Brillante Mendoza: The man, the storyteller, the exhibit

The red carpet and marquee sign at the entrance to the Brillante Mendoza exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Manila complete look and feel of the MET's current exhibit on film and moving image as a contemporary art form. Photos: Stanley Baldwin O. See

From the meters-long red carpet to the big, bright marquee sign that greets visitors upon entering, there is no denying the current main exhibit of the Metropolitan (MET) Museum of Manila is unique and special from the usual artifact-heavy displays. Entitled “Brillante Ma Mendoza: A Contemporary Filipino Filmmaker”, the month-long exhibition pays tribute to one of the world's best directors and storytellers, Brillante Ma. Mendoza.

Sections of the Tall Gallery on the ground floor were transformed into mini-theaters where students and professionals can watch Mendoza's award-winning films, such as Kaleldo (2006), Foster Child (2007), Lola (2009), and Manoro (2006). Unknown to many, Mendoza also dabbles in documentary projects and even commercial advertisements, several of which can be watched in the Display Gallery (One Small Act for the Philippines series, and DENR Documentaries) and Open Gallery (Max's Restaurant commercials).

Brillante Mendoza's films have been recognized and awarded by various film festivals and organizations here and abroad.

Displayed in one corner are the awards garnered by Direk Brillante during his decade-long pursuit of film-making using the Found Story approach. These include plaques and certificates of appreciation from festivals here and abroad, such as the Gawad Urian, and the prestigious Venice and Cannes Film Festivals.

On the walls of the galleries are movie posters of Mendoza's films, in chronological order.

A special section showcases movie-making and editing equipment used during the analog (film) age. Lent by CMB Films/CMB Film Services, these artifacts include bulky film cameras, wooden tripods, sound recorders with boom and power pack, a decades-old spyder or crane for smooth camera movements, camera lenses, and several movie lamps.

Mendoza himself was present at the opening of the exhibit last Saturday—and the highlight of the event was being able to pick the brain of the multi-awarded director through an intimate chat with the media.

During the talk, Mendoza swung his chair around and pointed to the Kodak film projector as something he once utilized to slice, edit, and review film footage. Today, with the popularity and convenience of digital technology, film makers, like Mendoza, rely on two or three high-definition cameras to shoot their scenes.

When he was starting in the film industry, director Brillante Mendoza was able to use this analog Kodak Pageant Sound Project, AV-126-TR to slice, edit, and review footage.

Being Brillante Mendoza

From directing President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) to directing the government's latest anti-drug television commercials, the 62nd Cannes Film Festival Best Director (2009, for Kinatay) is busier and more in demand than ever.

Aside from busy researching and shooting several projects for several socially-relevant films, Mendoza is also hard at work promoting his latest masterpiece, Ma'Rosa. Despite Jaclyn Jose's Best Actress win at Cannes and the film's being picked up for international distribution, Direk Brillante wishes it has the mainstream public's attention and that there will be demand for more than just the usual slap-stick or romance-comedy flick.

With projects in the pipeline and several more in various stages of production, Direk Brillante is busier and more in demand than ever.

His "Found Story" approach to film-making make use of actual encounters, stories, and personalities from interviews and personal encounters. From his first feature, Masahista, to the his latest one, Ma'Rosa, all Brillante Mendoza films highlight the plight of the powerless and disenfranchised poor on the outskirts of society through powerful characters and stories.

MET's 40th anniversary

The exhibit showcasing the works of Mendoza—who in 2014 was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, France's highest honor for the arts—is actually the first of a series of displays in the last quarter of 2016 that will celebrate the MET's 40th anniversary. After highlighting film and moving image as a contemporary art form, the next exhibition opening October 10 will showcase the the museum's colorful history through its archives and collection of posters and catalogs, photos, and other documents.

The anniversary celebration culminates with the 2016 MET Gala on November 5 during the opening of the Ronald Ventura Retrospective.

As an anniversary gift to the public, the MET will also offer “Free Admission Tuesdays”. Starting September 6, visitors can see the vast temporary and permanent collections inside the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum for free on Tuesdays. — BM, GMA News

“Brillante Ma Mendoza: A Contemporary Filipino Filmmaker” is available for public viewing at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila until October 1, 2016. The museum (708-7828) is in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex on Roxas Boulevard in Manila. It is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.