” Most of us reacted to this statement, but now I have proven through doing a research that some of those who voted at that time do not qualify to be members of SGP.
The Board met yesterday and the following agenda were discussed: (1) Election should be decided by the Board, and it should be on the date stated in the By-Laws of SGP; (2) New members will go through the selection committee in order to determine whether they are real writers (not that somebody is writing using their names to make them writers); (3) New members are not allowed to vote during election unless they are classified as regular members; and (4) Plans for the remaining months of the year.
The strength of the screenwriters lies in its roster of members and dedication of officers and board of directors who will work for the good of the organization. This requires us to become good screenwriters, and being good is not just repeating clichés, but making our brains bleed with creative juices.
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Isabel Sebullen emerged as the unanimous choice to become the new
president of the Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines. The position
of vice president was snatched by Vic Dabao via a plurality vote while
Andy Beltran won as the new Secretary/Treasurer. Enrico Villa was
elected as the Board Chairman.
Dr. Sebullen has a Ph.D in Public Policy Management and currently a
professor in Lyceum of the Philippines University. She is also a
three-time Palanca winner in the short story category. Aside from being a
scriptwriter, Vic Dabao is also a noted production designer and a
visual artist who is one of the advocates of the mixed media art style.
Andy Beltran is into different businesses, a Catholic Mass Media
Awardee, a literary and entertainment writer, while board chairman
Enrico Villa is a veteran writer.
The new officers – from left Board Chairman Enrico Villa, Secretary/Treasurer Andy Beltran, President Dr. Isabel Sebullen and Vice President Vic Dabao
The new board minus Lita Duguran who was absent
The SGP board will soon meet again to thresh out other matters and also to give attention to activities that will directly benefit the members.
________________________________________________________________________
by Isabel Sebullen | Posted in Articles | on Mon, Jul 18, 2011
This year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition showcases two films written by new SGP member Jerry Gracio.
Photo courtesy of cinemalaya.org
Lina finds a burned image of St. Peregrine in the dumpsite and keeps it. Then news of her getting pregnant spread, and Lina is very proud showing her big belly. When she gives birth in the middle of the storm, everybody is shocked when she gives birth to a fish. What follows after the strange birth will be known if movie goers will come to watch the film.
Cherry Pie Picache’s as Lina and Anita Linda as Juling (Photo courtesy of cinemalaya.org)
19 July/Tue, 9:00PM Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
20 July/Wed, 3:30PM Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
21 July/Thu, 3:30PM Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)
22 July/Fri, 1:30PM Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 5
23 July/Sat, 6:30PM Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 3
24 July/Sun, 3:30PM Tanghalang Huseng Batute (w/talkback)
Courtesy of cinemalaya.org
The story is about Intoy’s love for his friend Jenny, a rich and quirky girl. Intoy enjoys privileges, like going to bed with her. The conflict happens when Intoy crosses the boundary – he falls in love with Jenny.
Schedule of Screening:
19 July/Tue, 6:15PMTanghalang Huseng Batute
20 July/Wed, 4:00PM Greenbelt 3 – Cinema 5
21 July/Thu, 9:00PM Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre)
22 July/Fri, 6:15PM Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad Ng Sining (CCP MKP Hall)
23 July/Sat, 12:45PM Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theatre)
24 July/Sun, 11:00AMGreenbelt 3 – Cinema 5
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by fapweb | Posted in Articles | on Mon, Sep 12, 2011
The Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines held a workshop on Film Criticism at the Film Academy of the Philippines office on the ground floor of OctoArts Building, Panay Avenue, Q.C. last September 5 and 6.
Planned as the first in a series of workshops to be held in different places, the two-day workshop was conducted by Professor John Iremil I. Teodoro of Mirriam College, who talked on the techniques in writing a film review, critiquing films and writing blogs about Filipino films.
Professor Teodoro, a writer, university professor and freelance journalist, is also a multi-awarded poet and playwright, one of the country’s leading pioneers in gay literature and the most published author in the Karay-a dialect to date.
Prof. John Iremil Teodoro
A total of 21 participants attended the workshop. Most participants are regular SGP members and from creative development groups of Star Cinema and Phylum Productions.
Participants of Film Criticism Workshop
The final day saw the participants discussing and assessing the film reviews they have written for Ploning under the guidance of Prof. Teodoro. Certificates of attendance were later awarded to the participants.
The participants included Vic Dabao, Lita Duguran, Dante Aguilar, Paul Singh Cudail, Dhel B. Horrest, Carlito Conge, Rolando Perello and Mark Vita (GMA 7) – SGP members;
Roumella Nina Monge, Thomas Bryan Alejandria, Jane Michelle Eslabra, Mary Andrea Nadine Leoncio, Jesus Luis Antonio Santamaria, Kren Yap and Joyce Mendoza – Star Cinema;
Johanna Toh and Jennifer Romulo of Daigdig Pinoy; Jonison Fontanos and Paulino Umali of Phylum Productions; and Marlito Tampucao and JP Anthony Cuñada.
