"Eros" THE DANGEROUS THREAD OF THINGS

"Eros" THE DANGEROUS THREAD OF THINGS follows a forty-ish married couple that no longer has anything to say to one another. Their relationship is in crisis but still they decided to take a short trip to the sea to revive a little magic in their relationship. They stop at a beautiful canyon, where two young girls are singing as they bathe naked in a waterfall. At a restaurant, Christopher notices a pretty young girl that's the girl that lives in the Tower," They sit silently for a few moments, nothing to say. Their quiet is in stark contrast to the disorderliness of the next table, where a large party dines merrily. The wife drops her glass on the wood floor-it bounces, but doesn't shatter. They walk down a forest path, framed by a long row of short trees bent over, which leads them to an abandoned mooring. They love the place, but they don’t enjoy the company of each other. Soon the couple is fighting bitterly. The guy drives up to the Tower where the Girl he had seen in the restaurant lives. It is an austere, but spectacular stone structure, next to a body of water. He knocks on the front door, but no one answers. The girl walks up the beach and invites Christopher to come in. The girl leads the guy upstairs to the roof terrace, where there are staggering views in all directions. Meanwhile, the girl has gone to her bedroom and taken off her clothes. When Christopher enters, he asks, "What would happen if I lay down too?" "I'd tell you my name," she answers. They make love. At an impasse, the man has a passionate one night stand with a free-spirited young girl but this experience also fails to satisfy him. After a month, his husband called him to her cell phone from Paris, where it's already snowing. "I wish it would snow here too," says the wife. He thinks her words mean that she wants him to be there with her. "My love doesn't end," she says. "It's just your attitude." With the phone and distance separating them, the two are somehow able to talk about their troubles in a more calm and accepting way than before. Later on, the wife and the girl meet… I appreciate this film and I like the cinematic elements used in the film. I love the tower / the setting because it gives the audience some clue of what is the desire of the man towards the girl in the tower. The interior is loaded with modern art and furniture. I like the signs and symbols that are used in this film. The structure of things and the realization in our life that nothing is permanent even you tried hard just to save or to have it.

– Condo – Directed by MARTIN CABRERA Written and Produced by ALOY ADLAWAN

Condo has a good cinematography and effects, which caught my attention. As I watch it, I can’t determine its genre if it is a horror, or a simple mysterious type of film. Its story is all about a young security guard who has to deal with his lost sense of being and his encounters with people in the condominium where he is assigned and requests the building administration to let him stay in the guard's quarters. The building and the job have become the perfect shelter. It is a condominium after all, a small community of neighbors and strangers all under one roof. But to Benjie, everyone's just faces attached to door numbers, doors which are always closed and are rarely open. This is a must seen film because you can even be indecisive of the real meaning that the director wanted us to think. When I went out of the movie house I ask myself “What is the significance of some shots that I’ve observed, the add numbers that is used to represent each floor, the significance of some characters and the real purpose of each individual in the movie?” I analyze it one by one and realize their real meaning. No one really cares about him. And Benjie only cares about his job even if it is the same tired routine. But when a mysterious intruder and a phone call coming from an empty unit begin taunting him, Benjie (Coco Martin) fears for the perfectly lonely world he's built around himself. In the end, he discovers that the answer to the mystery lies from his own shadow. He’s just looking for something that only he would help and answer his problem. I like the way that this movie was done. What a great and out of the box script and idea it was!

Paper Dolls by Tomer Heymann

I really appreciate and like the documentary entitled Paper Dolls by Tomer Heymann. It is part diary and part human-interest story. It examines the lives of a group of transsexual Philippine immigrants who work as home attendants for elderly Israelis and also perform in nightclubs. It also records the filmmaker’s friendship with them, including his efforts to bring them to the attention of an influential club promoter. But the minute they finish work they change completely, put on glamorous dresses and go perform in dusky clubs and bars in front of Israeli and Philippine audiences. Shot on video and mingling interviews with observations of daily life, “Paper Dolls” is a modest film, less interested in advocacy or analysis than in sympathy. A group of Gay Filipino migrant workers meet every weekend (Sally, Cheska, Chiqui, Giorgio and Jan) all perform as a lip-synch act collectively known as "The Paper Dolls." Heymann documents the trans-sexual’s day-to-day chores like bathing, feeding, join them for bible lessons, put them in bed, clean them, and do it all with special care and love for the elderly. He immerses himself in their lives with good intentions and some decidedly naive questions. In spite of the chaotic Israeli reality, where fear of terrorist suicide bombers competes with the fear of the "Immigration Police", the group members succeed in expressing their true selves. They see Israel as an open and free place, where they can enjoy sexual and cultural liberty. Unlike in the Philippines there are not that free because up to now some of our countrymen are conservative when it comes to that matter. I learned a lot from this film; it discusses and serves as the reflection of our country. Poverty, which leads those gays to worked as care givers just to earn money to support the needs of their family. For me, people are trying to appreciate Filipino all over the world by watching this documentary; although there is negative opinion that the taxi driver had said about Filipinos, the dedication that the Paper Dolls have shown in this film is the important. Because of their love in their job, they are able to show what kind of employees we Filipinos are. They continue living their lives even one of their member has been jailed. Cheska, one of the group members is arrested on an immigration police raid and faces deportation. Tomer, the director, visits Cheska at the detention house and shoots a farewell speech from him that touches the “Paper Dolls” deeply and brings them to tears. “Paper Dolls” try to continue with their daily routine; work, shows, spending time together, and facing the various layers of Israeli society. For them, the show must go on. As they did not surrender to nature that made them men, they do not surrender to terrorism and violence. I was so touched in the old man that Sally is taking good care with. The father-daughter relationship between Sally and her employer deepens. He buys her dresses and she supports him in his struggle against cancer. They too know that sooner or later they will have to part ways. I remember my grand father while watching that old man, because they have the same condition, he has also operated because of the cancer of larynx. I feel the pain because I can relate to him. Paper dolls are working with love. I really like this documentary. It was just not about the issue of a gender but how we Filipinos give and share love to everybody. It’s not only the matter of men dressed as women or women in the body of a man, but it’s about how Filipinos work hard just to have a good life and how Paper Dolls handle their problems just to survive in Israel. I’ve appreciate this film a lot!

