“Sana Bukas”, one year later.
by Trinka Lat
Flea Market meets divisoria
The music booth
My happy umbrella booth!
Art Stall!
Rock-Ed and Colgate Philippines decided to re-do their “Say something Fresh” campaign and got director Marie Jamora again to direct the new music video/TVC. The bulk of the design budget went to the construction of a stage and concert scene and to the creation of an outdoor market. One of the strategies I employed to address the budget limitations is to get real market vendors, like what we did for Zweiohrkueken. Charley and I went to several Sunday markets/bazaars and invited people to display their wares in exchange for a small token fee and a chance to sell their goods on the day of the shoot.
For the booths selling music, film and art, we had to borrow precious art (and school projects) from various artists and get permission from independent filmmakers to print their collaterals. Other booths we set up were relatively easy choosing items that were big, cheap, colorful and found in the stockroom of Straight Shooters, Propmasters and our own homes. Needless to say, we ransacked a lot of houses to fill up the booths.
One of the things that could’ve been handled better were the logistics though, transporting all the bazaar people and all the props and set dressing to and from the location could’ve been handled better and on creating a second team for set down and hiring an extra truck would’ve benefited the team. But money is always tight and even more so when one gets a surprise run-in with a supplier.
Making suppliers respect your budget limitations and work around it was the real challenge to this project. I find it so unprofessional to get a figure from a contractor, who, after saying, “yes kaya yan” (we will make it work) comes to me at the day of the shoot, scratching his head, asking for additional pay because he failed to budget in delays in the construction and longer working hours. Some setmen are so used to their production designers making allowances for their mistakes but I find it inexcusable when those mistakes lapse into 10,000php+, especially when both parties did their calculations and both parties agreed to a specific working budget–especially after 5 lengthy meetings!
Working in Berlin has made me optimistic about re-configuring the production design system and mentality here in the Philippines but instances like this just want me to tear my hair out and have suppliers absorb their own costs and mistakes but I guess I’m too nice and pay them the contingency money I’ve thankfully set aside. But maybe that’s why some set dressing teams (who’ve been in the art department 15 years ahead of me) won’t learn and stay in their working state. I guess it’s too much to ask for them to step up. As Sharon told me, “Trinka, you have to accept them for what they are.” And if this is the case, what does the future hold for production design in the Philippines? It can’t be rock n’roll all the time.
The video turned out nicely anyway. But I wished it had gone on smoother. Watch the video here. Thanks Charley, Karen, Rafaella and Sinag Arts Foundation for a job well done!
Production House: Straight Shooters
Line Producer: Ruth Colacion
Producer: Tess Jasareno
Director: Marie Jamora
Production Design: Trinka Lat
PD Assistants: Charley Sta. Maria, Karen Ramos
Art Department: Staff from Unitel (Lead Setman- Mang Henry)
Art Department Intern: Rafaella Las
Stage Setup: Sinang Arts Foundation
Technical Director: Rene Cubar
Background Construction: Marco Manalang, Ekis Cipriano, Ronald Barrios
*photos by Charley Sta. Maria
