#Lilia Cuntapay

[violence-infatuation]

shake, rattle & roll - "yaya" (1991)

#films #lilia cuntapay ate this so bad #lilia CUNTapay exactly.

[regcreates]

The Center of Philippine Hollywood: Lilia Cuntapay

Based on Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay

INTRODUCTION

An underrated, unappreciated, plain housewife and actress that is none other than Lilia Cuntapay. It was in this film that she portrayed her life and talent that amounted to her success that was only in her later years in life where she was given recognition. Six degrees of separation from Lilia Cuntapay was a film not only nominated by countless awards but it was a glorious time where it was proven how she truly deserved it. From director and writer Antoinette Jadaone who was able to rediscover Lilia Cuntapay, while conveying a message towards the film industry and its audience about the life of an extra.

BODY

Perceived Meanings

A. Referential

Lila Cuntapay, an old actress whose roles in every part of a film mostly portrayed those of horror characters as this was seen to be fitting due to her appearance, that despite living in poverty she was determined to work hard in doing what she loved and was looking forward to being hired to more films, as she longed to be awarded the title “Best Supporting Actress” from her previous film at that time “Sangandaan” in the 16th AFTAP Awards. 

B. Explicit

An old actress whose struggles were seen depicted in her life as she always played an extra in the film’s she has worked on, passionate, responsible, and determined as she finally gains recognition and awards she’s been longing for the past 30 years in the film industry.

C. Implicit

An old actress whose career was sustained as she worked for as long as 30 years, always thriving and never giving up to the idea that someday she will finally be able to earn an award as a form of recognition and belonging-ness to the film industry and to her co-actors and peers.

D. Symptomatic

In the film industry, actors and actresses alike must value the idea of being passionate, patient, and hard working to pursue their dreams or ultimate goal of being nominated, recognized, and/or awarded. The documentary, Six degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, not only shows the reality and struggles when being an actor in the creation of an on going film, but it also depicts the nature of what it’s like to be a part of it. The struggles are real, and it is in that time where our own being is put to the test, for whether or not we can handle all the pressure and what it means to be a part of that film.

Film Criteria

A. Realistic

The documentary, Six degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, showcases the reality of the struggles actors and actresses experience especially those who were treated indifferently. Those who are not as big as celebrities and have to work an extra mile, are misunderstood, unrecognized and and unappreciated. These are the times that you either have to “go big or go home”, because of the pressure brought by the film industry. It is a harsh and sad reality the way it comes and goes inside the works of each film and while being a part of it as a lead role or as an extra. All the time you’ll spend, the waiting, the mistreatment, or not enough pay are seen as one of the struggles they go through each time. And although Lilia Cuntapay faces exactly the same situation, it did not lead her to doubt herself and talent to strive better, work harder, become more patient and stay professional in her line of work. 

B. Moral

While watching the documentary, I realized there were a lot of moral values you can learn from some of the scenes in the movie. There were also several lines that she quoted by herself, that really got me hooked and I think as part of the creative arts industry, I may be able to learn a thing or two and take her as a role model because of the kind of mindset she partakes. 

Patience

“Life is not for the impatient, waiting is part of being human.” This quote by Lila Cuntapay really struck me especially as I watched the scene where the call time was set at 6 am, and she arrived so early, even before everyone else came. All day she was determined to wait for her part, practicing her lines even though they were short, and not once did she complain. It showed here her patience and professionalism when it comes to work, no matter the role. And even after waiting for the fact that she was only replaced by another old woman, because the director did not want to use her face as he was familiar that they use her for horror movies, it was then shown how she was hurt from that time, and went home feeling sad. A glimpse of the scene where her fantasy speech is shown every now and then, it was only there that she said “idiot” as a means of frustration she felt at that time. No matter how she felt, she still remained patient that one day her hard work pays off.

Confidence

Her confidence is off the charts, especially the way she delivers herself. There were a lot of cases in the movie where she remained hopeful and her hope gave her all the confidence she needed to keep on working. She was confident but she stayed humble, allowing herself to immerse on the character she was playing but never went overboard. It is definitely the same confidence I want to achieve as I learn from her.

Generosity

As she was kind, patient, and confident, she was also generous. Every chance she gets, every opportunity that comes her way that offers money in the roles she plays in each film, she uses it to help others, but as generous as she is, not everything goes back to her, but it is within her big heart that makes her happy seeing others happy.

C. Coherence

There were two sides of the film, her reality and her imagination. Her reality showed how she went through her daily routine and her way of dealing with her career. Especially ever since she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress, it appears to be showing her getting ready for her speech, and other days where she goes to casting calls. The other side of the film shows her imagination and the way she is going to deliver her speech in different scenarios relating to her life. There were times she was happy in her “fantasy speech”, times where she’s gone speechless, or those times, she is just plain lost, with the way she was going to handle it. I think for me, it all made sense the way they produced the film, to show two different sides of her life and the thoughts going through her head or how her mind world basically.

D. Complexity

If I were to be honest, I usually do not watch these kinds of films, and so I was doubting it at first, but seeing the introduction of the film made it kind of interesting, because I was already familiar with the face but not the name. And so as I continued watching the film, it was simple and straightforward. It was not too complex that you get lost in the synchronization of the different scenarios showcased in the documentary. It sure was a perfect blend, of the way the emotions brought by her life in the film captured my heart and mind.

E. Originality

Six degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, caught my attention all throughout the documentary, it was a so-called “mockumentary” dedicated to a very underrated person, Lilia Cuntapay that some might not even heard of yet. I think the film’s originality comes from the twists and turns of how her life came to be. For me, it is not a very common topic or theme for a movie during those times, and that’s what makes it so interesting. Who ever thought to make a movie of the life of an extra? Along with the added imaginations brought by her reality was produced and showcased very well that made the film worthy of recognition overall.

Conclusion

Overall, I personally rate this film a 10/10, as I am happy it was recommended to me I’ll be happier to recommend this to anyone who is looking for a film that’s unlike most documentaries created nowadays. Not only was I able to analyze the structure of the film, but the realness that comes with Lilia Cuntapay’s outstanding perfromance and how she portrayed her life was so genuine and heartfelt, it brought me to tears. I am proud that she was able to achieve her ultimate goal as an actress, and I’m willing to take everything I learned from this documentary as an example to always strive to be a better version of ourselves , especially as part of the creative industry.

#lilia cuntapay #six degrees of separation #film analysis #filmlanguage

[yourflixfix]

Lilia Cuntapay, Keeping it Reel

Written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone is a 2011 film Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay which is starring Lilia Cuntapay portraying the role of herself. When Lilia Cuntapay got multiple supporting roles after her debut in the 1990 film Shake, Rattle & Roll 2, she turned out to be far too well-known for being in horror movies that other people would opt to not hire her because of it. And that is why for a very long time, she was bound to constantly play as a bit-player or an extra. Despite being stereotyped as the actress who took on characters such as ghouls, ghosts, and all scary roles of that sort, Lilia Cuntapay managed to have her name be known and not just her face, for something she so loved and worked hard for. This mockumentary spiraled around the behind-the-camera life of a bit-player like herself, and emphasizing its harsh reality too which is not something everyone knows.

For so many years, degree of separation is an idea that researchers are trying to account for, that it actually stretches back to a 1969 study by researchers Stanley Migram and Jeffrey Travers. The idea of degrees of separation being a theory is known to contend that all people are linked to each other one way or another. This concept was said to be popularized by the 1990 play by John Guare which was turned into a film after a few years. It may seem impossible that we are chained by acquaintances with someone else we do not think that we are ever going to cross in our lives with, but it is in fact, quite possible. Later on, this idea has been taken up to a notch in 1994 by students at Pennsylvania Albright College who invented the game Six Degrees of Separation with Kevin Bacon, in which the context was to associate every film actor to Kevin Bacon in six cast lists or less. We cannot disagree with that the thought actually makes sense. In connection with the film in focus, Six Degrees of Separation with Lilia Cuntapay, degrees of separation has been a recurring idea in the totality of the film itself. This made me think that it is the bare bones or the so-called referential meaning of the film. The title of the film heavily suggests it too! The film made reference to degree of separation linking Lilia Cuntapay to Filipino actors and actresses, and to Kevin Bacon himself.

