There's a new film school in Cebu

Russian-American Misha Anissimov had been working so hard for more than a year.  And this week, his hard work has paid-off.

In his Facebook page, he wrote, "It's Official ! University of San Carlos-Cebu President gives final APPROVAL for the new BFA Cinema Program within the Fine Arts Department! The Philippines' second University based film school is now official ! Lots of work to be done..."

USC's new BFA Cinema Program is the 2nd in the Philippines.  UP-Dilliman had it first.

Good times for a good change.  It's good to have people like Misha.  But this is just the beginning.  The fun has just begun.

Ten on March 20

Ten years is a tough trail to follow.

About culture building

Just when everybody starts believing that things don't work, there will always be a few who would dare to take the plunge and think the other way.

These few usually stand out. These few usually become the champions of a cause (not to be confused with ego here). These few, with enough endurance, determination, and the right healthy and positive attitude - not the kind that restricts people, usually win.

One of the major challenges in achieving success is when the goal involves changing a culture or lifestyle. Normally when a person is told what to do, resistance is usually the first response - but only when he or she doesn't see the value of it.

An idea, like music is only good when a large lump of people can benefit from it. That's when a culture starts building itself. But of course believing in it is important and must not be taken for granted.

Persistence is usually the right path to take. As to knowing when the results come may be a mystery, it is the waiting and the challenge that makes it exciting.

Something to think about...

I'm so deeply moved by this film.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

A true story of a punk band and the punk band members

A group of four barkadas decided to form a band. The founder was born with a silver spoon. The other three was born from a family whose socio-economic status falls between middle-earning to below-average-earning families.

The rich kid decided that punk is their genre of choice. He would then convince his band mates that there is no money in a rock band and that all they can do is play for free.

They played and they played and they played for free.

They buy records of American punk bands. Their idol punk bands had been making money from the punk music they wrote but the rich kid still insists that income is not possible for punk bands especially in Cebu. They would then bring the newly bought records home, listen to it and sepra the whole album. Soon they learned to play them live.

One day, the rich kid decided to write their own punk songs. The band mates simply obliged. So they did.

They played and they played and they played for free.

After a while, the rich kid and his family decided to migrate to America. So the rich kid left his bandmates. And he formed another band there. He got good gigs and made some cash too.

Meanwhile, his bandmates back in Cebu, not being able to put the band back decided to look for a day job. In one interview, the HR manager asked ,"So you have a band? What made you decide to look for a job?"

The band member answered ,"mag tigum ko ug kwarta sa akong sweldo para naa koy ika-sustento sa akong banda banda."

He didn't get the job.

And they tried to play and they played and they played and they played for free... while the rich kid lives happily ever after.

The plummeting catalogs

Although this had already been calculated, nobody knew exactly when the plummet of the music catalogs will happen.

Just recently I happen to chat with an editor-in-chief of a prominent Manila publication who shared his observations on how the music sector in the capital is doing. He outlined some specifics that lead to the understanding of the music industry and that the long anticipated big dive is finally happening and fast.

While the major labels are still hopelessly panicking to save their boats, music downloads had never been so legit and literally free as it is now. Ironic in The Philippines where copyright concerns are often shelved and ignored.

Thanks to digital technology...

The once-indie-then-signed-to-a-major-record-deal artists are going indie again.

The signed artists are going indie this time.

The big stars are not as big as they once were (unless you belong to the couch people who spend most of their days at home watching noon time shows daily then you won't agree with me).

Some labels settled for a distribution deal but eventually lost because the indies still own the rights to their songs.

Other labels tried the in-house talent management approach where they employ "band managers" to, well, manage a band. But they're missing the point. A band manager is not a business partner. Well it is but he/she is also the Nth band member... ergo the band's best friend. How can you build a best friend when it all started as a business?

Not so long ago, major labels refuse to sign indie bands because they think niche marketing is too small for their bank account. But nowadays the public is smarter, tasteful, and sophisticated and unlike a decade ago, the regular pinoy can now breathe through music by Up Dharma Down, Daydream Cycle, Sheila and the Insects, and the likes.

