Romance, Romance, Romance, Monster! Trailer For Richard Somes' CORAZON.
I very much doubt that there is a nation in the world with a sharper divide between its commercial and independent film than what exists in The Philippines.
On the commercial side, Pinoy cinema is heavily regimented and controlled by an old school studio style system with the major television networks locking stars and directors into long term contracts to turn out formula based product on incredibly tight schedules and even tighter budgets.
On the indie side, there is a growing wave of DIY filmmakers challenging the status quo, accepting even smaller budgets as the cost of creative freedom and turning out challenging, interesting projects in increasing numbers.
Director Richard Somes is one of those rare talents who bridges that divide.
After contributing to the long running horror anthology series Shake, Rattle And Roll, Somes made his first two feature films as part of the indie minded Cinema One Originals series, both of them showing a refreshingly realistic approach to genre elements. It was Somes' aswang themed drama Yanggaw that made the biggest splash but gritty revenge picture Ishmael is a solid piece of work as well.
Those two features ushered Somes into the mainstream industry in The Philippines, where - according to the IMDB - he has directed a whopping 249 (!?!) episodes of television since 2010. Anybody who has ever complained about American production cycles needs to read that line again. But now Somes is back in the feature world, this time with the backing of one of the big studios but with a film that appears to keep his unique approach intact.
A period piece set during the Japanese occupation of The Philippines the trailer for Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang begins like a typical weepy drama, albeit one with better production values than most. You've got your flagrant pec shot. You've got your beautiful woman. You've got weepy young love sealed by a pregnancy. But then .... well, this movie does include the word 'aswang' in the title. And those who know their Pinoy folklore will tell you that aswangs are not particularly friendly creatures. Nope. When the tone shift comes it comes hard. Check the trailer below.
On the commercial side, Pinoy cinema is heavily regimented and controlled by an old school studio style system with the major television networks locking stars and directors into long term contracts to turn out formula based product on incredibly tight schedules and even tighter budgets.
On the indie side, there is a growing wave of DIY filmmakers challenging the status quo, accepting even smaller budgets as the cost of creative freedom and turning out challenging, interesting projects in increasing numbers.
Director Richard Somes is one of those rare talents who bridges that divide.
After contributing to the long running horror anthology series Shake, Rattle And Roll, Somes made his first two feature films as part of the indie minded Cinema One Originals series, both of them showing a refreshingly realistic approach to genre elements. It was Somes' aswang themed drama Yanggaw that made the biggest splash but gritty revenge picture Ishmael is a solid piece of work as well.
Those two features ushered Somes into the mainstream industry in The Philippines, where - according to the IMDB - he has directed a whopping 249 (!?!) episodes of television since 2010. Anybody who has ever complained about American production cycles needs to read that line again. But now Somes is back in the feature world, this time with the backing of one of the big studios but with a film that appears to keep his unique approach intact.
A period piece set during the Japanese occupation of The Philippines the trailer for Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang begins like a typical weepy drama, albeit one with better production values than most. You've got your flagrant pec shot. You've got your beautiful woman. You've got weepy young love sealed by a pregnancy. But then .... well, this movie does include the word 'aswang' in the title. And those who know their Pinoy folklore will tell you that aswangs are not particularly friendly creatures. Nope. When the tone shift comes it comes hard. Check the trailer below.
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