It’s all personal.

One of the reasons I had come home (I had turned down a job offer in Berlin!) was to be able to work on Marie Jamora’s first feature length “Ang Nawawala” (What Isn’t There).

I had been egging her on to finish her script for quite some time now and since people only make their FIRST feature length once,  it would be totally stupid of me to miss out on designing (and producing!) my dear friend and colleague’s most personal project to date.

And here we are, almost day 11 and it doesn’t get easier. Hahaha.  But I’m proud to say, we’ve been doing some great stuff.

My art department is dropping like flies. Three people have already exited the battlegrounds.

But hey, for me and the rest of my spartans, we soldier on!

Marching on!

Introducing, the Prop Masters

your online Portal to all things found and loved

We’re up! The Propmasters is the first online prop shop in the Philippines! We are a collective committed to re-purposing and sharing all things kept and once loved.  Find us and like us on facebook! You can find us here temporarily while our website is being set up. Choose from over 300 items for your set decoration and prop needs and our inventory is growing!

Created and operated by production designers and stylists, we know first hand the challenges of sourcing props and set decoration within a limited period in the Philippines. We simplify the propping process so you can successfully divert your energy and resources in creating the perfect set.

We are your source-all shop providing real-time design solutions for production designers, art directors, set decorators, set dressers, art departments, stylists, event designers and photographers and lovers of all things found. We also offer delivery and pick up of items; sourcing services and negotiations.

We make propping easy, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable!!!!

If you want to be part of The Propmasters’ online portal, or simply rent items, you can contact us at propmasters.philippines@gmail.com. YAY!

logo and icon design by Mark Lavin

The art of Aging and some Pseudo-Nonsense

Initially, it was meant to be a workshop for set men but I realized later on that what we really need in the industry is a workshop about the inner-workings of the art department. Production Design is an undermined craft in the Phillies’ film trade. Budgetary constraints are the usual reasonings–but we’re used to working with less, so that’s not the culprit. There are general assumptions on how art departments should function since there is a tendency to underestimate the value of design in storytelling. Furthermore, most people including the director don’t know/appreciate the process of setting up sets and creating the look for a particular project.  In a lot of cases, there is miscommunication between departments which greatly affects the art department’s game plan.

Production Design is a sport. You have to make up a fake world genuine, interesting and aesthetically pleasing and set that world up in a couple of days. One always has to work with a budget and determine the logistics of bringing everything together.

So the art department workshop became a three-day overview of playing, redefining the work that we do, the roles we play, the budgets we balance, the politics we engage  and the kind of mindset one should have. It’s easy to design but making it all happen–when it’s supposed to happen, is the tricky part.

Thank you to the participants, you were all wonderful. And a million thanks to the speakers: Cesar Hernando, Cris Silva, Candy Reyes, Missy Maramara, Jason Tan, Marie Jamora, Quark Henares, Genie Ranada, Mark Lavin, Christina Dy and Victoria Velasco and my wonderful right hand Crew: Rya Lat, Dervin Tan and Kiko Anibigno for making the first art department workshop, a success. YAY!

The next Art Department Workshop Series takes place in Summer 2012!

The first art department workshop!