Contrary to the labels' old school and stubborn mindset, good music cannot be exclusive to typically structured pop songs. Nothing against the genre. It's just been misconstrued too often and dangerously misunderstood.

When was the last time the major labels signed a band? And if they did recently how good is it?

Things are a-changing... the vision that was foretold is unfolding fast. Today you won't hear labels saying '(band name - and feel free to fill in your band's name in) is good pero masyado lang silang niche'.

Niche marketing is what works these days. Well it's been there long before the indie clout has gone big time but it is only now that it is most appreciated.

The good news is that the indies are staying in their niche because that's exactly how their music is supposed to work. But wait... before we all make the last laugh, let's figure out how music can put food on the table first.

And if I am right about this...

About believing that something you do is special

Midweek Sessions' been around for 9 years now. Perhaps to some, it may seem like just an average club gig... even too ordinary for them to care. Small time production they call it. Maybe it is.

But then again maybe it isn't.

Mr. Ping, the Chinese goose noodle expert in the movie Kung Fu Panda revealed that the secret ingredient of the Secret Ingredient Soup was "nothing" yet it was special because he believed it was meant to be that way.

Sam believes that TLC is the only ingredient that makes her recipes work.

Entrepreneurs succeed because they believe their ideas can deliver a positive change in the community for the community.

Boats float, planes fly, and man landed on the moon because somebody believed it's possible.

Midweek Sessions too has a little secret ingredient. Its love for ideas. Its advocacy for original music. It's passion to inspire. This effort sustained. And believing more in it makes this believing a little more special, don't you think?

Midweek Sessions is not just an ordinary gig. I believe it's a special one.

Cattski's session (finally)

I was given the privilege to join a listening session for Cattski's 3rd album last Friday.

It's about time.

Months ago, she made me listen to the rough mixes particularly 'Blunder' and 'Hero'. The latter turned out to be my personal favorite while the former is now stuck in my head. I've always wanted to listen to the whole album and waited for this chance to come.

It did come.

Cattski's invitation was I think the perfect opportunity for a getaway. I needed the break from the corporate rut and the invitation was good timing. What transpired that evening is I think Cattski's finest work of art.

It's long overdue yet it's all worth it.

Midweek Sessions Best for 2009

Q: How do you put an elephant in a refrigerator in 3 moves?

They say cracking a joke is no joke and in fact is a serious business. But I tell you, it’s easier to crack a joke (sometimes) than to put together a list of Midweek Sessions’ cream of the crop.

In the last couple of months last year, I had difficulty in completing this task. Music artists are volatile. They easily come and go. They are also playful and with that nature can be “irresponsible” in so many ways – I guess the word is childlike.

So there I was in the drafting board making that list of the best bands that played in Midweek Sessions since its comeback in 2007. I came up with about 12 in my personal roster.

Whew!

Okay. Now what?

So I thought I’d review the Midweek Sessions guidelines and after a time I still couldn’t get my choices right. These 12 bands are all good. Darn it! They’re all good.

But I had to make a choice. I made a promise, did I not? I made a promise and this is one part of that.

Oh well… in as much as I want to get all 12 to play, it’s not possible and you just can’t please everyone in one sitting. I had to chop the list down in half. Of course, this isn’t the end of it. The rest of the 12 can still play – that I can guarantee.

Wait... I'm not done yet. So how do you put an elephant in a refrigerator in 3 moves?

A: Open the door, put the elephant in, then close it back.

Hahahahahahaha... you probably heard this one already. Cheers and belated Happy New Year everyone!

Being Steven For A Night

It was a good night.

My nephew Gio was having a blast. Sam was stunning - she sang one of my favorite Steven songs.

It was Steven Patrick Morrissey's tribute last Jan. 10 and it looked like everyone had an amazing time.

Dwight Bernas did a good job. Louell Lopez did a good job.

Looking forward to another tribute gig some time soon bai.