“In the end awards don’t really mean anything.” These words coming from someone as renowned as Peque Gallaga proves a point. Through the days leading up to a fictionalized awards night, Lilia Cuntapay spends most of her time getting things ready, renting the perfect dress, and asking for help and advices for her to come up with the perfect speech to deliver as she was a nominee for the Best Supporting Actress award for the first time in three decades of her acting life and imagining winning it. With this, I came up with the point that I think the film is trying to teach or tell its audience that an award is just an award. I find myself relating to the film and to the life of Lilia Cuntapay trying to seek for approval, most of the time. Nobody in life wants to do something without being recognized or for once, being in the spotlight. After so many years, Lilia Cuntapay for once, can in fact, have a chance and be in the spotlight but for me, this thought contradicts itself and tries to come across that indeed, award is just an award. It may be the reason why one can have a higher talent fee, it may be the reason why one can demand more in terms of his or her working conditions, but it can never sum up to how good a person is in what he or she is doing.

 The more abstract and underlying message that I have constructed while deep in the film is dreaming big. This might seem a reversing idea with the paragraph before this but it is not. Stating that an award is just an award is different from not having big dreams. In the film, the dream of Lilia Cuntapay to win the Best Supporting Actress award is not an impossible dream to have because she knows that she worked hard enough for her to bag the said award.

 It is undeniable that both the explicit and implicit meaning of the film worked together to express the role of a form of approval and dreaming big in an actor’s life even he or she is just a bit-player. Lilia Cuntapay believed that people like her can win an award or even just be nominated alongside well-known artists even when faced with constant rejections, discriminations, or even living in the harsh reality of being a bit-player. In her case, a familiar but unnamed face in the Philippine film industry. Her name and her face, seemingly, six introductions away from each other.

Delving into the film, I see myself empathizing and relating with the main character which a person would probably not, if the film is not that much realistic at all. The sense of empathy and relating to a character of a film is further supported if and only if it feels real. There is a blurred line between what is real and what is not, in this film. Reality can take on so many forms, and it is believed that a mockumentary is not one of them, however, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay proved us otherwise. The film treated fact and fiction the same way which resulted into it being a unique piece of work. With that being said, for me, the film met the realistic criteria.

The film overall gave a casual but engaging and heartfelt feel to the audience all throughout the 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 24 seconds of watching. I find myself laughing and crying as the film progresses. The film has a comedic aspect but develops into an emotional and dramatic setting and this for me, highlights the smooth transition of the film. Antoinette Jadaone made a spotlight just for Lilia Cuntapay and the harsh reality of the industry that everyone seems to just see as glitz and glamour. We finally know who Lilia Cuntapay is and how she kept it real.

#film analysis #lilia cuntapay #sixdegreesofseparationfromliliacuntapay #antoinettejadaone #2011film #mockumentary #yourflixfix #bysamc

[cutprintscreen]

Empress to Success

A Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay Analysis

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay was a phenomenal mockumentary that sheds light in the Philippine Film Industry and the actors/actress with the likes of Lilia Cuntapay. The life of an actress is complex to the point that fame, awards, set roles, and lifestyle becomes either filled with glee or anticipation. Lilia Cuntapay, the star of the documentary, was longing to be awarded – as Best Supporting Actress – and she has been in the filming industry for about 30 years without winning an award, that her anticipation and anxiety, grows more and more. Finding out one day she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but losing to Rio Locsin. The desire of winning was in her eyes but it instantly faded as she found out she didn’t won, and this documentary shows her perspective and why winning this award is such an anticipated moment for her.

The documentary’s referential meaning is about the Philippine Film Industry, how often times actors and stresses don’t get the treatment and recognition they deserve and been longing for and Often times discriminated or told they want other people for roles or categories to win. In the documentary, Lilia Cuntapay, an actress who has been in multiple movies for years, was informed to be on set 6AM the day, without receiving any other information such as role, script, or even what the movie is about. And when the director finally met Lilia Cuntapay, he went off saying if they can get another person to fill her role since she’s old and did horror related tasks. And through-out the years, Lilia’s work has been iconic, yet she hasn’t won an award yet even though she centers the “Hollywood” of Philippines, labelled as the “Kevin Bacon” of the Philippines.

The documentary was complex in terms of its originality, because it shows Lilia’s thoughts on wanting to win Best Supporting Actress, and it is Realistic, Coherent, and Original in a sense that this is the life and the experiences a (veteran) actress goes through. She hopes for the better but sometimes it just doesn’t show up, but it will in the end. The documentary explicitly means that when you work hard on something, it will not be easy or as smooth as you thought it would be, but you will get your vocation and your worth in the end. She never won an award, but when Rio Locsin – Best Supporting Actress winner – shared her label and award to Lilia Cuntapay. And working in the film industry for years and not earning an award is tough in the eyes of an artist because even though awards aren’t everything, it gives a strong sense of value and “acceptance” to the awardee, and this documentary is Lilia’s award. She won best actress in this documentary, awards that she never got the opportunity to acquire. It will come by in the end. Even if you feel like hope is lost that doesn’t mean it’s no longer worth fighting for. And it is moral because despite of the satire and laughable elements, we can learn how a veteran actress is passionate and caring for her recognition and with the people that helped her on her journey.

When I watched this documentary I was laughing, I was thrilled, I was down, and I was proud – for Lilia Cuntapay. What made this film so original is the internal monologues and thoughts Lilia has on giving her thank you speech if she wins. This was shown in cuts where she wears a dress, surround by references to her past films, and struggling to talk in the podium.

The entire documentary itself is just an internal thought of Lilia about desiring to win an award – in my own interpretation. Through-out the film she was trying to construct her speech, and shown in parts where she visualizes herself giving the speech. And at the day of the awarding ceremony, she rehearses her speech only to find out she lost, and basically gave up on her speech, and was literally lost on what to say when Rio Locsin invited her on stage with her award. This whole documentary was a visualization of what Lilia’s desires for when winning, she tries hard to get interviews, recognition, be nominated, and she did it, she did it because of this documentary. She may not have won in her past roles, but for her role in this documentary - a documentary showing her desire to win - made her an award-winning actress.

Director Peque Gallaga expressed his love and amazement about Lilia Cuntapay and how much she is one of the amazing Filipino actresses there is. He also mentioned how much an award is worth it to an actor/actress. The documentary symptomatically means how just in real life awards should actually mean anything, but the psychological and emotional attachment it has is very strong, and society always look upon any person with an award in glory. Just the label “award winning actress” shows great value to the actress and looked up on society. The psychology behind awards is that give the awardee that entitlement that they did amazing, they are worth it, they deserve this from all their hard work, everyone will see how amazing of a person you are. It literally just a label, paired with a piece of material like a trophy, medal, certificate etc. But the power it has is strong. In the real world, the label you have will make you stand out and looked up on the most, even in Politics. A person who has categories such as award winning actress, best production, charity head, etc. has a way bigger reputation and earns more opportunities, compared to someone who is just an actress for years or has years of experience in acting. The entitlement means a lot to an individual as well as awards, and it’s normal to  a person to desire for that, especially to an actress who was 75 years old and working in film for many years.

Winning isn’t everything, but it sure is something. Lilia Cuntapay hasn’t won an award until this documentary was released. She labels herself as an actress, but not famous. She may have worked in many films but wouldn’t consider herself well known, even if she is metaphorically the “Kevin Bacon” of Philippines for that she worked with many people in the industry. Many people were not even familiar with her, until one roles and works were mentioned to retain the people’s memory. Some people remember her, some people don’t, but what stays the same is how much of a successful actress and individual (in general) Lilia Cuntapay is. In the end, even if you did not get the recognition you always wanted, that doesn’t mean you will never be successful.

Written by Keith Daniel Nicodemus

#Lilia Cuntapay #Six Degress of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay #FILMLANG #MM22 #itsKeithDanNic #Documentary #Philippines #Film #Analysis

[mabacamalyari]

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay - Film Analysis

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay 

Ang “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” sa direksyon ni Antoinette H. Jadaone ay isang mokumentary na pelikula na ipinalabas noong 2011. Isinagawa ito sa dokumentaryong paraan at ginamit din ang tunay na pangalan ng bida na si Lilia Cuntapay. Ito ay ukol sa pagsisikap sa buhay ni Lilia bilang isang supporting actress sa mga pelikulang kanyang ginampanan tulad ng pelikulang “Shake, Rattle and Roll”. Ipinakita dito kung gaano na hindi pinahahalagahan o pagkilala bilang isang supporting actress. Ang pelikulang ito ay isang independent film production mula sa Cinema One Originals.