Retaso

“Retaso” is the story of two women who think that together they can be strong enough to escape everything. But only when the two become one, can they truly be free…-Dianne Marie Combalicer Retaso literally means remnants of cloth but in this film, it symbolizes and explains the true significance of the characters and how retaso represent their life. I enjoyed watching this Independent film because I’ve realized something about Lesbians. Delsa is a sewer in a clothes factory where even the visits to the comfort room is regulated. Her child passed away and only a piece of shoes was left for her to remember her child. She lives alone in a small room in a squatter’s area and always opens her door to her neighbor Lena who runs to her every time she had a trouble with her husband Ryan. Lena, is a former artist who does laundry to earn a living for her husband and herself. Her husband Ryan has been trying to find a job but he seems to be running out of luck. This misfortune hits Lena too as she becomes an outlet for Ryan’s frustrations. Lena is abused as a wife, both sexually and physically and still he stays with his husband because she thinks that he really loves her until, finally, one night when she went to Delsa’s house to hide, she discovered that her husband is willing to have sex with Delsa. Delsa do that to Ryan just to protect Lena and serves as Lena’s eye opener to realize everything about her husband. They are both the retaso of this film, Retaso is used to cover the hole of a cloth and if you analyze well the story it has something to do with the character’s life. The hole of the clothes symbolizes their problem, and the retaso is the redeemer to help save and cover the cloth. Delsa’s work symbolizes that she is the Retaso who fix and help Lena to cover the problem that she have. Lena is a retaso because her husband Ryan abused her whenever and wherever he wants to. He treated her as a leftover, useless piece of cloth and uses her only when he needs her. Retaso of cloth is also used to kill Ryan, since both of them are Retaso, they now realized when to become one they can be strong enough to escape everything. For me, by watching this film people are trying to understand how and why lesbianism exists.

Theoretical Understanding of deviance

: A reaction to the movie John Q. Deviance defines for the society or groups what behaviors are acceptable or not. We define deviance as “any behavior, belief, or condition that violates significant social norms in the society or group in which it occurs. In this essay I will discuss Theoretical Understanding of deviance by using the movie John Q. The first social foundation of deviance is that they only exist in relation to cultural norms. Nothing you say, do, or think is actually deviant. As society and culture changes around us so does what is considered deviance. For example: tattoos and piercing are normal now but couple of years ago that was considered deviant behavior. A theoretical explanation for deviant behaviors that mirrors the one in this film is Merton’s structural Strain theory which explains why people accept or reject the goals of society. According to this theory, all structures in the society provide goals for people to achieve and acceptable means to attain them. John Quincy Archibald's son Michael collapses while playing baseball as a result of heart failure. John rushes Michael to a hospital emergency room where he is informed that Michael's only hope is a transplant. Unfortunately, John's insurance won't cover his son's transplant. Out of options, John Q. takes the emergency room staff and patients hostage until hospital doctors agree to do the transplant. Structural strain theory: stems from Durkheim’s Anomie. Deviance occurs in societies where anomie is great. It is the outcome of social strains which put pressure on people to deviate. There is a discrepancy between socially approved goals and availability of socially approved means of achieving goals. Deviants lack approved means, fall into state of anomie, use deviant means Merton’s conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion. John violated social norms or the standards of conduct or expectation of a group or a society because he holds the doctor hostage along with innocent bystanders just to save the life of his son. Because of John’s desperation to save the life of his son he violated the law to achieve his goal/ objective. People who watched this film try to sympathy with John Q. They understand John Q’s decision to snaps and hold the staff and patients of the hospital's emergency room hostage at gunpoint. This is the reason why deviance allows the society to set the boundary of acceptable acts and behaviors.

Rational Choice theory is also applicable in this movie. According to Max Weber all actions are rational actions. An individual who wishes will more or less weigh the consequences of one’s actions. The cops surround the hospital and try to negotiate with the father to let the hostages go and they'll help get the boy a heart. The father didn't want to believe them so he comes up with the idea that he would donate his own heart to his son. If hostage is the only solution to ensure the life of his son, he decides to do it than to take his son home to die. The hostages couldn't believe what he wanted to do especially the doctor. The doctor didn't want to do the surgery, but the father held the gun to the doctor's head and convinced him to do it. In the process of weighing them, John tried to figure out the risks and benefits. The benefits of saving the life of his son outweigh the risk of imprisonment that’s why the action of hostage has taken.

Production Narrative Report

Royalty Production

December 07, 2007

Friday

This day is the real beginning of our production. We have a company call together with actors for us to feel at ease with each other. The production introduced the purpose of the play, its importance to us and how this play will help actors on their personality development. “Acting onstage teaches you how to be comfortable speaking in front of large audiences, and this play will serve as your workshop that will give you additional experience in talking to groups. Oral communication skills are so important to your course that you can get from joining in our Royalty Production.–Mr. Darwin Chiang.

The director also tells something about Professor Cadiz, and introduced the whole staff and their position. We allotted time for the actors to tell something about themselves and tell them to feel comfortable with each other. Rules and regulation is the main objective of this company call. The director focused about the dos and don’ts of actors. He required his actors to be aware of the usual bad behavior which is not allowed in the production. Examples are: attitude problem, laziness/ tardiness primadona, disrespectful, etc. The director introduces the royal production; distribute the scripts, provide the rules and regulation of the prod and thank the talented actors who participate to make this play possible.

