Khavn dela Cruz is helping push digital filmmaking into the mainstream with his digital film fest, .MOV

TALK about multi-tasking. Twenty-eight-year-old Khavn (that's pronounced "ka-vin") dela Cruz writes poetry and fiction, plays avant-jazz piano, has penned rock operas, managed the now- defunct art venue Oracafe, and now runs his family's Car Collision Center in Quezon City. But these days, Khavn is not only a hot digital filmmaker, but is also festival director and founder of .MOV, what he's billed as the first digital film festival in the Philippines. Khavn was already interested in video when, as a student at the Ateneo, he took a class under eclectic cinema pioneer Kidlat Tahimik. "He encouraged us to just take that video camera and start shooting." From there, Khavn immersed himself in the craft, unspooling one short film after another. The accolades began rolling soon after. In 1997, his short "Alaala Sa Madaling-Araw" won at the Tokyo Video Festival. He received the Gawad CCP five times, most recently for "Greaseman" in 2002.

The wisecracking and energetic Khavn also spawned Silvershorts, a short film competition, but couldn't find the funds or a popular venue to stage his awarding ceremony. Then the Ayala Cinemas at Greenbelt agreed to show the winners and encouraged him to do a week-long event. That event became .MOV (pronounced "dot-mov"), which ran for a week last January, showing the best of our young local independent auteurs and the work of top independent international artisans. "The festival allows those outside the circle to watch these films," Khavn explains, adding that he considers .MOV another opportunity to celebrate Philippine independent cinema. The festival is supported by a website (www.mov.moviespage.com) and a mailing list. Khavn encourages prospective volunteers and entrants in the coming .MOV (to be staged in late 2003) to visit the site. Along with Gatla Gunawin, he also founded Filmless Films, a non-profit organization devoted to the making and distribution of local digital films. He just came back from being part of the jury at the Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea. The Palanca award-winner is also keeping busy on other fronts, having just finished a new novel as well.

But it's filmmaking and taking care of .MOV that keeping his reel running. He understands the power that digital video can have in local cinema. "Especially in a third world country like the Philippines, there's no other way to make your own films. There are other routes, but the vision suffers or vanishes totally. You get the usual formulaic films-and for me, that's not the point. The medium is open to everyone. It's part of the democratization of filmmaking. Anyone can just grab a camera and tell their story." Khavn shared the viewfinder with SIM with this e-mail exchange:

SIM: What, in a zip, is .MOV's mission?

Khavn: To establish digital filmmaking as the present and future of Philippine Cinema <ZIP> Due to digital technology's offerings of user-friendliness, easy mobility, acting intimacy, and accessibility/affordability, <ZIP> Leading to a democratization of filmmaking and an increase in quality and quantity in Philippine Cinema unprecedented in history <ZIP> A natural re/action of a moviegoer slash moviemaker's frustrations on the current crop of Philippine "movies" made with an imaginary dumb masa in mind, the lack of government support amidst broken promises, and a production-distribution system which is stuck with the profit-as-god religion <ZIP>

SIM: Why should the average Filipino surfer click on to your site?

Khavn: To get an idea of what transpired last January: the .MOV fest, the films in it, etc. To sign in one's email address to be part of the mailing group, wherein occasional postings are made on the latest happenings in Philippine independent digital cinema.

SIM: If you could come up with an email addy that would properly describe you, what would it be?

Khavn: kom@kom.kom

SIM: What is your favorite site on the web?

Khavn: google.com; yahoo.com. (You can also check out www.brashyoungcinema.tripod.com, www.documentagon.com, and www.come.to/animaanime.)

SIM: What is your favorite (non-virtual) site in the world?

Khavn: The streets of Metro Manila minus the pollution and corruption.

SIM: What are your all-time favorite movies?

Khavn: Joey Agbayani's "Kidlat," Brian DiPalma's "Phantom Of The Paradise," Mike De Leon's "Aliwan Paradise," the Coen Brothers' "The Hudsucker Proxy," Roxlee's surreal shorts, Lars Von Trier's "Dancer In The Dark," Kidlat Tahimik's autobiographical ficciones, Mike Figgis' "Hotel," Danny Red's "Papag," Terry Gilliam's "Brazil," Tim Burton, David Lynch, Woody Allen, et al. (I would have loved the early Pinoy flicks by Manuel Conde and company if they haven't turned into ashes due to the Pinoy-shadow traits of negligence and indifference which has led to an amputated sense of history.)

SIM: What is your favorite digital gadget?

Khavn: Inconspicuous 3-CCD Eyeglass Digital Videocam with Unlimited Recording Cappacity plus its multi-function palm-size Remote Control (not yet invented as of press time).

SIM: What is your favorite analog or non-techie possession?

Khavn: Audio Cassette Player and VHS Player-Recorder.

SIM: What's your weapon of choice when shooting your digital movies?

Khavn: Canon XL1 and ZR20. Plus an iMac.

SIM: What is your favorite food or beverage for getting all wired up for the day?

Khavn: Isaw, Kabab, Inasal. Coke, Orange Julius, H20.

SIM: What's the thing you love most about the Internet?

Khavn: Easy access to everything uploaded in this world. Absence of stupid censorship. Virtual Democracy.

SIM: Conversely, what do you hate most about it?

Khavn: Immortalization of non-privacy.

SIM: How much has the Internet and digital technology personally changed your life?

Khavn: Correspondence locally and internationally which would have probably not occurred without the net. Digitally creating films, music, and literature became easier and positively faster.

SIM: Is the Filipino truly ready to be wired?

Khavn: Most definitely. I believe that the Filipino is ready for anything.

 

Sunday Inquirer Magazine
December 1, 2002

 

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