Si Lilia Cuntapay ay isang aktres na sikat sa mga Horror films sa Pilipinas bilang aswang, mangkukulam, katulong o matandang babae. Kinilala siya ng mga tao na “Queen of Horror”. Sa unang bahagi ng pelikula, inakala kong aswang talaga siya dahil sa sinambit ni Direk Peque sa isang panayam at ginamit itong pelikula upang malaman ang buhay ng aswang. Hindi ko din gaanong kilala si Lilia Cuntapay kaya’t inakala ko  na siya ay mangkukulam o aswang talaga. Inakala kong totoong buhay ni Lilia Cuntapay ang naganap na documentaryo. Ngunit si Lilia pala ay isang guro sa totoong buhay at hindi siya nakatira sa lugar kung saan naganap ang pelikulang ito.

 Ipinakita dito ang buhay niya sa labas ng pelikula sa pamamagitan ng pag kwento kay direk Antoinette H. Jadaone. May eksena ng pag antay ng tawag sa bahay Lilia upang ipaalam sakanya na may papel siyang gagampanan at ang ipinakita ang buhay niya sa set. Kasama niya doon si Geraldine Villamil na gumanap bilang anak niya na nagaasikaso sakanya sa set. Naipakita doon ang pagiging maasikaso, determinado, maligalig, responsable, masayahin, at makikita sa kanyang pagkatao na ninanais niya talagang seryosohin ang kanyang papel na gagampanan kahit maging extra lamang siya. Pumupunta siya ng maaga pa sa call time nila at naghahanda na. Ngunit nakalipas din ang araw bago siya makapag  makapag shoot. Dito nabasag ang expektasyon na siya ay gaganap ng isang role ngunit nang siya’y makita ng direktor, sinabing pamiliar na ang muka niya sa horror baka hindi bumagay ang itsura niya para sa role kaya’t hindi na ito isinali sa pelikula at ginawa na lamang na extrang passer by sa likod. Katulad din ng nangyari kay Lilia sa interview, mayroong mataas na pag-asa si Lilia na siya’y muling maipapabalas sa TV Patrol dahil siya ay na interview. Inimbita niya ang buong barangay niya upang mapanood siya muli sa TV. Nasasabik siyang madami ang dumalo sa screening niya. Nakikita sa kanyang mga mata na galak na galak siyang makilala muli ng mga tao bilang “best supporting actress”. Nunit dito nabasak ang inaasahan ng manonood. Hindi naipalabas si Lilia Cuntapay sa TV Patrol. Nabagabag ang manood sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari dito. Ang pakay ng direktor dito ay tinatawag na “Cheated expectation” kung saan ninanais niyang basagin ang expektasyon ng manonood.   Naging matagumpay ang pakay ng direktor na maging malabo ang pananaw ng manonood pag dating sa pantasya at realidad. Ang naganap na panayam ni direk Peque Gallaga at Lore Reyes dito ay totoo at ang istorya ng buhay ni Lilia dito ay maaari ding maging realidad ngunit hindi ito ang realidad na buhay ni Lilia. 

Nagawa ng direktor na ipaghalo ang realidad at pantasya, sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng raw footage na pagkuha ng pelikula na nagpapamukang silay nag do-dokumentaryo ng totoong buhay. Hindi nila ito nilagyan ng color grading o magandang pag angulo ng kamera na tulad sa napapalabas sa mga teyatro. Nanalo ang pelikulang ito sa “Best Editing” dahil sa nakuha nila ang conseptong nais nilang iparating. Ang mag mukang mockumentary. Pag dating sa musika ng pelikula, isa lamang ang kanilang ginamit. Masaya ang musika na kanilang ginamit sa pagpapaliwanag ng buhay ni Lilia. Ito’y marahil sa masayahin niyang pagkatao. Hindi na nilagyan ng malulungkot na kanta sa mga eksenang nagpabasag ng expektasyon sa manonood tulad ng hindi pag litaw niya sa TV nung siya’y na-interview. Ang kadahilanan ay maaaring nabuhat na nang istorya ang ninanais na maging emosyon sa eksena. Sa huling salita niya sa pelikula, “Ako po si Lilia Cuntapay” at tugtog na lumabas ay masaya kahit nakakalungkot ding malaman na siya’y hindi nanalo sa Awarding. Ang tugtog na iyon ay nagpaalala ng personalidad ni Lilia Cuntapay at kung gaano niya na nais makamit ang pagkilala sakanya bilang magaling na aktress dahil ito nga din naman ang kaniyang pinag hirapan. Naging epektibo din ang kanilang pag arte dahil sa natural na pananalita na iginagamit din sa realidad. Pag dating naman sa visual elements, Ang eksena ni Lilia na siya’y nag salita ukol sa pasasalamat bilang “best supporting actress” ay nag sisimbulo ng kanyang imahenasyon. Makikita na siya lamang ang nandoon at tahimik ang paligid. Siya din ang nag kunwaring nag host at binoses din ang sound effect ng kanyang pag akyat sa podium. Ang mga materyales na makikita doon ay maaaring kasama sa mga proyektong ginampanan niya sa iba’t ibang pelikula. Sa ibang eksena naman ay makikita na nagiiba ang mga gamit na pumapaloob sa kanyang imahenayson. Tulad ng poster na nag sasabi “Lilia Cuntapay in TV Patrol” at biglang nag iba ito nang hindi siya maisali. Nakasulat sa poster ay “ Lilia Cuntapay IS NOT in TV Patrol”. Naging kulay Asul ang eksenang iyon na nag sisimbulo ng kalungkutan dahil sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Doon lamang ang scene na may color grading at tila may pagkadilim ang paligid na nakuha ang ideya na iyon lamang ay imahenasyon na labis na ninanais ni Lilia na magyayari pag dating ng “Awarding”. 

Ang puno't dulo ng peikulang ito ay kahit hindi nanalo ng Best Supporting Actress si Lilia Cuntapay binigyan ng pagkakataon ni Rio Locsin na siya’y makilala sa Awarding at doon nag pasalamat din si Lilia Cuntapay sa pagkilala sakanya. Ini-rerekomenda ko ang pelikulang ito na panoorin dahil sa ganda ng konteksto na nakapaloob dito. 

#pelikula #film analysis #six degrees of separation from lilia cuntapay

[from-a-reckless-writer]

filipino indie films i've binged so far this year...

(that i think y'all should watch too)

BILLIE AND EMMA dir. Samantha Lee (2018)

this one is gay. so, to all my filipino sappic mutuals, you guys should watch this.

ULAN dir. Irene Villamor (2019)

I URGE U TO WATCH THIS FILM. this isn't ur typical filipino romance film. it is so good! i wish we had more films like this.

BAR BOYS dir. Kip Oebenda (2017)

this is one of those feel-good films, that one should watch when they miss their friends.

PATAY NA SI HESUS dir. Victor Villanueva (2016)

hands-down one of the best movies i've seen. i swear to god this was so good. its got trans representation, dark humor, great cinematography, seriously what more can u ask for?

WATCH. IT. NOW.

ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA dir. Alvin Yapan (2011)

I MEAN LOOK AT HOW GAY THAT PIC IS, NEED I SAY MORE? if u're a gay poet this film is for u.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY dir. Antoinette Jadoane (2011)

this is Jadaone's first film. a mockumentary about the most famous horror bit player in all of philippine cinema, lilia cuntapay. this film made me feel a lot of feels.

ANG HULING CHA-CHA NI ANITA dir. Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (2013)

i think every queer kid should watch this film and every queer parent should too. i love this film with my whole heart.

MA ROSA dir. Brillante Mendoza (2016)

because this wouldn't be complete without this a brillante mendoza film. I THINK EVERY FILIPINO SHOULD WATCH THIS. such a damn good film.

.

.

.

welp. that's it for now. i just really think that more people should watch indie films and see that filipinos are more than capable of writing damn good films, instead of the mainstream movies y'all watch that are just cringey and too generic at times. anyway, there'll prolly be a part 2 to this because there's a shit ton of films i wanna share. but watch these for now. oh oh oh! and feel free to flood my asks about films, i would absolutely love you forever if u sent me an ask!

