FDCP chair Rolando Atienza

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has another worthwhile project this year. It is holding a national historical scriptwriting contest, the deadline of which will be on May 20. The winners will be announced on June 12 to coincide with Philippine Independence Day.

FDCP Chairman Rolando “Jacky” Atienza said “we are holding the historical scriptwriting contest to promote and support the development and growth of the Philippine film industry as a medium with which to uplift aesthetic, cultural and social values for a better understanding and appreciation of the Filipino identity.” He added that the FDCP is championing this endeavor for Filipinos “to share our history through scripts that may be produced into films as well.”

Prizes at stake are: P350,000, first prize; P250,000, 2nd prize; and P150,000, 3rd prize.

Atienza said the binding theme of the contest is historical non-fiction where contestants will embrace orthodox and unorthodox approaches in narrating our history. “The stories should be unique, not common, not popularly known,” Atienza pointed out.

“The subject matters can delve on the unsung heroes of the Philippines or about the little known events that took place in the history of the country,” said Ms. Christine Dayrit, Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) chairman and project leader of the historical scriptwriting contest. The CEB is under the aegis of the FDCP.

“If the participants choose to depict the lives of known heroes like Rizal and Bonifacio, they must present something new about those heroes that have not yet been discussed in the textbooks,” Atienza said.

The historical scriptwriting contest, Dayrit said, is open to Filipino and of-Filipino descent writers, students, historians, film enthusiasts, overseas Filipino workers and Filipino expats. Contestants can be based in the Philippines or abroad.

The applicant should submit only one entry reproduced into 10 copies, each copy to be accompanied by a synopsis. The name of the writer and title of the script must be typed out on a separate information sheet. No identifying marks of the writer should appear on the pages of the script. The screenplay must be written in Filipino, English or in any local Filipino dialect. Script written in a local dialect should have a Tagalog or English translation. Also, if the script is written in Filipino or English but carries in part dialogues in a local dialect, the vernacular should also have a translation.

“Again, the rule of the thumb is simple – there should be historical accuracy,” Atienza emphasized.

For more information and contest mechanics, log on to www.filmdevcouncilph.org.

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Ronnie lines up projects as new OMB chairman

Ronnie Ricketts, the new Chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB) has several projects lined up to intensify his anti-piracy campaign.

He made it top priority to put his office in tip-top shape by meeting with all his staff to build rapport with them. Ronnie believes highly in the value of instilling discipline among his employees by being himself a good example, coming in very early for work every day.

Many admired Ronnie for having prevented piracy of the entries to the recently concluded 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival. Ronnie insists that his dedication to his job in the OMB is a sincere commitment, without any taint of politics.

“Lagi kaming naka-monitor kasama ang enforcement agency at left and right ang ginagawa naming raid. Mahalaga ang communication at dapat mai-build ko ang trust para masimulan ang maganda kong simulain na masugpo ang piracy lalo na sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga kapatid nating Muslim,” said Ronnie.

Among his anti-piracy related projects is popularizing the OMB theme song which was composed by Dicoy (Awit Awards’ Best Rapper) in collaboration with Arstra and Jinky Doo. He promised to involve the youth sector in his anti-piracy campaign and will go on a campus tour with these artists. There will also be a basketball exhibition by OMB stars nationwide to benefit the country’s movie and music industries.

Ronnie is a known fighter and he said he enjoys tremendously his work as OMB chairman. Many known movie and political personalities endorsed him for said position. Among them were Sen. Bong Revilla, former OMB Chairman Edu Manzano and other movie industry leaders who believe in Ronnie’s capabilities to head the agency.

A big setback though to all his projects and programs is the lack of enough budget for his office. Ronnie has to shoulder most of the expenses at the OMB.

Ronnie is a model husband to wife Mariz and a very loving father to their beautiful daughters Marella, 15, and Marie, 11.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Feb. 6 go to Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Daisy Romualdez, Eddie Gutierrez, Pining Espina, Edward Chan, Lilia de Vera, Beth Lim, Rosario N. Clarino, Michael Luga, broadcaster Aljo Bendijo, and Mayor Amy S. Navarro of Santiago City, Isabela. Happy wedding anniversary to Jeffrey and Wella Cham.