Winning a Film Competition Without a Budget: Our Story

My Reflections on Working with Passionate People to Create Something Special

While we were working on our film 🎞️✮⋆˙

"Panimad un"

I was blown away by the incredible spirit of volunteerism I witnessed. Our cast and crew members participated wholeheartedly. They didn't get moody even when we asked them to repeat scenes again and again, even though it was exhausting and challenging. Even though I was choosy with their acting, and even though they weren't getting paid, they kept going to help me finish the film. It made me realize how priceless it is to have people like them. I've also observed this in myself and in other people I know: when there's a shared passion or goal that aligns everyone's interests, things flow smoothly even without money involved. This is a powerful example of volunteerism, participation, and shared vision all coming together to create something great.

There are times when being with like-minded people motivates you to work towards a common goal. It's exciting, and even when everyone is tired, you all persevere. I witnessed this scenario again during our film. Gerard, the writer and producer, truly invested his own money in the film, even though he had no prior obligation to me. CJ, bought his expensive gears to give us better quality images while helping our casts on how to properly execute their lines. Ambo, Rodney and Austin came to help us film even though we didn't really insist on them being involved. Kath, Ryan, Reian, Stephanie, and Emman all stayed, even when it was really draining. Even with no money or guaranteed return, everyone sacrificed their leisure time, family time, and self-care just to make this film happen.

Now I understand why my mother goes to church and volunteers there even though she isn't paid. She enjoys it, even without any material reward. Similarly, I'm making this film even though there's a risk of not getting anything in return. After all, my primary motivation is the desire to create another film.

For me, money still matters as it gives us the power to acquire what we want. However, money alone can't convince someone to join your project if they're not interested in the vision. Although you can try, the outcome may not align with your expectations. While the prize money for this film contest is only 10,000 pesos, which is quite small, the exposure and self-improvement we'll gain are truly valuable, and the moments we spend together will have a long-term impact on us.

I emphasized to the team that this project will be a defining moment for us. Hopefully, when it's all done, we'll still be the awesome people we are now. And of course, we all hope the film will be great and appreciated by audiences.

I told them we can create the best film possible!

After all, it's our first film together, and the power of collaboration has brought us this close.

Wed May 01 2024

Last Monday was the deadline for the film entries, and I'm excited to see what other contestants came up with!

Editing took about 3 days, followed by over a week of revisions and waiting for Khrystel's subtitle translation. By the way, I finished editing a week earlier and managed to clean it up before passing it with the suggestions from everyone; the film is as clean as it could be. Thankfully, everyone is happy with the final product! We're hopeful for a win, but regardless, we're proud of our work.

This is the 1st Summer Short Film Festival 2024, organized by the ISAT University Public Information Office. The theme is gender equality and stories of transformation. Our film tackles gender stereotypes prevalent in Philippine culture and history.

Stay tuned for more about the other films after the awards ceremony!

Sat May 18 2024

After days of anxious anticipation about the film competition results, the day finally arrived. I was incredibly tense because I desperately wanted to win. For the past two years, we'd only placed third, and I was craving for that first-place title, even if it was just at the school level.

Film Showings: Many films shared similarities beyond their core themes. However, pacing was a crucial element most films lacked. Poor pacing can ruin the tension of a scene. There was one film, supposedly good, where bad pacing turned the serious action into unintentional comedy – people laughed at it. In our case, I was relieved to notice the audience laughing at the intended funny parts. This meant our editing effectively controlled the audience's reaction, which is a good sign.

I place a high value on trailers and how they're crafted. Even if we had just gotten the best trailer title, I would have been happy. Fortunately, we were able to capture most of what we wanted. I was incredibly grateful that my dream of winning first place came true. It was definitely a satisfying moment, and while it boosted my ego a bit, I reminded myself to stay grounded and not overwhelm people with my personality.

By the way, I also acted in another film called "Wallflower in Saltwater" with my classmate, the president of the school's multimedia organization, "Partum". He directed the film, and I was surprised to find out I wasn't just a supporting character, but actually a main character! Guess what...?

The entire "Panimad-un" team said, "All efforts are worth it!" Yes, we did it, and we wouldn't be saying this if we hadn't sacrificed a lot. They felt what I felt during the awarding ceremony, and we will be celebrating our victory with a cash prize of 17.5k. Total ROI on my hand.

Chase Greatness, Money will follow

Awarding Facebook Live