Issue No. 69 - March - April 2012 - DOH

of the film due to re-shooting and editing ofthe film without his permission. Darryl delaCruz was eventually named as director.The movie earned a “Grade A”from the Cinema Evaluation Board becauseit was said to be a “fine example of a periodfilm” and because its director was “able toestablish believable characters throughmasterfully conceived and executed actionscenes.” The Board is mandated under thelaw to review and grade the quality of filmsbefore being released for public viewing. Italso awards tax incentives to films graded“A” and “B” as a way of encouraging Filipinofilmmakers to produce more quality filmsand increase the international marketabilityof Philippine cinema. This Board is totallyindependent and not at all connected to theMMFF."Manila Kingpin" also dominatedthe 37th MMFF Awards Night by winninga total of 11 awards, including BestPicture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, BestSupporting Actor, almost all of the technicalawards, and the special award – GatpunoAntonio Villegas Cultural Award.Ironically, this adjudged qualityand best film is filled with tobacco andsmoking scenes from the first four minutesof the movie up to the last few minutestowards the end. Smoking is also veryobvious in the movie’s trailer, music video,print advertisement and poster. However, inthe posters displayed inside the malls wherethe movie was being shown, the cigaretteswere omitted.The lead actor and his cohortssmoked cigarettes, while the main villainsmoked cigar. The jail warden and somepolicemen were portrayed as smokers. Andin one sex scene, the lead actor and hismistress use smoking as foreplay. Althoughthere were no noticeable brands of cigarettesand cigars, the movie seems like one big andlong tobacco advertisement.Forty-four (44) out of the total91 (48.4%) scenes depicted smoking onscreen, with a computed running time of717 seconds (11 minutes, 57 seconds).There were a total of 181 shots that showedsmoking and this is divided into: 62 closeupshots (163 seconds); 60 medium shots(242 seconds), and 59 long shots (302)seconds. The whole movie, minus the closingproduction credits, runs 112 minutes (1 hour,52 minutes).Other MMFF EntriesThe other MMFF entries thatshowed smoking scenes are “Shake, Rattleand Roll 13” and “Segunda Mano.”“Shake, Rattle and Roll 13” isthe 13th instalment of the Filipino horrorfilm dating back to 1984. This is a trilogy(three episodes) film produced by RegalEntertainment Inc. and Regal MultimediaInc. under the matriarch of Filipino films,“Mother” Lily Monteverde. Incidentally,Monteverde has been very vocal againstMMDA Chiairman Tolentino's call to make thefilm entries tobacco-free. She was quoted inmedia as saying, “Hindi pupwede (It cannotbe). Actors have to bring life to any role and iftheir character is smoking, it does not meanthat they are setting a bad example to theyouth.”In the first episode entitled“Tamawo,” an Ilonggo word for a mysteriouscreature, the rich provincial ranch owneris shown smoking in one scene and twoshots lasting for 14 seconds (a long shot for13 seconds and a brief close-up shot for 1second). The film was judged MMFF thirdbest picture.“Segunda Mano” is a horror/suspense movie produced by Star Cinemaand starring Kris Aquino, the Presidentialsister, and matinee idol and MMFF BestActor, Dingdong Dantes. In one scene, aglamorous woman vacationing from abroadand whose role flirts with the lead actoris shown smoking in one scene and twoshots lasting for 8 seconds (a long shot for 4seconds and a medium shot for 4 seconds).“Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”is a drama movie billed with a powerhousecast and riveting performances led byMaricel Soriano (MMFF Best Actress)and produced by Monteverde’s RegalEntertainment Inc. and Studio 5. Althoughthere was no smoking scene in this movie,smoking was implied in a dialogue by oneof the main female casts, Carla Abellana. Inthe middle of a supposed stressful meetingin the boardroom, she ended the meeting bysaying to her colleagues, “Why don’t we takea break, I’m sure yosing-yosi na kayo (you’reraring to smoke).”If this was a deliberate inclusion inthe script to defy Tolentino’s call for tobaccofreemovies, only the producers wouldknow. Incidentally, the MMFF executivecommittee unanimously disqualified thefilm from competing in the Best Picture,Director, Screenplay and Gatpuno AntonioVillegas Cultural Award because the moviewas different from the script that waspresented to the committee from which itbased its approval and this was consideredas a violation of the rules. Tolentino saidthat after the script was approved, what wasshown was different and even the cast wasdifferent. Only the title was the same.Fortunately, the three familyentertainment MMFF entries did not showsmoking scenes.“Enteng ng Ina Mo” was therunaway box-office champion, grossingover P183 million in eight days of showingin the MMFF. This action, fantasy, adventurecomedy movie also won the second bestpicture. It is produced by Star Cinema andM-Zet Films and the concept came from afusion of blockbuster hit movies "Enteng28 HEALTHbeat I March - April 2012