#filipino films #filipino indie films #indie film #film rec

[chrryblssmninja]

Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay

2011, Antoinette Jadaone

#movie posters #Antoinette Jadaone #screencaps by chrry

[wafflingmjey]

BLOG #1: SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM LILIA CUNTAPAY - FILM ANALYSIS

Dreams are what we are made of. Everyone has one and wants to achieve as much as they can, to be the best and sometimes the worst. However with the Six Degrees Of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay, this film or should I say a deceptive documentary, also known as a mockumentary, shows excellence of portraying one’s dream to be a star in the film industry but only to meet a bittersweet fate.

The whole film is showing the life of Lilia Cuntapay in a way of being a supporting actress in various films for 30 years, mostly horror films. She is usually portrayed as an aswang or a witch in horror movies and halloween specials and sometimes as a house helper in non-scary movies and/or teleserye. Then was being nominated as best supporting actress in the 16th AFTAP award ceremony. Though during the journey of knowing that she was nominated, she starts to experience two problems. One of it is thinking on what to write and say as a speech once she wins the award. As well as being stuck in this star struck trance that may or may not have affected her mentaility in a way but still kept a “humble” character.

I would say it was one of those films that gives me mixed emotions and actually think what the character (actress in this film) is thinking and what not. What goes in her mind, what is really her thinking process and much more. 

Though, one of the scenes I was interested in was when she was called for a shooting and she was being a typical old lady that we all know: madaldal, impatient, and easily tired. Though, when she is learning her lines as an actress, she wants everything to be as if there are already cameras rolling. Asking her helper or child to act a bit more, to be more into the zone just so she can be the best. I find it interesting in a sense that in a realism mentality, for acting more than 30 years as a supporting actress then finally be recognized, you would really understand the essence of acting, what to do with the lines and how to say your lines through how she asks her helper or child to assist her for that particular scene.  However, in the same scene, it shows that she ends up not being part of the scene and just be deemed as someone who is known for one genre. That is actually quite sad and harsh for my personal taste.

Another scene or should I say scenes I found interesting was when she was trying to renact her speech in case she wins the nomination for being the Best Supporting Actress title. The whole cluster of references hinting towards the movies, films and other appearances she has been in, it was very interesting to know that after all her hardwork of acting for 30 years or more, it shows how every ounce of her work has finally paid off.

Then the final bittersweet scene of the movie, waiting for her time to shine on the stage as she believes she is one of the greats of acting. However, the bitter ending was knowing she did not win the award but the sweet part of it is she still got recognition nonetheless.

In terms of coherence of the film, the story being told was very compelling and very much smooth even though the whole set-up ambiance was a documentary. I understand that there are not much story telling in terms of a documentary, the formula of it is basically the life of the person being interviewed, the problems being faced and how the person copes with the situation. A very simple film, that shows a life of a struggling actress about to gain recognition after 30 years.

Talking about originality, I find it very much interesting and very refreshing in terms of watching the film. For most of the time, I have watched different films in different methods but the formula was almost the same. The whole story, the vibe it gives and almost the same thinking methods of the characters. Yes, there are dilemmas to face and it can also hit the audience in a familiar way. However watching the whole mockumentary of Lilia Cuntapay, it is almost like educating people in a more empathetic way; Knowing and valuing the hardships of one’s craft can someday pay off. It is one of the most overlooked value or moral that we humans tend to ignore and watching this mockumentary, it gives a refreshing insight for audiences.

Personally, I would recommend this film for those who wants to understand the value and how to value hardwork. The way on how Lilia Cuntapay portray that giving your 100% on anything can pay off someday and possibly also be recognized. I see no flaw on the film, it was a rollercoaster ride of emotions: Laughter, sadness, anger, even awkwardness. It all can be felt through this film. I would say kudos to Antoinette Jadaone, the director of Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay, for providing this amazing, heartwhelming film. Giving justice to Lilia Cuntapay’s hardwork of acting as well as being able to trick the audience to believe it is a real documentary of someone’s life but only to show true morals, principles and giving more positive and optimistic life to those who are still striving to be the best of themselves.

[gayleisabao]

Nanay Lilia: The Star That Remains In The Dark

Admit it or not, with the world we revolve around in today, being remembered is one of the things that we give importance to as humans before we face the end, the afterlife, or death. We do our best to leave a mark on this world no matter how big or small it is, as long as at least one person still thinks of us while we’re inside the casket or crossing the path to where our spirit is destined to be. Yes, we may not all be focusing on the idea of making our names be remembered as centuries and generations pass by, but the thought of being known for what you were or what you did here on earth for the entirety of your life, comes with a grudge that most of us blindly take care of.

This is something that I see as a concept that is widely common for people who are part of the creative industry, especially for the branch of film. There’s this sense of making a legacy out of your career and from the many stories that have been revived by the talents of writers and directors, to the characters and figures portrayed by the actors, everyone has a role in treasuring what once was and is to be. In fact, the process of it can be reflected in how we look up at the horizon each night.

We often have those moments where we gaze through our windows and look for the sight of the moon, surrounded by the ocean of stars that bring light to the beauty of the night sky. For me, this is how I look at films, or at least perceive how each one is made and brought to life through the eyes and the minds of producers and directors. With how big the industry has become so far, so much talent and creativity revolves around it that recognition is something that is commonly looked out for by the people who are behind each piece. Recognition that serves as validity that a talent or creator has made it in the industry, especially with film. 

In the topic of recognition, I would like to talk about a film that we have watched for our film class this past week which is Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, which is directed by none other than Antoinette Jadaone. It is a mockumentary revolving the everyday life of the very iconic Lilia Cuntapay, which some or most may not know her by name, but can definitely recognize her just by seeing her unique appearance. She is commonly known for her roles in Filipino horror movies wherein she portrays characters like a witch, an aswang, or other paranormal beings written and told by filmmakers and writers alike. And personally, when I first learned about her, I also didn’t know her by name, I only grew up watching her on horror films that my family used to watch and remembered how terrified I was of old ladies with long hair because of her. She was what I envisioned a witch would look like in real life, the perfect imagery of a person that holds so many grim and mysteries. And for Peque Gallaga, a well-known film director who was asked about Lilia Cantupay in an interview, this is also what he thought of as he first saw and met Cantupay during the set of his film Shake, Rattle, and Roll II back in the 90’s. 

With that in mind, now getting a chance to watch a film about Lilia Cuntapay again, at first I had my expectations that it could be a horror film or maybe a look as to how actresses like her work in the film industry especially with specifications and characteristics that her roles are limited to. But as the film opens up to people getting questioned if they are familiar with Lilia Cuntapay, including clips of people from the industry getting interviewed about the actress, I immediately assumed that it was a documentary film given that I watched it without knowing anything about the film's background. The setup and the way the story was being portrayed in the first few minutes of the film is similar as to how we usually get to see documentaries, it consists of multiple parts where we get to know more about the subject in a collection of different views of people involved with the main character. That’s why as the scene of Lilia rolled in, where she is in the middle of a pulpit in a mock award show surrounded by valuables that were curated from her past films, I readily got curious as to how the film was going to progress. 

The way the film was captured by director Antoinette Jadaone really shows the rawness of how Lilia’s life was behind scenes. It’s not what most people would normally imagine the life of someone who is very iconic in the industry would be, because we see that despite her landing big time jobs in the past and how she is a veteran in her genre, the longevity of her fame doesn’t guarantee the convenience of her everyday life. As it continues to progress, we slowly see that even though she has been included in a lot of big time selling horror films, she doesn’t get recognized as much as she is supposed to. Here the film slowly hints that it is a mockumentary that depicts the inner struggle that actors and actresses face in their field caused by “typecasting”. Wherein despite how good you are in your craft, if you’re associated or tagged to specific types of roles, there is still a high chance that producers and directors can decline you. They can still have the ability to change the way they treat you as a human being from your fame, unlike the treatment that most normally get when they’re seen by their fans or supporters.

Going back to the way as to how I see the film industry and while progressing through the story of Lilia’s character, I realized that we were made to believe that this is what her life actually is, and somehow that idea contributes largely to how we feel as we watch the film.There are scenes where we laugh out of the comedic elements that give light to her positivity despite her struggles and sacrifices for her passion, and then later on we feel pity for her because we see that in her old age and the treatment given to her, it's not fair. A roller coaster of emotions that slowly streams us to the flow of the film's message and prepares us for the mind-boggling ending. That’s something that I truly admired the film for, its consistent patterns of making its audiences feel the same way Lilia feels in the film. That feeling of somehow we could all relate to her as she works her best but ends up not being credited for the contribution she brings just because she’s not as known as the others in the industry.

