January 2008 Archives

WE'VE st ored the parka, mittens, thermal underwear and snow boots in the closet. But th is moment remains fresh in our mind. Following the second screening of Filipina filmmaker Joanna Vasquez Arong's (in pink) "Neo-Lounge," which was in Slamdanc e 2008's Documentary Feature Competition, she was toasted by new and old friend s. Among those celebrating Joanna's achievement in Park City, Utah are Pinoy filmm akers Ramona Diaz (left, in green) and Marty Syjuco (beside Joanna). Cheers indeed to the Philippines' rising crop of indie filmmakers! They're maki ng waves in the international film scene. Best of all, they are invigorating th e moribund Filipino movie industry. Editor's note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

PARK CITY, Utah--This is the most snow we've seen here since covering the Sunda nce Film Festival in recent years but as usual, the Filipino residents' friendl iness keeps us warm. The Pinoys we meet, from Edgar David and the rest of the staff at China Panda R estaurant on Park Avenue (the generous Asian food servings are always welcome, in contrast to the Western finger food being served at most parties), Albertson s (where everybody, including the stars, shops for groceries) to the buses, are eager to smile, help or talk. There's nothing like a friendly kababayan's face to brighten the gray winter landscape and ward off the chilly weather. These hospitable Pinoys insta ntly make us smile too and temporarily forget the insanity of our screening and interview schedule and the daily trudge through the snow that's piling up fast er than you can exclaim, "Salamat sa mga Pinoys sa Park City, Utah!"

PARK CITY, Utah--Robert Redford welcomed the opening night crowd of Sundance 20 08 last night (Thursday) with an extemporaneous speech. The theme of change was on the mind of Sundance Institute's founder, who took o ver this festival in the late 1980s. He told the crowd before Colin Farrell's d ark comedy, "In Bruges," began: "Artists are really agents of change. They are the first responders. They document change as it is occurring in the world arou nd us." Editor's note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

GUESS we won't have to haul the tux from our baul. Instead of the usual glitzy, star-studded Golden Globe Awards dinner show, we w ill announce the winners in a press conference that will still be telecast by N BC. The following press release was issued by our press group:

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) today announced that the recipients of Golden Globe Awards in 25 categories will be revealed during an hour-long HFPA press conference at The Beverly Hilton to be covered live by NBC News beginning at 6:00 pm PST on Jan. 13. âThe 65th Annual Golden Globe Aw ardsâ NBC telecast and champagne dinner in The Beverly Hiltonâs International B allroom is officially cancelled. âWe are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not tak e place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of se eing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007âs outstanding achievements i n motion pictures and television,â said Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywoo d Foreign Press Association. âWe take some comfort, however, in knowing that th is yearâs Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originall y scheduled.â

ARE we going to wear our tuxedo or not next Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13? The Golden Globe Awards, one of the few events of the year that make us take th e tux, vest, tie, cummerbund, suspenders, cufflinks and patent leather shoes (j ust listing them makes us tired already) out of the very back of our closet, is affected by the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Dick Cla rk Productions and NBC, which produces and telecasts the show, respectively, ar e struck companies. In solidarity with the striking Hollywood writers, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG ) recently announced that all of the 70-plus nominated thespians will not cross the WGA picket line at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the Globes will be held . The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which votes on and gives out th e awards, is caught in the middle of this conflict. A non-profit organization o f journalists from around the world, the HFPA gets the budget for its annual gr ants for scholarships, schools, film festivals and restoration projects from th e license fee that NBC pays for the right to telecast the highly-rated annual s how. Faced with the prospect of absent stars, the HFPA, NBC and Dick Clark Productio ns are caught in a dilemma â should the show go on or not? Abangan. NB C and HFPA will announce a decision on the fate of the Golden Globes on Monday.