creativemediaph
Future of Filipino komiks...
By Aries B. Espinosa
The people of CreaM (Creative Media and Film Society of the Philippines) have created a comic book that could virtually spell the future of Philippine "komiks."
The breakthrough was not exactly met with fanfare, though. A 56-second video clip showing frames from the graphic novel, titled "The Lam-Ang Experiment," was posted on YouTube in January 2012 and has, so far, gotten only 1,796 views. CreaM then launched the three-volume book set on May 26 at the Summer Komikon comic convention in Pasig City, with comic book fans and collectors in attendance.
The quality of the illustrations are said to be world-class, matching the graphic novels from the United States and Japan in terms of color, paper, and artwork.
But mainstream society has not picked up on the "Lam-Ang Experiment" just yet. Not even if those responsible for its existence is a team of all-Filipino artists and head writer, the story is purely Filipino in origin, and the book produced entirely in the Philippines.
Big obstacle
The big obstacle is the price. At P250 per book (or P750 for the entire set), "The Lam-Ang Experiment" is not within reach of the typical rural comic-book reader. Michael AR Co, who penned the novel as a reimagination of the Ilocano traditional folk tale, revealed that those who downloaded the comic book from Amazon or ordered direct prints from CreaM were moneyed collectors and comic book lovers. The graphic novel is not available in bookstores.
"There are plans for a black-and-white version, so it can be much more affordable to the Filipino youth," Co said.
The original story of Lam-Ang, as narrated by the blind Ilocano bard Pedro Bucaneg in the early 17th century, tells of the adventures of the extraordinarily powerful and intelligent warrior Lam-Ang, who avenges the murder of his father Don Juan by his
Igorot enemies. Lam-Ang is depicted to have been born fully grown, and immediately able to speak.
It is ironic, though, that a story founded on a centuries-old folk tale would now sound so "alien" to today's youth.
"It's sad, as I learned from the 2012 Komikon, that the younger generations are not aware anymore of the numerous traditional Filipino folk tales," Co stressed, citing examples of such mythological figures as Maria Makiling and Bernardo Carpio.
Co and a team of CreaM animators, namely Michael Magpantay, Eugene Cruz, Mac Ballesteros and Michael Layug, have "reinterpreted" the heroic exploits of Lam-Ang.
Co, who was commissioned by CreaM to write the script for the novel, put the setting of a reimagined Lam-Ang roughly a thousand years after Bucaneg's time, or 500 years into the future.
"The context of the original version is retained in the new version. We just added a lot of science fiction into it," he said.
Now Alan MG
The hero Lam-Ang is now Alan MG (Moleculene Gene), "which is just a derivation of the original name," Co explained. In "The Lam-Ang Experiment," Alan also possesses extraordinary strength, and travels in deep space in his mother ship called Dawn-1, and constantly encounters enemy aliens called Gorts.
Co said science explains how Lam-Ang could have possibly been "born" a grown man. "In the comic book, Alan was a clone, so he was 'born' already a fully formed adult."
Other futuristic adaptations include Lam-Ang's magic rooster, now a metallic weapon that could wrap itself around Alan's arm or shoulders, and a pet dog that is now a giant alien companion named Bao.
In Alan's universe, his home planet is not Earth, but Locus, which is made up of two continents, the North and South.
"We merged the traditional look of Ilocos region with touches of science fiction. The Paoay Church and the Bangui windmills now look high-tech," artist Magpantay pointed out.
Zanjoe look-alike
"Ultimately, the 'Lam-Ang Experiment' is a classic story about Filipinos who go out and seek their fortunes in foreign lands, and go back home to a changed environment," Co mused.
Should CreaM turn this into a full-length animation or live action movie, which actor could best portray the swashbuckling Alan MG?
"We've always thought Alan looked like Zanjoe Marudo," Co said, laughing.
CreaM produced the indie live-action-cum-animation movie "Pintakasi" (released 2011), starring Erich Gonzales, John Wayne Sace and JM de Guzman.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Hundreds of years in the future, the Dawn-1 is savagely attacked by an unknown entity from inside the Capariaan Nebula. Thirteen starships have so far vanished in this mysterious region, including the Dawn-1.
Three years later, Dr. Namungan, the mission's chief scientist, trains her own son to solve the mystery. But there's a catch: he's only nine months old.
Alan's adventure concludes in the third volume of The Lam-Ang Experiment, a three-part graphic novel based on the classic northern Filipino epic poem Biag ni Lam-ang ("Life of Lam-ang"). Much of the artwork and design was inspired by traditional Ilocano costume, architecture, and language -- all with a futuristic twist.
THE LAM-ANG EXPERIMENT (BOOK1-3):AVAILABLE IN PRINTED FORMAT! @ CreaM Studio, 362 P. Guevarra cor. Maude St. Barangay Addition Hills, San Juan, Philippines.
For inquiries:
Tel: (632) 468.9433 / (632) 490.5904
Email: mail@creativephilippines.com or creativephilippines@gmail.com
NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON AMAZON!
BOOK 01: "Alan M.G." on Amazon
BOOK 02: "The Dog and the Crocodile" on Amazon
BOOK 03: "The Berkakan" on Amazon
Written by Michael A.R. Co ("The God Equation") and produced by the exceptionally talented team of artists from the Creative Media and Film Society of the Philippines ("Pintakasi"), The Lam-Ang Experiment proves that Filipinos can produce original science fiction on a grand scale.
source: entertainment.inquirer.net/257…
In 2010, the MMFF began showcasing independent films under the New Wave category to give viewers wider choices. This year, the animated film "Pintakasi" won for Best Full-Length Film under this section.
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, who produced "Pintakasi," said it took her team, Creative Media Society of the Philippines or CreaM, four years to make it. "I salute those who support original Filipino animation, music and content," she said.
JM de Guzman won the Best New Wave Actor award for his performance in Marcos and Nelson Caliguia's "Pintakasi," while Iza Calzado won as Best New Wave Actress for the Neil Tan film "HIV."
www.facebook.com/PintakasiMovi…
PINTAKASI The Movie
This film is about a Filipino boy named DJ, who has a relentless passion for painting. When his parents die, he leaves the province to live in a shanty-town island that is made from garbage and where the promise of hope ceases to exist. In this strange new island, Dj encounters a myriad of characters, both good and bad.
DJ uses the island and its people as his canvass, and strives to teach the people of the island how to dream. But because of internal and external forces that threaten to destroy the island, which he now calls home…he learns to fight back to defend and protect it at all costs.
This film is a production of Governor Imee R. Marcos and Mr. Nelson Caliguia and is an official entry to the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival: New Wave Section. The film will be screened on December 18-21, 2011 in Robinson's Galleria Cinema 03.
www.pintakasimovie.com
www.facebook.com/PintakasiMovie
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