Royalty Production

December 18, 2007

Tuesday

The director is not around at this time The SM and ASM are assigned to take charge of the meeting The Publicity and PM also helps in managing the actors. The purpose of this meeting is to remind the actors to read and memorize the script. And we told them about the real characteristic of our director for them to be aware that he is strict and terror when it comes to real rehearsals. We also inform them to be flexible when it comes to rehearsal and adopt the late dismissal time. We told them to learn how to budget their time. They need to schedule their days very carefully if they want to keep up their grades while they’re busy with rehearsals, work calls, and the other demands that theatre makes on their time. SM and ASM also tell them to have motivation and commitment. Being involved in theatre productions demands commitment and motivation. These are qualities in many theatre students learn to transfer that attribute from theatre to other activities such as classes and jobs. We tell this to them for them to know the values that they can get from joining our production.

Royalty Production

January 04, 2008

Friday

Today is a company call of production staff. The director discussed about the production schedule, the budget and the deadlines. He also tells the Production team to prepare their money on January 15 for the preparation for the costumes, set design and props. The PM, SM and ASM get the copy of schedule and discuss it to their colleagues. The publicity is now ready preparing for more teasers which helps a lot for the publicity of our production. We also share some suggestion, questions, and comments for a better outcome of this play.

Royalty Production

January 07, 2008

Monday

We decided to start our rehearsal with our actors at AB 3^rd floor. First, our director thanks the actors for attending the first rehearsal and for helping us to make this production possible. Cinderella, Minerva, Matilda, Stepmother and Hiwaga are the characters needed in this rehearsal. With SM, ASM, PM and Director we start rehearsing them in Act1, Scene1 (pgs.1-6). Some of the production staff are preparing for the assigned task to them. Before the director starts the practice, he gives the actors some advices, and warm up exercises which helps our actors to feel better and comfortable on acting. Followed by line throwing with emotions, and start the rehearsal with proper blockings, the characters execute the instruction of the director. The director guides the actors of what action and emotion in a particular scene they need to execute. He also lectured them how to throw their punch line in a better way and also emphasizes the right choreography. The SM writes everything that the director is trying to implement. Because the stepmother actor is late, the ASM take charge to stand-in for him. The PM prepared the food of the actors. On the whole, we end up successfully because the characters for this scene are easy to catch up. They easily follow the director’s instruction and act correctly. After the rehearsal the PM, ASM, SM and Director have forum to discuss about the previous performance of the actor.

Royalty Production

January 08, 2008

Tuesday

It’s the 2^nd day of our rehearsal it’s for Scene2 (pgs.6-8). It ends up fast at 8pm because our actors are good and they can catch up, learned and execute easily. Complete attendance of characters: Marigelica, I.J, Lionel, P. Leonarado. Like the first rehearsal the director warm up the actors and teach the proper way of breathing to help them to produce a good sound of voice. The director also teaches them the appropriate blockings, choreography, right use of voice and proper ways to throw lines. Each actor cooperate well and done the scene completely. While the actors are eating, the PM, SM and Director have forum to discuss about the previous performance of the actor.

Royalty Production

January 11, 2008

Friday

We rehearsed at AB308 with our actors for Scene3 and 4 (pgs. 9-14). As a preparation the director provides actors some physical exercises which help our actors to feel better and comfortable on acting. He also taught them the Proper way of breathing and discussed about where the voice should came from. The director guided the actors to emphasized emotions in a particular scene and also focused on choreography. He reacted about actor’s punch lines because some of them can’t throw it in a proper way. Actors in this scene are Cinderella, F. God mother, P. Leonardo, Nona, Nene, Noni, Marigelca, and Lionel.

Facial Expression is the problem that we encountered in this rehearsal; some of the actors are nervous and not comfortable to act but we do something about it, as the rehearsal goes on, we observed their improvements and motivation to act. The SM wrote everything that the director wants to implement. The PM takes charge of preparing food for the actors and ASM assisted some actors which are too conscious and cannot act that comfortably. They all suggest and critique the performance. After the actor’s performance, the director reviewed their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and sustain. He talks about the importance of criticizing a performance and told his actors that he wanted to see improvement next practice. He also expects that the actors had already memorized their script next meeting.

Royalty Production

January 14, 2008

Monday

As a preparation the director provides actors some physical exercises which help them to feel better and comfortable on acting. We rehearsed at AB305 with our actors from scene 1-4 for the run through of Act1. This time, the director taught the actors to be aware of their positions and blockings. He also guided the actors to know where to entrance and to exits and he added choreography for every scene. He also responds about actor’s punch lines because some of them can’t throw it in a proper way. It’s a drop script rehearsal, happily actors have already memorize their script.

Unfortunately, 3 major actors for this scene are absent and that’s the problem that we encountered in this rehearsal; some of the actors are now improving and comfortable to act. The SM stand in for Cinderella and Principe Leonardo, while the ASM stands as Stepmother and our PM takes charge of preparing food for the actors.

After the actor’s performance, the director reviewed their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and sustain. He criticized their performance and told his actors that he wanted to see improvement every practice.

Royalty Production

January 15, 2008

Tuesday

We have a company call at AB 4^th floor 4:30 pm to give update in the production staff’s task. Everybody shared on their plan, ask for suggestion, and discussed about their duties. Mr. Chiang, the director reminded the production team about the production schedule, the budget, cue sheet, and the deadlines of submission of the requirements. Raven, Kim, Alex, Sheryl, are absent while Theo, Longboy and Habon are excuse in our company call. After our meeting, we rehearsed at AB303 (6:30pm), since some of the major characters were absent last meeting, the director decided to have another rehearsal of run through, Scene 1-4. The director is late and the SM assisted her actors. Among the actors only Stepmother is absent (ASM stand in) but he already memorized his lines. Because of time management the director also starts to trained actors in Act1, Scene5 and added choreography for the beautification of the play. He said that we should not waste time and we did it, up to the half of Scene5.

