MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A group of third-year Communication students from St. Dominic College of Asia made it to the finals of the new Three Shots Film (3SF) festival organized by Media Underground or MUD Studios.
The short film “Laruan” from JKLC Production is included among the 20 finalists in the unique competition. It also serves as the group’s midterm requirement in their Introduction to Film subject.
The organizers from MUD Studios challenged student participants 16 to 25 years old to make a short film using only three shots and three cuts for a story composed of a beginning, middle, and end, with a minimum running time of one minute and a maximum of 15 minutes.
In “Laruan,” a mother (Jhody Alessandra Sacramento) goes to the market and leaves her daughter (Janelle Nathalie Duro) under the care of her brother (Carvin Klein Dela Cruz). The uncle shows a toy as a surprise gift toy to his niece.
Helping Sacramento and Dela Cruz capture the shots and record their actions on camera are Kristzen Joy Mendoza and Lourdes Mae De Gala. Mendoza, who currently serves as president of the SDCA student organization Association of Dominican Communicators, also edited and scored the film.
“We are classmates and close friends at the same time, and we want to challenge ourselves in portraying a story through film in just three shots,” said Sacramento, who also directed the film.
“That’s why we decided to join the Three Shots Film Festival, not just for the competition but this is also considered as a new and great experience for us,” she added.
“We are inspired by the current issues that are present in our country. As we see the horrific news that these victims encounter, we simply had an idea to be their voice in showing the harsh reality that these kinds of sensitive issues are not merely fiction,” De La Cruz shared.
“Laruan” and 19 other 3SF finalists are available for viewing on MUD’s website from November 5 to 11. The site is “an alternative content platform that offers a catalog of independent films, festival entries, and original content dealing with a wide variety of real-life themes.”
The Best Film, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and People’s Choice award winners will receive cash or special prizes and plaques of recognition during the awards night on November 12, 8 p.m.
MUD Studios will award three pieces Selens Redhead Lights with light stand kit while Kase Lens PH will also give away a four-lens kit worth 12,000 pesos, including a travel case bag, 7.5mm fisheye lens, 16mm wide-angle lens, 25mm macro lens, 65mm telephoto lens, two clip mounts, and cleaning cloth as prizes.
The jury of the 3SF festival is composed of filmmakers Arvin Belarmino, Mark Tristan Cua, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, and Peter Mackie.
