| Historical Background |
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In the mid-1990’s, the affordability and availability of video cameras gave rise to a new breed of artists, the video directors. Essentially, they were film-makers working not with film or film cameras but rather the less expensive video tape and camera. To a large extent, this democratized cinema arts. Henceforth, you did not need millions of money to make a movie, whether it be full-length or a short film (even the term “short film” or “film” itself is undergoing a change in definition). It was a time when access to affordable equipment and technology prodded students, professionals and hobbyists to make their movies. It was a liberating experience and a truly revolutionary one. |
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A technological reform that was especially apparent in the cities and provinces outside Metro Manila. It is common knowledge that equipment and technology were heavily concentrated in Metro Manila. With the advent of affordable video cameras, aspiring moviemakers no longer had to rely on the nation’s capital to do the movies they wanted. This resulted in hundreds of stories that reflected and mirrored the cultural, social and political life of the Philippines outside of Metro Manila. |
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In Bacolod City, Negros Occidental this revolution was brewing rapidly. Owing largely to Peque Gallaga’s Negros Summer Workshops, which was founded in 1991, as well as the province’s rich cultural history, many young artists were churning out their movies on video. |
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In 1997, three young graduates of the Negros Summer Workshops – Manny Montelibano, Jay Abello and Lawrence Fajardo – established an aggrupation of videographers, directors, writers, designers and production members. They called it Produksyon Tramontina. |
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The word “Tramontina” comes from a superior brand of knife used for cutting sugar canes. In the island of Negros, tramontina to a common man or a sugar plantation worker is a high standard tool to cut sugarcane, and is better known as “espading” in the Hiligaynon dialect. |
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n that first year, Tramontina produced three short films: “Muging sa La-ot”, “Bakiras”, and “7-Cut”. All three films were entered into a Negros-based video competition called the Crystal Piaya Awards. “7-Cut” by Jay Abello won the grand prize. |
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Every year, Produksyon Tramontina produces short films by aspiring film makers. Since its inception, a record of six films produced by Tramontina have already bagged the Crystal Piaya Award. The group has produced more than 20 short films made by the founders of Tramontina and new film makers. |
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Tramontina has also produced or co-produced stage plays, multi-media concerts, experimental films, documentaries, AVP presentations, TV commercials, installations, improvisation performances, exhibits and workshops. |
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| Some of the outstanding works of its members are as follows: |
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| My Way ; Beinte Siyete; 7-Cut ; Doce ; Tiniente; Kultado; A.M.; Pil-as. |
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| Vision |
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Produksyon Tramontina aims to bring together video directors and aspiring film-makers from all over Negros Occidental and the Visayas and assist them in producing their movies. A special emphasis is placed on stories and movies that reflect the way of life, culture, and the unique social and political heritage that is inherent in this region. |
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| Goals |
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1. To produce films on video for national and international exposure. |
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2. To work with artists from other fields of expertise such as painters, sculptors, musicians, etc. in the hope of bringing them together as a community, in collaborative work and in celebration, cognizant of the fact that constant exposure to one another’s various works and styles inform and enrich each one’s artistry. |
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3. To explore, create and push the boundaries of new media such as video installations, performance art and experimental movies. |
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4. To spread the exposure of new technologies and artistic styles to the other towns, cities and provinces all over the Visayas. |
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