From Breaking to Breakthrough

Silver Lining Production (SLP) is a group of people who produce and make films, videos and vlogs. This group consists of 11 members. Their very first project is the film “Captured” that was joined in the University of Mindanao Film Festival last February 2017. Due to this film festival, the group was created. They merge and become a really active and participative production to the film festivals this year 2017.

Their very first film where they really exerted a lot of effort, money and time somehow became their disappointment due to the lack of awards that the film received, but the group remain and started making travel videos, challenged videos, and vlogs. As one of their passion which is making films, they also joined film festivals both interschool competition and outside school competition. “Paghilom” is a short film and an official entry during the Cinemad, an interschool film competition. The film won; Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Female Lead Role, Best Editing and Best Short Film.

Davao Ngilngig Film Festival came in the month of October 2017. SLP conceptualized a story, they shoot it and passed it to the Davao Ngilngig Festival. The output was accepted and was showcased at the SM Lanang Premiere. The film was entitled “Taguan” and won the “Davao Blogger’s Choice Award”.

The team heard again about an upcoming film festival. The eagerness to join and conceptualize a story came to the group. Late night talks after the evening classes happen every night. Conceptualizing a story, arranging the schedule, casting talents, planning the shoot location, fixing the screenplay and other pre-production stuff happened during the late night talks and having dinner together. These are the routine of the group when they plan to make a film and join a festival.

15th Mindanao Film Festival (MFF) came to town. After a lot of dinners and late night talks, the group conceptualized a story. Due to the busy schedule because all of the members of the SLP are 4th year graduating students; the film shoot happened two (2) days before the submission of the film. Glory to God the group were able to pass their film. Not just that, the film that was shot in the last minute and edited with a short span of time were accepted as an official entry to the 15th MFF under the student category.

Months after the submission the official entry of the 15th MFF was showcased at the Gaisano Mall Cinema 6, which includes the entry of the SLP entitled TFTA (thanks for the add) and also their horror film Taguan. The screening lasted for 2 consecutive days. We all know that Awards Night exists in the world of filmmaking.

The night before the scheduled awarding the team received a shocking and victorious message from the MFF organizers. The message consists of the invitation of the event and also the shocking list of awards that the film was nominated; Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Film and Best Student Film, isn’t that amazing?

The whole team was so overwhelmed about the news and nakulbaan on what’s going to happen at the event. A couple hours ago the team was dressed elegantly and joyfully attended the awards night. The event ended and the team went to Jollibee to have a late dinner and participated in the after party at “Kanto” that was located at Matina Town Square. The team had a bucket of drink and enjoyed the moment. Midnight strikes, the team decided to go home, but you know there’s always a place where people will just stand, do their thing and talk. (Wag green ang utak) The team talked a lot of things, having fun and they were trying to sink in all the things that just happened.

30 min have passed, some of the team are done doing their thing and they are pacing slowly to the road to go home, yet the organizers happened to arrive on the place and 30 min talk happened again.

Productive and Victorious Night

It is really heartwarming that people recognize your team and your film and congratulating you, but hearing the positive and uplifting comments of the people especially the comments of the jury to your film is just amazing. The film that we made in just two (2) days was nominated for 6 awards and WON the Best Editing and Best Student Film.

“Out of 100 film entries of this year’s Mindanao Film Festival, 6 films stood out”- MFF Jury

Again the film that was made in 2 days were nominated as the Best Film which means that it belongs to the 6 films that stood out. Kana palang, maka bukhad atay na bes! Saying this is not boasting, yet expressing my overwhelming happiness about the result. (wala man sab siguro maka basa ani kay murag wa man sab maka discover ani nga account so okay lang HAHAHAH)

“Actually I was there during the deliberation of the films and your film TFTA was really a buzz” – MFF Organizer

A lot of positive and maka happy na comments from one of the juries, organizer and co-filmmaker bombarded our minds. Lessons, tips, and motivating words came into our hearts.