Academix

I’ve chanced upon Philstar.com wherein the results of the Novermber 2006 Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) Licensure Examination were already posted. I am shocked that only three (3) out of the ten (9) academic honors students of ECE from our graduating batch in Don Bosco made it in the list. It’s also appalling that one of the Cum Laude didn’t make the cut. Maybe the other six didn’t take the exam yet, but that notion is not quite probable because I saw all of them reviewing for the boards. As of now, I have no idea how my former Alma Mater fared through the exam. I don’t know the passing percentage yet but it seems that it’s no good news.

***

I find FILM 112 (Language and Grammar of Film) under Mr. Lyle Sacris (cinematographer, Blue Moon, Exodus, Zsazsa Zaturnnah) a very demanding but nonetheless a superbly interesting and fun course. I haven’t expected that I’d be facing the very technical side of filmmaking – ergo, camera works – very soon. I actually misinterpreted this whole subject as a writing and story concept making subject but I was conked in the head after learning the requirements. Check this out:

Weekly requirements:
1. Short short films in DVD Format (1 to 2 minutes only, film’s subject according to lesson, camera: at least Sony HDV or Panasonic DVX100)
2. Journal (regular dose of Film, Music, Still Photo / Painting, Literary Works AND Music Video review)

Prelims
Treatment Exercise (Mr. Sacris will assign a script to the class and each student has to shoot the script with his/her own treatment)

Midterm
Music Video for a music artist (in DVD format, camera: 24p3ccD)

Finals
A twenty to thirty-minute short film (in DVD format, camera: 24p3ccD)

Other Requirements
1. Papers
2. Quizzes
3. Book Report
4. Required Film Screenings

If you ask me, I’m not really scared with the requirements per se. I am used to truckloads of work and I love being busy. But I am concerned with my financial incapability to support myself to make me survive with my projects, especially with the cost of editing (and I don’t even have a video camera). Oh God, I think I’m going to ask my parents again to buy me a camera now. I really thought the technical subjects will emerge some time next academic year (when surely, I have already saved enough to buy myself a decent camera) but everything shocked the hell out of me. But, oh well this is how things go.

No, I will not drop the subject. There will always be a way and frankly, I’m excited to shoot a music video.