We observed that every practice, actors are improving and comfortable to act. The director polished every scene and accepted suggestion from his actors. As usual, our PM takes charge of preparing food for the actors. While the actors are eating, the director, SM and ASM analyzed their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and maintain. He criticized their performance and told his actors that he required that next rehearsal actors must already memorize the upcoming scenes.

Royalty Production

January 18, 2008

Friday

We rehearsed at AB305 for the continuation of Scene5 with Cinderella, Hiwaga, Minerva, Matilda, Stepmother and Fairy God Mother. The director taught the actors their positions and blockings and he also (Mr. Chiang, director) added sequence of steps for “Mr. Dream Boy” a dance number which Cinderella, Hiwaga Nene, Noni, and Nona will execute. He told the actors to be aware of where to entrance and to exit. The SM writes everything that the director wanted to add or to change, while the ASM stand in as Stepmother and our PM takes charge of preparing food for the actors. After the actor’s performance, the director reviewed their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and sustain. He also gave the other staffs who are watching the rehearsal a chance to critique the actors acting. All in all it’s a good day rehearsal and we dismissed early. Job well done!

Royalty Production

January 21, 2008

Monday

A rehearsal for Act 1 Scene1-5 was done at AB 3^rd floor. As our director told us, we the SM and ASM provided the actors some physical and vocal exercises which help them to feel better and comfortable on acting. All actors for Act1 are the characters that performed in this rehearsal. So far, so good and the only problem that our director always observed is the actors lack of facial expression. He gave them some lecture about the characteristic of a good actor. He also said that since this is a theater play, he wanted to see exaggerations on movement, voice and acting. All in all, the actors performed well but it needs more rehearsal to be perfect. After the actor’s performance, the director reviewed their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and sustain. He criticized their performance and told his actors that when he already told them to change the wrong one, he never wanted to see it again in the run through. He allows the actors to open their real feelings regarding this production (both positive and negative comments) and they told us that they really love and enjoyed our rehearsal. Our director wanted to polish this Act1 and decided to have another rehearsal on January 22.

Royalty Production

January 22, 2008

Tuesday

A continuation and polishing of Act 1 Scene1-5 was held at AB 3^rd floor. Some of the Royalty Production Staff’s are watching the rehearsal. The SM and ASM provided the actors some physical and vocal exercises which help them to feel better and comfortable on acting. We observed that some of the actors are nervous because this is the first time that they performed in front of several audiences. Raven Urfano, Lenie Silverio, Gilbert Mata, and Jennifer Caravana, watched the rehearsal, while the SM writes everything that the director was trying to implement, ASM stand in for stepmother and the PM prepared the food of the actors. The director allowed the staff to comment about the actor’s performance and we discussed about the negative and positive observations. While the actors were eating, Raven Urfano and director Chiang criticized the actors acting. They told the actors of what are the things that they need to sustain and the things that they need to change. The rehearsal was good and the actors were able to express their feelings and they accepted the critique heartedly. The critique of the staff serves as the realization of the actors to improve their acting. The director told them to act freely, and always think that nobody is watching. We encourage the actors to be comfortable to have a successful play.

Royalty Production

January 28, 2008

Monday

The director decided to rehearse Act2 Scene 1 and one of the objective of Royalty Production is to budget our time, Direct Chiang don’t want to waste time so, since some of the actors are not available for the practice, because of preparing their midterm exam, he strong-willed to continue our rehearsal even if only Cinderella and Prince Leonardo are the only actors who are available. This practice was focused on our two major characters, for them to be more confident in working with each other. He also wanted to see closeness, sweetness, and eye to eye contact in every scene to have a good impact to the audiences. This rehearsal pays attention to the blockings, choreography, and enhancing the voices of Cinderella and Prince Leonardo because they are lack of voice and that’s the only problem that we encounter in this rehearsal.

Facial expression and the proper way of getting “bakya” (the Pinoy version of Cinderella’s shoe) was the scene which Prince Leonardo was taking a hard time of executing it. And our director told him to develop that scene by practicing it in their house. Time Management is important in the success of this production. So, instead of canceling the rehearsal, the two available characters were rehearsed so that there are no wasted time/ days. Staff and these two actors ate their dinner at 7-eleven.

Royalty Production

January 29, 2008

Tuesday

Company call at AB 4^th floor Study Room Area at exactly 5:00 pm to give update of the production’s schedule. Mr. Chiang, the director gets the latest update and commanded the staff about the production schedule, the budget, cue sheet, and the deadlines of submission of the requirements. The Set designer team gets P7,000 in our budget to buy the materials needed to produce our set, while the costume designers ask for P2,000 to buy garments. The director discussed his entire plan for our production. He told our PM to prepare the letter and coordinate with the set designers for them to be able to bring the materials inside the university. He also told the publicity manager to work with the tickets and other concern to advertise our play. Theo, Raven, Kim Dy, Alex, Sheryl, were absent.

After our meeting, we rehearsed at AB303 (6:30pm), among the actors only Stepmother is absent (PM stand in) but he already memorized his lines. Because of time management the director rehearsed the entire ACT2 and only the last final scene was left. He added choreography for the beautification of the play and polished every scene and accepted suggestion from his actors. As usual, our PM takes charge of preparing food for the actors and stand in for Step mother. SM is excused and was not able to attend today’s rehearsal and ASM takes charge of writing everything that the director is trying to implement or to change. While the actors are eating, the director and, ASM critique their performance and required that next rehearsal actors must be aware of using adlib.