To be honest, each scene for me was well thought out, given that the progression of the film leads up to an ending that still reaches the goal that was set in the beginning of the film, but it's modified into something that turns out to be more valuable than what we were made to believe was the most of what is offered in the plot of the story. It truly gave light to the potential of actors and also directors out there that are being overshadowed by those that are more popularized. It’s the genuinity of the film that really gets me giddy about it, it's not sugar coated like other works wherein there are unrealistic elements that mislead us to thinking that it's possibly impossible to happen to ordinary people like us. It’s relatable in a sense where we actually get morals and motivation out of it, that’s why I see the storytelling of it to be a perfect example of what I imagine the film industry to be as I have mentioned earlier. It’s the night sky where there’s a moon that is in the middle of an ocean of stars that are sometimes covered by clouds causing their light to not be seen, but despite this and without them, the universe would be in complete darkness without these stars. That’s why whether they are seen or not, recognized or ignored, their value to the industry remains the same and that’s what keeps them going to shine their light.

Overall, I would definitely say that Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay is definitely a must watch. It gives light to Lilia Cuntapay as an actress, she gives light despite the void that she is in when is not recognized for her contribution, and despite her being stuck in that darkness, she still shines through. The way she guides you to the storytelling of the film will lead you to interact and solve the questions that puzzle you in the beginning, very effective storytelling and gives us a clearer view of how the film industry and the entertainment industry as a whole is in reality that will build your appreciation and respect for filmmakers and actors out there.

[thefilmtheater]

LILIA CUNTAPAY AND THE FILM INDUSTRY

Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay opens an opportunity for the masses to get to know Lilia Cuntapay. The actress who has played as an extra in a 30-year career finally gets the spotlight. The film was written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone and was an entry in Cinema One Originals 2011. The story follows Lilia through the day as she goes to work as a bit player for a television melodrama, or as she fantasizes how she will deliver her speech when she is awarded as the Best Supporting Actress for the very first time. This mockumentary tells the harsh reality of the film industry and her struggles as an actress in a satirical manner. The first hurdle that was presented in the film is about her name. A few people were asked if they know who Lilia Cuntapay is and alas, her name doesn’t ring a bell to most people. Although she is dubbed as ‘Queen of Philippine Horror Movies’, the majority doesn’t recognize her name. I think that is the reason why sometimes a screen name is important. We have stars like Mura, Dagu, Ai-Ai, Alex Gonzaga, and many more artists who use an alias. Compared to their real names, their stage name is quite catchy, easy to remember, and understood. For example, Toni Gonzaga's real name is Celestine Cruz Gonzaga-Soriano. If she chose to use her real name, likely, people won't remember it. Professional artists should use a simple and remarkable name. Since Lilia Cuntapay doesn't use a pseudonym, her name doesn’t make her distinctive from the rest. Near the end of the film, when described who Lilia was, people were able to recognize her. They recalled her as the old lady, ghost, or witch in horror movies. What stuck to most people was her image and not her name.  

This leads me to the next point, before "Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay" she hasn’t won any awards. She’s been in most horror films and yet she didn’t get the recognition she deserves. In the film, it was mentioned she did everything, coming early on the location of the set, memorizing all of her lines, waiting for hours to say her lines only to be told that she's been rescheduled. She went as far as doing sexy roles in hopes something would happen to her career or at least be given the chance to act in blockbuster movies. Unfortunately, her passion and hard work do not equate to her fame. It’s heartbreaking to see, all her efforts come to naught. 

People shouldn’t base the skills of actors/actresses on their fame. Underrated actors/actresses aren’t less than Kris Aquino, Vilma Santos, Marian Rivera, and Kathryn Bernado in terms of acting. In general, it is hard to strive in the film industry. Blockbuster movies usually cast big-name actors/actresses. One of the reasons why film studios cast popular actors/actresses is that people are more likely to watch it than indie film movies that cast no-name actors. 

The sad part is, most of the time in the Philippines, actors/actresses shoot up to fame due to their visuals rather than their talents. If not for their looks, it’s because they’re related to a famous person or they’re in a love team. I won’t say the name but some of the actors/actresses over exaggerate their acting whether it’s the emotion of crying, anger, happiness, etc. What I like about Lilia Cuntapay is that she uses her features to her advantage. Although I think she has a lot more potential to portray different kinds of characters rather than just being a ghost/witch. Like in this film, she had this natural way of acting the humorous scenes in the film. For example, when she was showing the posters of the movies she was in, along with her self-made posters. She didn’t do much and only asked “Di mo ba gusto Direk?” (Referring to her self-made posters). Nonetheless, it made me laugh. 

Another thing I like about this film is that it did a great job integrating fiction and real-life situations. There were some times in the film I was wondering if it was only made-up or was it based on Lilia’s experiences. There’s a scene in the movie where Lilia had to use the toilet. She wasn’t allowed to use the portalet (portable toilet) since it was only for staff and actors/actresses. The guard didn’t recognize her so he didn't let her pass and insisted it wasn’t for other people to use. What I could say for sure is that there’s a huge gap of treatment between famous and not well-known artists. For small artists like Lilia Cuntapay, being interviewed by established tv networks means a lot to her. She even invited some guests to her house to watch the broadcast of ABS-CBN assuming her interview will be on TV. It turns out they didn’t broadcast it. The hard thing being in the film industry is that if you’re not famous enough you can get cast aside any second. The media would always prioritize showbiz rags, talk shows, and gossip. It's what gets them views as Filipinos like to gossip for their pastime. A chunk of primetime news is even devoted to “showbiz chika.” The development of technology has intensified this culture with fans following actors on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, to know about their profile.

All in all, I would say this is a good movie. It has introduced me to a different kind of genre; It mixes reality into fiction. It makes me laugh and warms my heart whilst it opens my eyes to the harsh reality of the film industry. Not only that, it motivates me to work hard on my dreams no matter how hard it gets.

[jim-brian-natanauan]

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The Horror Story of Nanay Lilia

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay Film Analysis

Before watching the said film for our class, I was expecting the movie to be boring and to be more about Lilia’s success as a horror actress in the Philippine film industry. The film proved to me that my thoughts were wrong as it made me feel happy at the start and left me in tears in the end. It even made me scared at some point in the film. These emotions that I felt were products of my real-life experiences combined with a great way of storytelling by Jadaone and acting by Lilia. I also felt cheated at the end of the film as I was expecting a different ending. However, after taking the time to think about it or reflect, I accepted the method or the way they ended the movie as it is a better ending than the one I expected.

Jadaone, the director of the film, took a reference from “Six Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon.” The reference is a game about people being connected to their acquaintances with no more than five links. This idea of Antoinette was very interesting to me as Lilia has been working as an actress for three decades and she might be the Kevin Bacon of the Philippines with the number of connections she made throughout her career.

I can vouch and say that Lilia Cuntapay is a veteran actress. She brings her clothes or costumes specifically for a role she was going to act. She also arrives very early on film shoots to study her assigned fictional character. In those three decades of acting, she was still waiting for the “inaasam-asam” moment of her life despite her unwavering professionalism in the industry. It was like Lilia waiting in Limbo waiting for the spotlight to shine upon her.

Cuntapay is a person with a forgettable name and a memorable face. Despite working with numerous actors and actresses, she remained obscure for other people. This brought an existential crisis to Lilia as she got confused about what it really meant to be an actress. This was an interesting and a harsh way of showing the bullshit standards of the film industry wherein an individual will be recognized as an actor or actress if he or she is controversial enough and not through their hard work. I meant that an actor or actress should have awards or be trending in show businesses to experience the privileges of having multiple projects and receiving higher salaries. This left Lilia with no choice but to learn how to live and bear with it even though it affects her negatively. What important to her was that she perfectly portrayed every character assigned to her.

I felt really bad when I saw Lilia went to a film shoot early in the morning with her costumes ready so she could practice and personify her character only to be replaced in the end due to her iconic image only as a horror actress. I cannot imagine the amount of disappointment and frustration she felt when she knew that she was being cheated in that moment of time. I felt worse when she got optimistic and proud after being interviewed by Carlo Cannu of ABS-CBN only to be left waiting with a lot of people she invited for a scene that never appeared on the screen. These events for me were disrespectful but I also realized that these events can actually happen in real-life scenarios or situations.

