Auraeus solito biography of william

  • Lav diaz
  • Filipino directors and their films

    • High school pics and youth-oriented movies were hugely popular in the 1980s. The teen angst movies of John Hughes made a big star of Molly Ringwald. In this part of the world, the local Brat Pack headed by William Martinez and Aga Muhlach thrilled fans with their own version of adventures and misadventures. The films, booming with generation-defining songs, dealt mostly with common adolescent problems such as fitting in, identity crisis, unrequited love, and strained relationship with parents. However, most of the films are mere teen fantasies. Plain-looking Andie (Ringwald) nabs a date with a rich and good-looking playboy in the cult classic Pretty in Pink. The young lads from Bagets get to drive fancy cars and bed sultry women. The films make it look like it was a good time to be in high school.


    But, what is high school life really like during the tumultuous, waning years of the corrupt Marcos regime? Auraeus Solito’s Pisay is probably the definitive high school movie on the era. The production design, slang, and music are spot on. It captured perfectly the spirit of the times. President Ferdinand Marcos lifted martial law in 1981 but the political repression and corruption continue to flourish. Former Senator Benigno Aquino was assassinated in 1983. Yellow fever swept the people until its zenith in February 1986. The zeitgeist molded patriotic students and created courageous young heroes.


    The film Pisay takes a look at how the 80s affected eight bright students of the Philippine Science High School. They are part of the so-called cream of the crop. Several of these gifted students have competed, and will compete, in local Quiz Bee contests and international academic competitions. The award-winning script by Henry Grajeda presented a vivid account of student life in a highly competitive national science high school. Important lessons were imparted via science and math themes that are easily understood by ordinary high school students. However,

    Auraeus Solito, also known as Kanakan-Balintagos, is a Palawán-Filipino filmmaker and indigenous peoples rights advocate who comes from a lineage of shaman-kings from the Palawán tribe. He was one of the first to be born outside of his tribal land of South Palawan. He was born in the city of Manila and, after graduating from the Philippine Science High school, studied theater at the University of the Philippines, where he received a degree in Theater Arts. One of the leading independent filmmakers in the Philippines, he was recently chosen as part of in Take 100, The Future of Film. This book, published by Phaidon Press, New York, is a survey featuring 100 emerging film directors from around the world who have been selected by 10 internationally prominent film festival directors.His first feature film, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) won 15 international awards including 3 awards at the Berlinale (The Teddy award, International Jury Prize at the Kinderfest and Special Mention from the Children's Jury of the Kinderfest). It is also the first Philippine film nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Independent Spirit Awards in the US, and has been shown in more than 50 film festivals around the world.Tuli (Circumcision), his second feature film, won Best Picture and Best Director at the Digital Competition at the 2005 CineManila film festival; won the NETPAC Jury Prize at the Berlinale, International Forum for New Cinema and the Best International Feature Film at Outfest in Los Angeles. Solito is the first Filipino to make it to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA, two years in a row (with The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros and Tuli). His films have been screened in other major festivals around the world including Montreal, Busan, Toronto and Rotterdam.Solito completed a screenplay development program at the Binger Filmlab in Amsterdam.His film Busong (Palawan Fate) was selected at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight i

    The award-winning film by Auraeus Solito based on Michiko Yamamoto's screenplay about an effeminate boy who fell for his policeman friend, has blossomed into a full-blown musical. At a time when news feeds are dominated by sad reports about super typhoon Yolanda’s aftermath, the gifted actors of "" headlined by Jayvhot Galang, has brought the much needed laughter and amusement onstage. Jayvhot, first wowed the public with his vocal stylings in gameshows and talent contests on TV. Though a theater neophyte, he armed himself with this same jaw-dropping vocal affectations and natural gift of dance that impressed his cast mates and even the production staff. , the show's director and choreographer said that "the challenge in having a beginner for the role of Maxie is the instilling of the discipline of theater and coming to terms with the performance techniques he is already used to." Nevertheless, Santos, is happy with the rawness of Jayvhot's approach that made the character real and sincere.
    In a backstage interview with Honorata Manila, the 15-year old actor is also quite overjoyed for being entrusted this responsibility which made him prepare by reading the script countless times, watching the film to learn more about the character, and by going to mentoring sessions with the director and workshops under PETA.

    The result of this training is something that audiences should watch out for to prove whether his whole Maxie experience really taught him about the importance of discipline and hardwork.

    We were privileged to get a private sampling of his birit powers. Being a fan of Regine Velasquez and Beyonce, belting the songs written by Nicolas B. Pichay, William Elvin Manzano, JJ Pimpinio, and Janine Santos, comes out naturally but this belter also believes in singing from the heart and understanding what you are singing about. He, however, needs to strengthen his falsetto with the very delicate notes and lyrics for the scene to be understood.


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  • Gerardo de leon

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  • Ishmael bernal