Royalty Production

February 5, 2008

Tuesday

Finally we’ve reached the last scene. This time the director decided that after the last scene, there will be a run through from the beginning (Act1) up to the last scene. All of the actors are needed in this rehearsal, but unhappily, the 3 actors Nene, Nena, and Nona didn’t attend the rehearsal because they have a midterm exam for tomorrow. The SM is not around at this time and ASM take charge of writing for some added materials/ changes in the script. Using Adlib is the main subject matter that director implied to the actors. Since our play is comedy, the actors are trained to use impromptu lines (adlib) for them to know what to do especially when they forgot their lines/ script. We observe the actors and we see their motivation and commitment in this play. We’ve also have a company call and the PM give the staffs their copy of waiver which asks permission to let their son/daughter to have an overnight to plan for the set and props. The director told us that we should move and start doing jour jobs which are assigned to us. The costume has already have their materials and the props and set design canvass for supplies to use.

Royalty Production

February 8, 2008

Friday

Vocalization is the main objective of this rehearsal. The director decided to teach them the songs that the actors are going to perform. The PM gave them a copy of the lyrics and the ASM teaches the actors some vocalization exercises. They had their singing exercises at FEU grand stand for them to maximize their voice. SM (Nofh Valencia) is excused because she had a fever and wasn’t able to attend the rehearsal.

After the vocalization, the director called for a run through. This time, the director put some inserts and guides the actors of what action and emotion in a particular scene they need to execute. He also lectured them how to throw their punch line in a better way and also emphasizes the right choreography. “Work with your Imagination!!” this motto is always shouted by Direct Chiang to motivate the actors to act naturally. The actors performed well and they really enjoy this rehearsal. They also suggest some movements, and adlib for the beautification of the play. The director told them to be alert, confident, and have concentration on to what their doing so that they can produce a good play.

Noted by:

Royalty Production

February 11, 2008

Monday

We rehearsed at AB 4rt floor for the dance workshop. Dancing and teaching the choreography for Queen of the night and Mr. Dream boy is the main focus of this rehearsal. With the help of Ms. Jocelyn Sugon, the actors executed the steps and blockings one by one. They enjoy every dance steps and this rehearsal helps them to be more confident in terms of moving their body freely. Some of the actors already saw their costume and fits them for the sewer to know if there’s an adjustment. All in all, the actors performed well but it needs more rehearsal to be perfect. After the actor’s performance, the director reviewed their acting and discussed them the things they need to sustain or change. The director allowed the staff to comment about the actor’s performance and we discussed about the negative and positive observations.

Royalty Production

February 12, 2008

Tuesday

It’s the continuation of our dance preparation. We rehearsed at AB 4rt floor for teaching the dance routine for the Wedding Grand ball, continuation of Mr. Dream Boy and also a dance number of Cinderella and Prince Leonardo. With the help of Ms. Jocelyn Sugon and her friend, the actors carry out the steps and blockings. They were informed for the scheduled and we discussed them about the TDR. So far, we don’t encounter some problems in our actors. The director told the ASM that tomorrow by 3pm; Royalty Production staff will have a company call. He’s going to discuss the things that he needs to clarify in our group. By next meeting, after teaching the dance rehearsal, we will have a run through from Act1 up to the last with combination of dancing.

Royalty Production

February 15, 2008

Friday

“The theatre is a collaborative effort of giving and doing. That means that a person cannot do theatre alone. Every member must be a part of a cohesive community”. It’s our company call at AB 4rt floor and those are the statements that was emphasize by our director. He told us that every one of us should respect and help each other either it is assigned to us or not. This company call is allotted for the discussion of those staff that has an attitude problem. The director decided to have an open forum to discussed those problems and talk to each of us regarding the improvement of our task.

After our company call, we had a run through together with all the actors. We rehearsed from Act1 up to the last scene for our preparation for tomorrow’s (TDR). Technical Dress Rehearsal. We rehearsed at AB 4rt floor and the director polished each scene. We remind them about the scheduled and meeting place for tomorrow. They are all excited and they gave all of their best for tonight’s rehearsal. But still, there are some minor problems that they need to enhance.

Royalty Production

February 15, 2008

Friday

Finally, it is the day that we are waiting for. The TDR (Technical Dress Rehearsal) wherein were going to perform all the scenes that we rehearsed for the past 2 and a half months. We are all excited and really wanted to perform in front of our professor (Ms. Cadiz) to know and to hear all the critiques coming from her so that we are able to develop our acting skills and other things concerning our production play. The call time for actors is 7am, but sadly 2 of the major characters (Minerva, Matilda) are late and also one main character (Step mother”) is absent. That is one of the problem that we encountered. ASM, SM serve as stand in and the play started. Actors, with their costume, played their role with confidence. After our pre-prod, our Prof. talked to Royalty Production Staff and critiques our play. The technical such as sound, lights, costume, props, need to be attentive and responsible because there are some minor problems that we need to fix for us to have a good outcome. Our production goal is to give the audience the best and most meaningful experience they can possibly have. On the whole, we end up successfully because Ms. Cadiz evaluated their performance and she likes it! They easily follow the director’s instruction and act correctly. Our Prof. analyzes their acting and discussed them the things they need to change and sustain. Theatre demands that participants work together cooperatively for the production to success; in theatre, it's important that each individual supports the others involved.

Royalty Production

Feb.18, 19, 21,22,26,28

These days were focused in polishing and rehearsing the actors for a good play this coming March1. After we heard the critiques of Prof. Cadiz we hurriedly worked for it. Rehearsing with sounds, awareness of blockings, adlibs, choreography and all theater elements was polished for an excellent outcome of the play. All of the staffs are busy doing their tasks. Happily, all of us (Royalty Prod) are helping each other and doing their part for this production. Our PM told us to prepare all the papers/ sheet to compile for our Production Book. Everybody is busy, the actors are improving and all of us are doing our best for the success of this play. All of the things that we need to improve were always discussed at the end of each meeting. Facial expression, confidence, emotions, voice, blockings, sounds, acting, and all of the aspects were always informed to the actors every now and then. We are so happy for having our actors because they help us to produce a unique and beautiful play that our audiences will surely like.