The director and the crew successfully created a wonderful tribute for the Queen of Philippine Horror Stories, Lilia Cuntapay. I was able to understand the truth and what it felt like to be a bit-player without them resorting to exaggerated scenes. I appreciated the way they put stage scenes in most parts of the film to add more impact and meaning to what she thinks and feels.

I had a hard time realizing whether the events on the film were true or fake and it left me puzzled up until the end because Lilia was a great actress and the director made a great way of storytelling while tackling societal issues. Lilia can transform a fictional character into a real one. On the other hand, Jadaone made some parts of the movie look real which made it hard for me to decipher as the events such as the interview and the conversations were easy to stage or fake.

Overall, Antoinette Jadaone and the rest of the crew managed to make the story of Lilia’s career in a good and unique fashion, at least for me.  The way she made Lilia speak in a man-made auditorium was so original to me and it provided some sort of a pull in my emotions. That idea reminded me of a new film known as “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” made by Charlie Kaufman that I watched a week ago which has the same element of a character standing in front of a podium and talking about what she or he felt at that point in time. The director kept the film interesting through the means of making anticipations and plot twists while at the same time show the horror of the current standards in the film industry. While Lilia on the other hand tried her best to make the character as real as possible even if the character was herself talking on stage.

[ikaythecinephile]

Old Scary Woman

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay is an independent film directed and written by Antoinette Jadaone. The film stars Lilia Cuntapay, a famous horror actress. She is an actress born from September 16, 1935 in Gonzaga, Cagayan. She also has three adopted children. As an actress known for her roles in horror, one of her famous works is her roles in Shake Rattle Roll movies such as Yaya in Shake, Rattle and Roll III (1991). She is instantly recognizable whenever she appears on television or in the cinema. I remember hiding or covering my eyes with fear whenever she appears on screen and calling her the “Old Scary Woman”. That’s how talented she is with her acting in horror movies. With this, she is dubbed as the “Queen Of Philippine Horror”. 

It won six awards in the 2011 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival. Lilia Cuntapay won best actress in the Festival. It also won an award in the Busan International Film Festival. The movie also received six nominations in the 35th Gawad URIAN Awards. It also won three other awards in three different festivals: Udine Far East Film Festival, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, and the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

The film focuses on Lilia Cuntapay and her life as she prepares for her first nomination in an awards night as best supporting actress. In the film, we see her everyday life such as talking to her neighbors, waking up early for work, and more. Short clips of famous actors, actresses, directors and people from the film industry are shown of them talking about Lilia. The movie also shows how Cuntapay is struggling financially as she tries to take care her family.

As the movie progressed I asked myself these questions, why hasn’t she gotten an award nor praise in the industry? Why is she poor after all these years of working hard? Why is Lilia Cuntapay unknown? If she is instantly recognizable, why don’t the people in the film industry know her? Why is the film industry unfair? 

After all these questions that keep popping up on my head as I watch the film, I realize that this movie isn’t a documentary but is actually a mockumentary. But what is a mockumentary? A mockumentary is a film that uses a serious documentary style format where it talks about a topic in order to mock/satirizes it. The use of awkward camera angles, zoom-ins and awkward conversations made the movie more credible. Not only does it make the movie convincing, it also adds a comedic flair to the film. The awkward scenes remind me of famous shows such as “The Office” and “Modern Family”, which use the same techniques used in this film. 

This movie uses the form of a mockumentary not only to satirize the subject matter, but to show the viewers the hardships of some people in the film industry. Not only does it try to be funny, but it shows how hard it is to be in the film/entertainment industry. It shows that you can be in multiple shows, movies and bookings and still be financially unstable like Lilia. The movie shows how some actors/actresses are being underpaid by the industry. Another issue this movie tackles is how some people are being belittled and overworked in the industry, such as the scene where Cuntapay wasn’t allowed to pee in the bathroom since only the “main” cast was allowed to go inside the bathroom. It shows how some directors treat their employees differently from each other which should be addressed more. 

I was dumbfounded when I realized that everything in the movie was actually fictional, even the awards night. I was both shocked and amazed when I was informed that everything wasn’t real, and it was all acting. Before I watched the film, I thought Cuntapay can only act in horror movies and take on scary roles, but this movie proves that she can do more than just horror. She was able to show a different side in her acting career which made the whole film more believable. 

Cuntapay’s acting was realistic, every emotional scene was believable and you can feel the pain in some parts of the movie. One of my favorite scenes in the movie was when Cuntapay and her friends all gathered to watch her interview on ABS-CBN. The sequence started as comedic and then progressed into a dramatic one. I was laughing as she was preparing the food and was ushering the people to sit down. As soon as she realizes that her interview was cut from the show, you can feel the awkwardness and embarrassment from her and the people around her. I can feel the pain and embarrassment in her face as she realizes what has happened. As soon as I saw the pain in her face and the people around her comforting her, my eyes started watering. Her acting was convincing to the point where I shed a tear as I see her heart break. 

In conclusion to this blog, I think this movie deserves more recognition from other people. It gives spotlight to Lilia Cuntapay, and shows the range of her acting abilities besides her roles in horror. This movie shows how much she has contributed to Philippine cinema and we will never forget her. Not only will we remember her as the “old scary woman” but we will remember her as an actress who has contributed to Philippine cinema. I highly recommend everyone to watch this movie, it will make you feel all kinds of emotions throughout the film!

#film review #film

[itsreihan]

Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay

The film “Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay” which was directed by Antoinette Jadaone on the year 2012 was designed to know the preparation of Lilia Cuntapay’s first ever acting award nomination as best supporting artist where people say that there is no way of designing a film, and this specific film resembles that. In terms of technicalities, it is very raw and true. Let us talk about our main character, Lilia. She stated in the film “As Lilia Cuntapay, in real life even if I am not famous or have won any awards, I know by myself I have done something good by portraying roles that are --- you know.” and by saying those you can tell how much a genuine person she is and how love her craft. Despite all her efforts, I noticed that not all gives enough credit and appreciation on craft she’s in especially part of the video that definitely broke my heart, it hurts really to expect something and I completely understand Ms. Lilia Cuntapay’s emotions. As we were asked to review, in the motion picture industry category, I assume that it’s a mixture of Independent Films and Small-scale Production, and were able to detail parts of both productions. As I observed, the plot of the whole story was circulating around Lilia Cuntapay’s journey making it a personal story and she even captured several movies; Shake, Rattle & Roll IV, Ibong Adarna: The Pinoy Adventure, Shake Rattle & Roll V, Amorosa, Woman of Breakwater, Boy Pick-up: The Movie, Brokedown Palace, My Bebe Love, Scaregivers, Lapu-Lapu, Shake Rattle & Roll II, and many more. Throughout the years she was known as visible icon in the industry and captured almost sixty-one (61) credit movies. The film itself also went around Ms. Lilia Cuntapay’s barangay making it more realistic and by the looks of it the whole film was really focusing on Ms. Cuntapay’s life and her journey of her success. In terms of shooting, the film had limited resources and people to fill the whole movie by the way it was filmed and was also very timely and candid making look like a documentary type of film, revolving about a dream that needs to be captured. Plus, as I was analyzing the flow of the film, I was able to notice the non-studio set and the multitasking of film crews as it mainly focuses on Lilia’s subject topics but if you would focus carefully there we actually a decent amount of people behind the sai d film because there extra especially in the part we Lilia was surrounded by her neighbors and during her film set up As a film audience, I really believe this is something different among others as it focuses on underrated artists in the industry that badly needs appreciation in this very moment. The overall runtime of the Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay is one (1) hour and thirty-eight (38) minutes that is also equivalent to 98 minutes with an aspect ratio of 16:9 HD. Like any other form of film, the form of cinematography which was headed by Ma. Solita Garcia, the director of photography gave a very chill yet different perspectives and more of a vlog type of video keeping it realistic while in the rest of the production team such as the sound department, camera and electrical department has different operators to keep its quality form. In the matter of setting, the location was very realistic and practical because it is trying to manifest Lilia’s life in throughout the years in the industry. Moreover, the distribution of the movie was by Cinema One Originals in 2012. Knowing that Cinema One Originals marks a theatrical release which means it covers a public-screenings with admission tees. Overall, Lila Cuntapay is a definition of never lose hope and continue pursuing your goal no matter what hindrance that may come, and the most important key that achieve all the success in life and that is be believe and never compare yourself to others. It is extremely hard to be pushed aside and does not give enough appreciation towards the all the efforts, hard work, and dedication I came into a realization that without the presence of Ms. Lilia Cuntapay, all the movies she portrayed in will not be that convincing if it weren’t for her appearance in the show, becoming the face of Filipino horror films. Every role has its significance in every film, whether it may the protagonist, antagonist, supporting artist, and even extras because without all those roles the production of the film will lack and will not give that much contrast towards the film.