SGP President Isabel Sebullen awarding the certificate of appreciation and an art bottle courtesy of Vic Dabao to Prof. John Iremil Teodoro
His first full-length play in Filipino, Ang Unang Ulan ng Mayo (The First Rain of May), won 2nd Place in the 1997 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
He also initiated the establishment of the San Agustin Writers Workshop with the intention of propagating the welfare of creative writing among young writers in Western Visayas.
TIPS FOR ASPIRING WRITERS by Isabel Sebullen
Many people aspire to become a writer and earn money and be famous. But not all writers become famous, others never gain accolade and end up frustrated persons. The willingness to learn the craft is the key to success. Here are some tips:
1. Observe good manners in dealing with editors, reviewers, publishers and fellow writers. What people read influence them. Proper etiquette should be observed by writers no matter where they are. According to the late Emily Post (the most famous writer on etiquette), “Etiquette is a set of rules dealing with exterior form. Good manners are really ingrained; a matter of who you are, not how you are. It must be without thinking since once we learned it, etiquette becomes a matter of instinct rather than of conscious obedience.” Her great-great grandson Daniel Post Sening, also said, “Good etiquette comes from common sense, and the fundamental principles to achieve it are honesty, respect, and consideration.” That is why aspiring writers should be well-mannered in dealing with people.
2. Being good in writing is a gift, and in order for you to acknowledge this gift, you must write and improve your writings. Winners of Cannes Foreign Language Film Category always have a very good story, and this good story will turn out to be a very good film. The Classic film Himala is a good example of a well-written story. Writers of classic films did not improve overnight. Craftsmanship comes after many years of writing. No one is too young or too old to write, so nurture the gift.
3. Don’t wait for an inspiration to come before writing. Writing like other things is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. Well-known writers write every day as if writing is the only thing that matters in their life. Writing must be coupled with discipline, talent and inspiration.
4. Writers must use only one real name or pen name in writing. If you use another person’s name in writing, you will never be acknowledged in case what you have written will be considered as something of high literary value. Some earn money working as ghost writers, but don’t ghost write for a measly sum. That’s a very cheap way of prostituting your work of art. I know a very good writer who took a fancy of writing for this guy who later on was able to carve a name for himself, not only in comics but in films. This very well-known writer admitted that he helped this guy by writing for him. Another reason is that when you use another person’s name in writing, this person will be accountable for what you have written. He or she will be liable for the intellectual property rights in case you will be charged of libel or plagiarism. Another point is, legally, it is falsification, or representing someone else. You can be imprisoned if that person will accuse you of taking his or her identity.
5. Keep your political and religious opinions to yourself, not flaunt it or expect others to like it. In scriptwriting, you can create a character with the same opinion as yours, but be sure it will not destroy the flow of the story. Mideo Cruz received a lot of attention because of his art, but it is not a kind of attention any artist would like to have.
6. Don’t offer to critique someone else’s work if you are not yet a veteran writer. Being a veteran writer means you have at least won in the most prestigious award-giving body like the Don Carlos J. Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature or you have a Ph.D. In Literature. Only well-known writers like Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, Dr. Cirilo F. Bautista, Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera (National Artist), Dr. Gemino H. Abad, Dr. Leoncio Deriada and other esteemed writers have the right to critic an equally good writer. Others have no right to say another person’s work is trash, without understanding what good writing is. I felt amused when someone who cannot even write one good sentence in English would tell me, I am a trying-hard writer.
7. Don’t ask your parents, sibling and friends to critique your work. They will never tell you that your work is bad. Instead ask somebody who can tell you honestly what is wrong with the manuscript. Don’t ask a person who thinks he knows everything. Chances are, this person admires himself too much, that he thinks he is the best writer in the world.
8. Never submit a half-hazardly done manuscript to the editor. When I was a young writer, I was told to put aside what I have written and have at least a week for cooling-off period. The cooling off period will give me a chance to look at the manuscript objectively. True enough, the cooling off period gave me time to think what should be deleted and what should be revised.
9. When pointing out some flaws in the script or in any writing, don’t say mean and petty things. Find some positive elements in a manuscript and offer praise as well as constructive comments and suggestions. But never say something bad, unless you want to destroy that writer.
10. Never blame others if you are not successful as a writer. Don’t blame the editors, readers, or anyone in your life for your failures. Writing is something you and you alone can do. If after 20 years of writing, you did not gain recognition, perhaps you have to accept the fact that you have no talent at all.
11. Acknowledge people who help you a lot to improve your craft. They served as your mentor so you should be forever thankful to them. Never forget their kindness. A thankful heart is a joyous heart, and eventually you will achieve success.
12. Be humble. It is the last but not the least of all the tips. Let others praise you, but never praise yourself. Be an expert in writing by reading, learning and observing people but remain humble. Haruki Murakami has this to say: I didn’t want to be a writer, but I became one. And now I have many readers, in many countries. I think that’s a miracle. So I think I have to be humble regarding this ability. I’m proud of it and I enjoy it, and it is strange to say it this way, but I respect it.
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