PR Seminar

PR: Tips, Tools, Tactics and Trends Public relations is an essential marketing tool for any company seeking to raise awareness, promote products and services, and boost sales. For firms that are planning on incorporating a public relations program into their broader marketing effort, it is important to keep in mind the tips, tools, strategies and trends of public relation. Most businesses or nonprofits have a unique narrative way of showing their projects in helping the Filipinos. One example is the slide show of Globe’s project, “Bridging Community” which allows the company to reach out to the communities where they operate. According to the first speaker Mr. Edwin P. Galvez, President of Strategic PR Solutions & Options, this program helps to empower community leaders, improve the entrepreneurial skills, and develop education in 1,100 schools and initiatives in 1,100 baranggays. He also discussed about publicity and said that it is an unpaid form of communication that needs an effort to capture media attention. He gave us tips and countdown of 10 important things to remember about publicity. (Not all publicists are public relation practitioner, think like a journalist in doing your story, there’s no shortcut to a good publicity campaign, It doesn’t pay to pay, your word is everything, be accessible always, no close media this can make up for lousy stories, build authentic relationship, talent isn’t everything hard work is, and the number1 is to be a jack of all trades) I’ve gain enough knowledge about his lecture because he explains it according on to what he experienced in his profession. The next speaker Ms. Artema Ligaya Huang shared tactics to become a good event manager. I learned that preparing plans, speeches, having checklist before brainstorming, reading articles, sitting on advisory boards and being organized are all good tactics for small businesses. A media event is a public relations tool that can be a powerful way for virtually any small business to get a lot of exposure. Preparing budget, proposing the events, assigning tasks, preparing of collateral, selecting vendor, confirming date and analyzing the event are the procedure that she shared to us to have a successful event. She also remind us to give thank you notes, send news letters to follow up the clients, and freebies for them to appreciate the event. Ms. Artema also told us that it is important to collect names for contacts which are useful for other upcoming event. On the last part of the seminar, they showed us The Anvil Awards competition (truth, transparency, excellent concern for public interest) which is conducted annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines that honors excellence in Public Relations practice. According to Mr. Galvez, all widely recognized professionals are chosen not only for their competence and expertise, but also for their admirable reputation and therefore it is the most desirable distinction, and the goal to aim for in PR. Overall the seminar was successful and it really helped us students to realize that in any profession, only the best manage to stay at the top. When more great people and minds enter the profession, they will create their space. The seminar gave us enough information on what are the benefits of being a good events manager and a public relation practitioner. It inspired us to pursue this line of career in the future because of its good job opportunity. They gave us a brief discussion of PR process, history, publicity, and advertising, and also this seminar offers a good learning experience that we can’t get just inside the classroom. The speakers connect their lecture on to what they experienced in their job and shared their personal achievements, ability and knowledge which I can apply in my future career.

Sulpicio Lines PR..

As days passed after M/V Princess of the Stars capsized in rough waters during a typhoon, the public witnessed how Sulpicio Lines handle the crisis. As I heard the news there was an initial sympathy message that was sent to media outfits. The families of the victims were mad because the officials of the company were failed to give them enough information about the search and rescue operation. In this kind of situation, it is important that the company is accessible to those who need information the most, there should be an update every so often on the details of what the company is doing. For me, Sulpicio Lines needs to get the most sympathetic spokesperson that is effective in responding to questions from the press and the relatives. It’s also advisable if the company have set up a waiting area for the relatives of the victims and give them ample supply of basic needs, provide grief counseling, letting them to attend masses, offer tributes or gave them free flowers, In this ways, the company can show their sympathy in the tragedy. The spokesperson should credibly show that Sulpicio Line is a caring and responsible company and it don't want people to die. He should also explain the side of the company and why they should be trusted again, without giving them false hopes. One of the initial statements of Sulpicio Lines was that P200,000 was allotted for the families of each victim. It seems that the Sulpicio Lines are just equating the value of life with money. They are portraying themselves as a company with no heart, and just showing off their pockets. They need to do everything if they still want their customers to come back and patronize them again after this crisis. Future judgment on the company will largely be on the company’s conduct during the crisis

OJT pART 2

My 2^nd 100 hours at Saga Events:

On-the-job training (OJT) is an activity undertaken at the workplace which is designed to improve an individual’s skills or knowledge. My OJT is getting better and better as the days go by. My supervisor talked about how my OJT will be and they said I can be affiliated with any of their upcoming works and events. Compared to classroom, OJT provides deeper context and more cognitive triggers for questions from us trainee as we struggle to perform a new task in the actual work environment.

Listening skills, being initiative and patience, these were the traits that I gave focus onto my 2^nd 100 hours. The set up designer’s head gave us a task to make a miniature of the FHM set which he’ll present in the briefing of that approaching event. This is my first time to encounter the materials in creating a realistic set. Being resourceful, creative and to have focus and interest into your work are the traits that I’ve learned while doing this mini set. This work gave us an idea on how to create a convincing miniature which we can used in our approaching subjects in Mass Comm.

The Meg Face Search Event at Alabang Town Center was held last April 24-26. I’ve been there for the set up and to assist my head Ms. Mandy del Rosario to prepare the materials and equipments needed in the set. She demonstrates how to perform the task according to the listed standards of performance and taught me some strategies and where it’s applicable for the successful outcome of this event. She also explains the impact when we failed to perform the task. This event gave each applicant a chance to be the next cover of the teen’s magazine Meg and to have a free make over for as long as they have their application forms which they can get from the last page of the magazine. If they don’t have a magazine, they can buy it in front of the activity area of Meg. They have the freedom to borrow and to choose their clothes from the different sponsors (Kashieca, Marithe Francois Girbaud, Plains and Prints, Cinderella/ Seventeen). I was assigned to secure the sponsors materials such as jewelries, cloths, shoes and bags. I need to make sure that every sponsor had already signed our leaflets as a proof that they already received their belongings and to avoid things from being lost. After their make over which is done by our sponsors and after they wear their chosen clothes, they will proceed to the photo shoot area wherein they need to do their best pose for them to be the Meg’s next cover girl.