[nerdyylionn]

A Hidden Gem within a Hidden Gem

    It is known only to a few what’s her name. No one knows who she is when her name is stated. Only a few people know her by her name. However, when her face is shown, people immediately recognize her as the scary old lady of the Philippine Cinema. She is the icon of 1990s horror cinema and is regarded as the Filipino Horror Icon. She appeared in numerous films especially in the genre of horror and has been renowned by directors Peque Gallaga and the like.  She is Lilia Cuntapay, yet up to this day, her name is still unfamiliar. That’s the main core of the Mockumentary Drama, Six Degrees from Lilia Cuntapay which delves into the life of one of the most recognizable faces which people do not know the name of.

    The film’s messages are scattered all throughout the runtime of the film. It’s hard to pinpoint which one is which but nevertheless, when you realize it, it is grounded, real and true. Even though it is a mockumentary, the film’s messages could still be classified into perceived meanings of the film.      

     The referential meaning of the film is that Lilia Cuntapay, the real life Filipino Horror Icon of the 90s, gets to star into her Documentary as she prepares her speech for an upcoming award. Initially, when looking at first, the referential meaning of the film is no different from the film’s actual premise. However, since it’s a scripted documentary, which is known as a mockumentary, they integrated the real life identity and status of Lilia Cuntapay and even made her her own character of the film. This choice of the Director and writers could confuse the audience but it’s letting the audience participate on the film’s story by letting them question if it was real or not  

      The explicit meaning of the film is that an old actress, who has been into this career for almost 30 years, has been finally recognized by the film industry by nominating her as Best Actress. Her affirmation of her recognition may have wavered when she lost but it was confirmed in the end when her co-actress, and many other renowned artists truly recognized her importance. It could be simple and cheesy but this message gives hope to every person who pursued their passion for a long time.

      The implicit meaning of the film is that a person nearing her twilight years, has pursued a craft that didn’t pay off in the long run. It lets her question if her efforts were really worth it in the end when every person in her craft doesn’t seem to remember her. The implied meaning is bitter and sad and really questions if the decisions you made were right and that in the end, did it really matter? It also delves in a little of an existential crisis, which is more apparent in people during their twilight years. For me, this is quite opposite to the positive explicit message that the film gives.        

     The symptomatic meaning here is money and fame are ultimately what flings you into your status. No amount of hard work can amount to something if the society you live in values money and fame instead of real talent. This ideology is long present, many people who could have ultimately done something better were replaced or beaten by people who have a renowned history or have large amounts of wealth in their names. This ideology is named Plutocracy.

      The film tackles a lot of themes and weaves it into the plot naturally. The way it approaches its next beat is quite new and refreshing. It’s almost as if you don’t know what to expect to happen in a realistic life based film other than what to expect in a big-budget film. It makes you think how was this planned and how it worked in the end.  Thus, the film will be evaluated based on its realism, morality, coherence, complexity and originality and whether this film was good or not, objectively and by preference, on whether it’s plot and techniques worked in the end result.

      In realism, I think the film was very grounded in reality even though it’s scripted. It shows you the real conditions of every low income earner or underrated artist that wasn’t priced enough for their craft. Every scene and event are realistic as it gets, knowing that’s how people will react this way based on their attitudes and personality. The prime example of this is how people below the middle class react when they are inside Starbucks and look at the products which the establishment offers. Of course, people like Lilia would question why a caffeinated-product is so expensive when you only get to drink it once. She reacted that way because its price is outlandish for her. So for me, it’s very realistic.

     On morality, the wisdom and lesson it offers is quite touching. It’s quite resonant throughout the film, because even though Lilia was on the bitter end of her craft, she chose to stay positive and kind. Even though her living conditions were rough, she didn’t blame her life for being this way, the film showed that she just keeps doing what she loves and where she excels, which is acting. She’s also friendly to the people around her, casually talking to people in their streets, asking their help if ever needed, and they’re welcome whenever she hosts a celebration. So in morality, this film showed contrast by showing kindness and warmth into the hard cold conditions of poverty.

     In coherence, the film’s style is a mockumentary that mimics real life situations and is coupled with real interviews, so there are some scenes that come out of nowhere, for example, Lilia’s apparent imagination of her proclaiming her speech. However, every scene serves its purpose, which is to build the character of Lilia when she’s faced with different situations and ultimately, the last scene of the film in the Awarding Night. Not a single scene was wasted, and everything that was told was consistent. For example, her recurring imagination speech is there to prepare us for the last scene. Another one, is the consistency on how much she values everyone as she jots down their names on her speech cheat sheet to be able to thank them one by one. So yes, the film’s story might not be straightforward but it’s understandable thus, this film was very coherent.      

     In complexity, as said before, there are bits of real life interview shown as the plot of the mockumentary progresses forward. And as said before, these scenes help build the character of the protagonist, Lilia Cuntapay. It’s like the story is the character of Lilia, it was structured with different layers. On the surface, she's hopeful, grateful, and kind. Getting deeper, she’s ambitious and also craves recognition as she displays around her posters, as she hands out her t-shirts and takes pictures with everyone else. She also gets sad and lonely when her TV Patrol interview doesn't get featured and whenever she asks if someone was looking for her by asking her friend who’s her contact number. But the part that really got me is when she called her niece/ “doktora”, to tell her that her visa got approved. Her niece was overjoyed that she’s finally be able to be with them, but Lilia’s expression on this side of the phone shows sadness and regret, that seems to tell you that maybe at this moment, she contemplated that her years of work was for nothing and this chance of getting abroad might be her last chance on getting truly happy. And all of that detail in just a single scene. So that’s why in the area of complexity, it’s yes, it was complex enough because they’ve carefully crafted the character of Lilia as real and full of life. And since Lilia is like the film herself, the film was very much complex.

      In originality, on surface level, the film’s mode of storytelling is not original, mockumentary has already been used in different platforms and was used by comedy mostly. However, adding pieces of real life elements into the mockumentary progresses its message forward. It is also refreshing to see where the plot will take you and how ultimately led to its ending. This film doesn’t also use the tropes and conventions most Philippine cinema uses and it’s got an indie feeling so it feels liberating. So in terms of originality, it’s very original since we do not see this kind of film in Philippine Cinema, which is plagued with many brainless comedy and repetitive romance movies.

       The film, Six degrees from Lilia Cuntapay is a film about an old actress that few only know by her name. The film itself, and how Lilia Cuntapay is framed in it is like myself to the film, I do not know a single thing about it. However, as the film showed her face, a sense of familiarity and recognition sparked at me as I saw her. In the first few minutes of the film, the film has already engaged me with this sudden change and just like how I reacted in the first few minutes would also be my lasting impression of the film. It caught me off guard of how it was that good. I thought that there would be lengthy and boring moments of the film but every scene has its purposes and was never boring. All of that detail was built up until to the very last moment. And that ending could have been conventional, to just end it there, but it took it up a notch and jumped a little and had the perfect ending for the film. Just like much before I watched this film, I did not know who really was Lilia Cuntapay and I didn’t care much, but because of this film, it made me truly appreciate her and her big influence on the Philippine Cinema and Media in general. It’s not also her, but also all the actors who have big ambitions that the industry doesn’t recognize. And all people that work hard continuously for their passion despite the long unforgiving grueling years that befalls them. This film for me, is an unexpected find that turned out to be great, like Lilia herself, when her efforts are recognized in Shake Rattle III.  And these unexpected finds, these hidden treasures, are what sticks to me because I didn’t expect to enjoy this much and I didn’t expect to appreciate it this much for how the film turned out. For me, Six degrees from Lilia Cuntapay was very good. It made me care, laugh and be touched by the character of Lilia, and Lilia herself, whom I did not know by name and only recognized by face. And that’s why I also loved this film, because Six degrees from Lilia Cuntapay is a hidden gem that made me discover, appreciate and love another hidden gem, which is Lilia herself, the Queen of Philippine Horror.

