DEPARTMENT OF FILM AND

AUDIOVISUAL COMMUNICATION

College of Mass Communication

University of the Philippines

Diliman, Quezon City

Course Number: Film 12*(AH)

Course Title: Sine Pinoy

Course Description: Philippine cinema as art form and cultural product

Prerequisite: None

Course Credit: 3 u.

 

 

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  1. understand Philippine cinema in relation to the country’s cultural, political, and economic history;
  2. appreciate the dialectical relationship between Hollywood dominance and local response; and
  3. develop skills in critical analysis of selected Filipino film texts.

Course Outline:
  1. History of Philippine cinema: Hollywood and its indigenization (4 weeks)
    1. Early film screenings and productions in the Philippines: film as colonial instrument
    2. Pre-war years to the Japanese occupation: emergence of studio and star systems
    3. Post-WWII productions: the first "Golden Age"
    4. After the first "Golden Age": the new Philippine cinema and its aftermath
  1. Modes of production: mainstream and its alternatives (3 weeks)

    2. A. Studios vs. independent systems

    B. Distribution and exhibition

    C. Promotion: stars, managers, fans

    D. State intervention and foreign co-productions

  2. Filipino film as art form (4 weeks)

    3. A. Sources and influences, from traditional to modern

    B. Genres and hybrids

    C. Existing evaluation criteria for Filipino films: audiences, critics, educators, award-giving groups

  3. Contemporary issues in Philippine cinema (4 weeks)

    4. A. Censorship, sex and violence

    B. Representation: Philippine society and identities in local and foreign films

    C. Globalization: accommodations and resistances

  4. Observation tour of a film studio and/or of a location shooting (1 week)

Requirements:

    1. Midterm and final exams (1 hr. each)
    2. Weekly film journals (1-page double-spaced reactions)
    3. Assigned and in-class screenings
    4. Final paper (8-10 pp. on a currently showing Filipino film)

References:

David, Joel. Fields of Vision: Critical Applications in Recent Philippine Cinema. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila Univ. Press, 1995.

Diamond Anniversary of Philippine Cinema. Commemorative publication. Manila: Mowelfund, 1994.

Del Mundo, Clodualdo A. Native Resistance: Philippine Cinema and Colonialism 1898-1941. Manila: De La Salle Univ. Press, 1998.

—. "Philippine Cinema: An Historical Overview." Asian Cinema 10.2 (Spring/Summer 1999): 29-66.

Dissanayake, Wimal, ed. Melodrama and Asian Cinema. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993.

Guerrero, Rafael Ma., ed. Readings in Philippine Cinema. Manila: Experimental Cinema of the Philippines, 1983.

Hernando, Mario A., ed. Lino Brocka: The Artist and His Times. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1993.

Lent, John A., ed. The Asian Film Industry. Austin, Tx.: Univ. of Texas Press, 1990.

Maglipon, Jo-Ann Q. "Mega Mother Lily: Superstar for All Seasons." Primed: Collected Stories 1972-1992. Pasig City: Anvil, 1993. 186-97.

Mercado, Monina A., ed. Doña Sisang and Filipino Moves. [Quezon City]: Vera-Reyes, 1977.

Pareja, Lena S. "Philippine Cinema: The First 15 Years (1897-1912)." Kultura 3.2 (1990).

—. "Philippine Cinema: The Rise of Movie Studios, 1934-1941." Kultura 5.1 (1992).

—. "Philippine Cinema: The Silent Era." Kultura 3.4 (1990).

Pelikula: A Journal of Philippine Cinema. Annual publication of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Foundation and the Laurel-Rufino-Prieto Foundation. 1999-present.

Reyes, Emmanuel A. Notes on Philippine Cinema. Manila: De La Salle Univ. Press, 1989.

Salazar, Zeus, Prospero Covar, and Agustin Sotto. Unang Pagtingin sa Pelikulang Bakbakan. Manila: Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, 1989.

Tiongson, Nicanor G., ed. Philippine Film. Vol. 8 of CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art. 9 vols. + index. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1994.

—, ed. Tuklas Sining: Essays on the Philippine Arts. Manila: Sentrong Pangkultura ng Pilipinas, 1991.