Some of my colleagues were assigned in the registration and receiving area, dressing room, sponsors area, photo shoot area, exit part, etc. I’ve learned so many things from these experiences and it enhances my ability to organize and to work with others. It was my first experience to sleep at the mall and I really felt so uncomfortable. I learned to work under pressure. At first, I got a problem in facing the people in front of me because I felt so unhygienic. We weren’t able to take a bath that day because the mall doesn’t have a shower room, so we just washed our face, brush our teeth and then that’s it! I find it uneasy to face and to mingle with its participants for the reason that I didn’t take a bath. But happily, the mall is air conditioned and as we assist the candidates, we still try our best to be presentable in front of them. Because of our confidence it is not obvious that we didn’t take bath. This event tests our patience as trainees. I learned how to deal in different people, with different personalities, to know our limitations as an ojt and the last is how to treat clients nicely even though you’re really mad. I understand so many things such as the Saga’s production and techniques in doing an event.

I also went to Mall of Asia and Trinoma together with Mr. Pat Villarojas just to get some pictures and videos of the Adidas store because it is needed as a preparation in the upcoming Event of Adidas. I’ve learned how to deal and coordinate with the store managers and supervisors as I get the floor plan and lay outs of their store. My supervisor told me that it will enhance my communication skills when dealing in different people. I’m also happy to be part of Markati Palazzo’s fitting of clothes at Podium. I’ve got a chance to see my favorite models. My trainer for the day Sir Leo demonstrates us our task and we observe it. He told me to guide those models and to help them in fitting their sponsored clothes before their pictorials. He also coaches me during my performance and criticizes us when he didn’t like our work and gives us a feedback. I also experience to take photos of those models because my trainer assigned me to do so. Good thing I have a background in photo journalism and I applied it when I captured their best pose.

I’ve observed that in this industry that I chose, it’s important to value everyone and to appreciate their contribution. Being moody is a part of the daily routine of each person and as a trainee, being sensitive has no place for this line of career. When my supervisors are in the mood, they would invite me to have lunch with them at a fast food chain, interview me and treat me for dessert in a nearby supermarket. Since I work in a company where restaurants are everywhere, my supervisors really know what places are the best. It's also okay to time-in late after lunch with them. Allowing trainees to practice performing the task under trainer supervision until both the trainer and trainee are confident that the trainee can consistently perform the task and is ready for formal evaluation. For some, OJT can be boring but for me I love the whole experience.

OJT trainers are usually chosen because they are very good at a specific task, I always bear into my mind that I need to strive hard in doing every task that they assigned, for me to be able to have a good record in this company. We are facing a lot of activities this month of May. Although I’m done with my 200 hours, I still chose to stay here at Saga to learn and experience more. I’m waiting fro the big events like fashion show of Markatti Palazzo, Banana Republic, Marlboro Party a red night, Jollibee at Subic, U mobile and a bridal fair. This month is loaded of fun, surprises and I love it.

The best trainers are those who are well respected throughout the department and who are already well-known for their informal “helping and coaching” skills and these are the traits that I’ve observed from my head Ms. Mandy del Rosario and also from the other head department. In Saga my responsibility is to keep my training materials up to date: It was monitored and enforced by my head and she told me that there will be a temptation for you trainers to add “your own” improvements to the training process. I’ve learned that the only way to ensure and maintain consistency in training is to have all trainers accept their responsibility for keeping the training materials up to date and I should know how to manage my time.

In relation to my future profession, I’m glad because I already have a background on how this kind of work is functioning. As I work at this company I’ve observed, learned, proved and discovered so many things about myself. To learn and explore new things, I need to initiate to do something that will help me to discover more things about this company. I’ve got so many more to reminisce about, at least now I’m aware how Saga Events functions and it prepared me for my future career. I understand their company’s procedure and how an event organizing job works and divide their task for each department. I learned not to be sensitive and just be comfortable in every thing you do. This Saga experiences improve my self confidence as a person. I realize that there are more adventures that’s awaits me and I need to be busy and love my job to be successful in this career. I can now feel the true life behind this course that I’ve chosen. I am now excited to meet more journey in this course. As future media practitioner, these experiences serve as a good inspirational start and helped me to know myself more and build my abilities, skills and knowledge.

OJT

My first 100 hours at Saga Events:

Coffee making, typing, photocopying (Xerox machine), and a demanding boss who keeps on imposing so many things which are not related to OJT are the myth that was imposed into my mind. It’s according to some of my senior friends which already experienced their OJT. But is it really a rumors? That’s the question that I need to find out.

On our first day, we are all excited to be here at Saga. It’s a company which organizes events that can help us, students to learn their everyday routine and to adopt their ways of living which is useful in our future career as media practitioner. It was the first day and we’ve met our first major problem. They need to lessen the trainees because our batch was too many and their office can’t accommodate the number of the trainees, so what they do is to divide the students into 2 batches the– MWF and T, TH batch. I was scheduled to attend the T, TH but luckily, my head Ms. Mandy del Rosario under the Production Department wanted me to go in the office everyday to assist her in her busy agenda. She told me not to follow the scheduled given to us by the Operation Manager because she needs assistant in her events. I was so happy because I’m fortunate to be with her responsibility. I’m with Mr. Pat Villarojas but Ms. Mandy assigned us to do different tasks. As I continue my training at Saga Events, I’ve realized so many things in life.

At first, I was not really enjoying the most of OJT. There were boring moments and I’ve proved that those myths about ojt are somehow true. Some of my co-trainees are oblige to make coffees, to run in the near grocery store and to master operating the Xerox machine! I was surprise when I found out, that those rumors were really happening in reality. Fortunately, my first task is to surf the net and to research about creative ideas on how to make an out of the box concept in a wedding proposals and entourage. It seems that I need to improve my skills in terms of typing. They also gave me an assignment of thinking unusual scenarios where people can do two things at the same time. They told me that their going to used this as a concept in one of the major event that their company is dealing with.