[fantastictoadkidoperator]

Six Degrees of Lilia Cuntapay

Nung una kong narinig ang pangalang Lilia Cuntapay may kaunting familiarity akong naramdaman nang mabasa ko ang pangalan niya, habang nag iisip kung sino kaya siya? Dahil big fan ako ng horror movies, merong pag aalinlangan sa isip kung tama ba o mali ang napipicture ko sa isip kung ano ang itsura ni Lilia Cuntapay. Nung sinisimulan kong panoorin ang mokyumentaryo it turns out, napanood ko nga siya sa iilang halloween special episodes ng MMK at isang classic na horror Filipino movie na “Spirit Warriors 2” na ginanapan nina Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario at ng iba pang miyembro ng Streetboys noong 2003. 

 Ang mockumentary na idinirekta ni Antionette Jadaone ay nagpapakita ng buhay ni Lilia Cuntapay na suki ng mga Filipino horror movies sa loob at labas ng mundo nang pag arte at pelikulang Pilipino. Paano siya nadiskubre ng mga sikat na Filipino filmmakers. Nakita ko rito ang hirap na kanyang pinagdaanan upang mapansin at bigyan ng recognition ang kanyang mga pag ganap. Sobrang underrated niyang aktor. Sa halos tatlong dekada ng kanyang pag ganap ni mga kapwa niyang artista tulad nina Kris Aquino at Dingdong Dantes ay hindi siya kilala, maging parangal o awards ay wala rin. Hindi naging biro ang kanyang mga pag ganap, mas “buwis buhay” ika nga ang mga pinapagawa sa kanya ng director para magampanan ng maayos ang kanyang roles na aswang sa hindi mabilang-bilang na pelikula at tv shows na pinag gampanan niya. Nasabi rin doon ng isang filmmaker na hindi nila kayang tustusan ang CGI o computer generated images kaya mano mano nila ginagawa ang lahat ng stunts. There is a part where she came two hours early on the set before the call time showed how passionate she is for what she does. Sad part is pinalitan pa siya sa role though she already had her lines rehearsed and memorized. Thankful padin dahil kahit passerby na lang siya rito dahil mas kilala siya sa mga horror na pelikula. Pinakita pa rin ang dedikasyon. Malaking bagay rin ang iilang parte nito kung saan pinapasalamatan niya ang lahat ng tumutulong sa kanya kung gaano siya ka”appreciative” sa mga maliit na bagay. Artista pero salat pa rin sa hirap. Nakikihiram na nga lamang siya ng telepono para don siya matawagan ng mga nais siyang kunin para sa mga future projects. Sa katunayan nga, siya ang nag silbing pang “spice up” sa mga pelikulang iyon dahil sa kanyang “iconic” na mala-aswang na awra at mahabang unat na buhok.  Dahil don, yun ang pinaka asset niya na kung saan at paano siya maalala – sa kanyang mahabang unat at puting buhok.  Para bang hindi kumpleto ang horror movies kung walang Lilia Cuntapay.

 That is why I understand why she would vent out on not having the attention she knows she rightfully deserves. But still, she remained patient and humble. Tumutulong siya sa kanyang barangay in every way that she can to help may it be small but it comes from the heart. Nagbibigay pa nga ng kaunting souvenir sa mga taga suporta na nakakasalamuha niya. Given that her age is considered “too old” para sa pag arte, determinado pa rin siya hindi niya ginagawa ang pag arte para sa pera kundi dahil iyon ang gusto niya. Kahit halos tagpi-tagpi pa ang tirahan niya nananatili pa rin siyang nakangiti at galante sa mga taong pumapalibot sa kanya.  Nakakalungkot isipin na kahit gano siya kagaling natabunan pa rin siya ng iilan na masyadong “overrated” and those who had it easy dahil sa pangalang kanilang bitbit. Kung tutuusin, mas matagal pa siya sa industriya kaysa sa mga ito.

 Nang dumating ang gabi ng parangal, umaasa siyang siya ang mananalo pero hindi sumang ayon sa kanya ang parangal. Dahil iba ang nanalo, makikitang niyukot nalang ni Lilia ang papel kung san nakasulat ang speech na sasabihin niya sana kung sakaling siya ang natawag. Ibinigay ng actress na iyon ang Lilia Cuntapay dahil mas deserve raw nito ang parangal at husay ng pag arte. Labis na ikinatuwa naman niya ito. Dati pina-praktis niya lang at iniimagine ang kanyang mga speech at mga taong nais pasalamatan ngayon ay nagkatotoo na. How venting out about it still were not helping her. Isa siya sa mga deserving ng parangal considering na 30 years na siya sa pag arte. Everything she went through was worth it. All hard work and dedication were finally paid off.

 In reality, it was in this mockumentary where she played a fictionalized character of herself gave her the opportunity of winning those awards. According to sources, this film made it to the 2011 Cinema One Originals and won six awards that includes a much deserving award for her which is the Best Actress award for Lilia Cuntapay. Overall, it was like the “cherry on top” for all the hardships she’s went through in 30 years of her career and before she rested.    

[milksodah20]

The Underrated Actress

Six Degrees of Separation of Lilia Cuntapay is not only a mockumentary but a story that changed Lilia Cuntapay’s life, my impression from this movie is that even though Lilia Cuntapay was prominent for her role in horror films shes actually a sweet and an emotional person outside the acting industry. Even though her living condition is somewhere at the lower class, she doesn’t complain at all and continues to live her life honestly. Despite being underappreciated from the entertainment world she has worked on so many films and have also worked with many actors and actresses as you can see it is one of the reason why the title is named Six Degrees of Separation of Lilia Cuntapay, since she is connected with so many successful people.

Lilia Cuntapay is always casted as the bit player for either playing as the ghost or an elderly woman she was never given the chance to act on a bigger role, it is also one of the reasons on why not a lot of people can notice her. The director Antoinette Jadaone did a great job on visualizing the experiences on Lilia Cuntapay’s life she made it clear on the hardships on getting a higher role because it really is not easy to get one especially if you’re not well known, even though you were part of the cast it does not mean that your life will turn around just the way you want it to, most famous actors or actresses have the privilege to get those roles because they are more popular or well received than some underappreciated actors/actresses, people can change someone’s part in the blink of an eye if it doesn’t sit right with them. And the way the direk tried to make bits and pieces of scenes on the anticipated speech for Lilia Cuntapay’s award made it emotional and an important part of the movie because it was always one of Lilia’s dreams to receive an award through all her hard work on acting on so many films.

During the tv interview for Lilia Cuntapay that was going to be broadcasted on ABS-CBN, Lilia answered her questions with a lot of thought and honesty she was really excited and proud to see and show her interview to everyone watching it but on the anticipated day when it was going to air not even a footage was shown or her appearance except for her name which was not very noticeable when you look at it. After the guests went home she ended up being quiet and eventually cried because her expectations were crushed, this is also one of the reasons why this film is very good at shooting scenes it’s because everyone’s reactions and feelings are so real and genuine.

The way how most of the scenes make it look dramatic gives an impact to the viewers so that they also feel what the people in the film also feel. There really is a sense of rawness to the movie because everything is done at the moment, there is not much second takes so you’re practically seeing these scenes all at once.

The perspective and camera angles in the film are very well done, you can see most of the reactions and focus to the people in the cast. They filmed every single scene that are significant and tried to make it realistic and truthful, when talking about the music it is alright this is my opinion so when I listened to the film there is not much to say on the choices of tracks when it was played but it’s not bad. Some tracks are pretty decent it fits on certain parts of the film and doesn’t try to go overboard when it was used.

This movie tells a lot about people’s aspiration in their life, whether it is a job or something they always wanted. Every person has a dream or goal so when you are faced by so many challenges and hardships it is also rewarding when you overcome it and achieved your dream. Although most people were not able to realize their dream you also get to learn from it and it doesn’t hurt if you try again until it should be time to give up when it really is not for you (realistically).

If I could write the explicit meaning for the mockumentary then it would start like this: An old timed actress has worked on so many films yet she didn’t get recognition even after so many years but for the first time she has been awarded and gained acknowledgement through her many roles in different movies. She has always believed or hopes that her time might come and it was granted, it shows that through all those contributions you may eventually get recognized and awarded through your efforts.

#submitted by eunice xu