—, ed. The Urian Anthology 1970-1979. Quezon City: Morato, 1983.

—, ed. The Urian Anthology 1980-1989. Quezon City: Tuvera, 2001.

Tolentino, Rolando B. Geopolitics of the Visible: Essays on Philippine Film Cultures. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila Univ. Press, 2000.

—. Richard Gomez at ang Mito ng Pagkalalake, Sharon Cuneta at ang Perpetwal na Birhen at Iba Pang Sanaysay Ukol sa Bida sa Pelikula Bilang Kultural na Texto. Pasig City: Anvil, 2000.

Required Film Viewings (in class):

Avellana, Lamberto V., dir. Anak Dalita. Screenwriter Rolf Bayer. Philippines, 1956.

Bernal, Ishmael, dir. Himala. Screenwriter Ricardo Lee. Philippines, 1982.

Brocka, Lino, dir. Orapronobis. Screenwriter José F. Lacaba. Philippines-France, 1989.

Castillo, Celso Ad., dir. Burlesk Queen. Screenwriter Mauro Gia. Samonte. Philippines, 1977.

Cultural Center of the Philippines, producer. Pelikula. Documentary videos on Philippine cinema in the Tuklas Sining series. Philippines, ca. 1980s-90s.

De Leon, Gerardo, dir. El Filibusterismo. Screenwriters Gerardo de Leon, Adrian Cristobal, and Jose Flores Sibal. Philippines, 1962.

De Leon, Mike, dir. Bayaning 3rd-World. Screenwriters Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. and Mike de Leon. Philippines, 1999.

Fernandez, Gregorio, dir. Malvarosa. Screenwriter Consuelo P. Osorio. Philippines, 1958.

Gallaga, Peque, dir. Scorpio Nights. Screenwriter Rosauro de la Cruz. Philippines, 1985.

Silos, Manuel. Biyaya ng Lupa. Screenwriter Celso Al. Carunungan. Philippines, 1959.

United States Library of Congress, depository. Paper print collection. US, ca. 1890s; refilmed ca. 1980s-90s.

Wong Kar-Wai, dir. and screenwriter. A Fei jing juen (Days of Being Wild). Hongkong, 1991.

 

Required Film Viewings (outside assignments):

Benjamin, Richard, dir. My Favorite Year. Screenwriters Dennis Palumbo and Norman Steinberg. US, 1982.

De los Reyes, Maryo J., dir. Bagets. Screenwriter Jake Tordesillas. Philippines, 1984.

Elliott, Stephan, dir. and screenwriter. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Australia, 1994.

Garnett, Tay, dir. Bataan. Screenwriter Robert Hardy Andrews. US, 1943.

Guillen, Laurce, dir. American Adobo. Screenwriter Vincent R. Nebrida. Philippines-US, 2002.

Hui, Ann, dir. Woo yuet dik goo si (God of Killers). Screenwriter Alfred Cheung. Hongkong, 1981.

Huston, John, dir. Reflections in a Golden Eye. Screenwriters Gladys Hill and Chapman Mortimer. US, 1967.

Ichikawa, Kon. Nobi (Fires on the Plain). Screenwriter Natto Wada. Japan, 1959.

Markowitz, Robert, dir. A Dangerous Life. Screenwriter David Williamson. Australia, 1988.

O’Hara, Mario, dir. The Fatima Buen Story. Screenwriter Frank Rivera. Philippines, 1994.

Ozpetek, Ferzan, dir. Hamam (Steam: The Turkish Bath). Screenwriters Ferzan Ozpetek and Stefano Tummolini. Turkey, 1997.

Reyes, Ronwaldo, dir. Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday. Screenwriter Carlo J. Caparas. Philippines, 1983.

Romero, Eddie, dir. Ganito Kami Noon…Paano Kayo Ngayon? Screenwriters Eddie Romero and Roy Iglesias. Philippines, 1976.

Silos, Octavio, dir. Pakiusap. Screenwriters Luis Nolasco and Octavio Silos. Philippines, 1940.

—, dir. and screenwriter. Tunay na Ina. Philippines, 1939.

Tolosa, Carlos Vander, dir. and screenwriter. Giliw Ko. Philippines, 1939.