For the past few weeks, everybody is busy, working with different upcoming events. I was given fieldwork which in turn made me enjoy my duties.

I was able to experience to work outside of my desk and that freezing room and discover new things about the company by going to the main production site. I was in place at the production team and help my boss in conceptualizing the materials needed in the upcoming event of Diesel which will be held at Embassy, The Fort. We come up with different effective concept that the client will surely like. Now, I feel the normal working situation, using the actual tools, equipment, documents or materials in my training. Ms. Mandy briefly explained to me what the task is and when and why it is must be performed. At first, I thought it was easy to organize an event, but in able for me to be successful, I need to be creative and to create an extraordinary thinking just to perform the task given to me. We tackle the event of Diesel, and I’m the one who make contact with companies which offers the materials that is useful for the event. We also discussed the events concept, theme, models, place, agenda, strategies etc. Because of this experienced I’ve learned how to create effective concepts and to manage an event.

I’ve also educated a lot when Ms. Mandy required me to attend the meeting of Monaco film Festival. This is my first time to attend a formal meeting where everybody is professionals. They negotiate to other companies supervisors in operating the event. The Monaco Charity Film Festival is a venue that brings worldwide attention to new, emerging filmmakers as well as raising money to help impoverished and abandoned children around the world. This dual-focus event transcends the Cannes Film Festival in its humanitarian efforts and scope, and provides a wide variety of film workshops to gifted men and women from around the globe. The Monaco Charity Film Festival is a yearly CHARITY event organized to raise money for some selected charities involved in taking care of children. My head decided to put me in her production team and to help her in this event. I was there to make a written record of all of the things that they’ve discuss, the set up, budget, concept, objectives and the agreements of this approaching events. I was the one who arrange the equipments needed in this meeting and it start in a power point presentation and historical background of Saga and also the events that they handled successfully which attracts the client. I am now aware on how to deal with clients and to formulate effective strategies in order to get the target customers.

No one is completely trained; we are constantly learning new techniques every time we work on a project. As I complete my 100 hours, I appreciate myself and my workplace more. I’ve develop my skills to work with others, and to work independently especially when it’s under pressure. OJT is an active process, and I’m glad because my supervisor is aware of my needs and motivates me to learn.

radio tour

Radio Tour DZXL 558 KHZ

I’m so excited to know more about radio. I and some of my blockmates went last Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at Guadalupe Station for a radio tour at DZXL 558. I was early so I decided to walk around the place by myself. One area which caught my attention is the number of people waiting in the Public Service Center. I interviewed some of the officers in charge in that place and they tell me something about the Action Center. People consult and seek advices in any problems that they encountered. In our society nowadays, people tend to ask help to the media rather than the police or our government. They wanted a past solution to their problem and the only way or option that they see is through radio station. They believe that when a problem was announced to the public, the person who’s responsible for the problem will make a quick action for them to clean their names and solve or clarify the issue. I’m glad that this area gave a free of charge consultation on blood pressure which helps its listeners or supporter of the station to monitor their health status. I realized the importance of AM station and their public service to its listeners. Recording room, master control, news room incoming, public service center, action center, Production assistant area, these are some of the part of the radio station that we saw. We enjoyed this radio tour; I just hope that this kind of activity will continue for the benefit of Mass Communication Students. Our Professor, Sir Salvador Oberas gave us a tour and let us explore his working area. He explained to us the functions of each department and discussed its responsibility for the outcome of a good radio program. I was so impressed when my Prof Buddy Oberas and Amelyn Veloso were on board; their voice is captivating and they pronounced the news clearly. They also used strategies so that their listeners will not to get bored. In related to my future profession, I’m glad because I already have a background on how this kind of work is functioning. I understand their company’s procedure and how a radio station works and divide their task for each department.

synthesis paper Comm100

Violations of media ethics, media affects, reflects, and creates culture, the interview with Ad Agency are the best topics that I have learned in Comm100. For me the discussion of ethical violations in mass media is one of the best topics that Mr. Joeven has discussed to us. Because of this lesson, I have learned that we, as students should be aware of media ethics for the welfare of everyone. As a Mass Comm. Major were in the business of reporting, most of us believe that the public should know what's going on and in the future, when I already become a successful broadcaster, I should do my best to bring audiences as honest, accurate, and complete account of the days event as possible. Media affects, reflects, and creates culture is also the best lesson that I have learned in Comm100. Mr. Joeven discussed the difference between the three and I enjoyed this topic so much. It is so interesting and helped me to realize that media such as television, newspapers, and radio various means of mass communication thought of as a whole, together with the people involved in their production, plays a major role in our culture. Because of the technological developments the media can now reflect, affect and creates culture. Comm100 has improved my perspective as Mass Communication Major. Because of this subject, I have learned so many things that I can apply in my future career. Like for example in the topic violations of media ethics, I am now aware of what are the dos and don’ts of media practitioner. It guides us in the right way to know more about media. As future media practitioners, having this interview with our chosen topic the advertising agency really helps us to know more something about this business. This topic is related to our course and we learned important things that we can use in our future job opportunities. The historical background (when, where and how it is started) the works of the market communicators agency that was successfully accomplished, the works that they are planning to do, the major goals/mission vision of their company, the current trends/ improvements in the practice of their profession, also the current problems and issue of the ad agency and the most important the advices that they give to us are the scope of the interview. This interview serves us our inspiration in pursuing our courses and doing our best in everything that we do to achieve everything that we wanted. It also tackles about creativity or imaginative ability: the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things, especially in an artistic context. We learned how to work as a team; it enhanced our self confidence and our creativity in making a presentation that we can apply in our future job. We realized that nothing is impossible if you really like, love and enjoy what you are doing.