The Level Up Film Festival 2008 is over and the winners have been announced. Our entry, “HINDI AKO BOTTER” (by Diwa de Leon & Edwin Guillermo) landed the 2nd place title. But there has been some turmoil amidst the supporters of the Film Festival when a crowd favorite entry didn’t make it to the top 3.
ASCENSION by Precious Jewel Gamboa
I’m talking about the entry titled “Ascension” by Precious Jewel Gamboa. When this entry was shown during Level Up Live 2008, it drew strong audience appeal through loud cheers and sighs. It was almost expected that she would at least make it to the top 3. Sadly, it didn’t even make 3rd place. The 3rd place was instead awarded to the entry “Test of Courage” by JM Bautista. Watch it first after the jump then compare it to Precious’ work.
Test of Courage by JM Bautista
I won’t be neutral here. “Ascension” is technically, storywise, and execution wise, more superior than “Test of Courage” and deserves a place in the top 3. With all due respect to the judges and other contestants, this is nothing personal. Artistic opinion only. Also, just look at the number of views, it is quite obvious that more viewers find “Ascension” interesting.
I myself do believe that the judge’s decisions are always final, but the problem doesn’t lie with judging system. It is with the choice of judges. Which leads me to believe that no real filmmakers or animators have ever been chosen as members of the Film Fest jury since it started. There have always been controversial winners in the past film fests and they fall under a different topic on their own.
As much as I respect the people of Level Up, a lot of them are my friends actually, it is in my strong opinion that perhaps in the future, you include a real filmmaker or animator in the judge’s roster. Not a film enthusiast, not an amateur animator, but real film directors or producers who excel in the film industry and may have garnered awards already. Oh and perhaps besides the top 1 to 3 awards, maybe you can include a special people’s choice award for the Film Fest.
It may be my first time to be involved in the LU Filmfest but I have been an artist all my life and I know how to distinguish an artistic gem from an artistic flaw. Anyway, that’s just a simple suggestion from myself, and select members of the gaming and film community.
12 Comments Received
October 20th, 2008 @9:19 pm
waaa
master diwa, tlgang me gnun?
wenk wenkwenk
/wah
thnks s pgfeature ng vid ko s blog /wah
^_^
uhm, happy p rn nmn me
dami nkappreciate heheh /gg
October 20th, 2008 @9:44 pm
I think it’s about time someone spokeup na rin about it, para din naman sa ikabubuti ng LU Film fest yan, lalo na sa mga susunod pang LU Film fests. Thanks for dropping by my blog Jewel.
October 20th, 2008 @11:28 pm
Ate precious’ entry is better than the 3rd placer. Tsk tsk…
October 22nd, 2008 @10:21 am
for me ung dapat 1st placer ung gawa ni jewel ndi nmn sa pagiging bais kc RO player ako pero maganda tlga ung ginawa nya, story wise astig sya typical love story sa mga player ng ragnarok, ung pag kakagawa nya kahit wlang dubbed okay lang kc ramdam mo ung gs2ng iparamdam nya sa entry nya. it is really a great work of art.. cgro kung meron mang sablay don is ung naging super saiyan ung LK pero gs2 lang nya cgro iemphasis na ng berserk ung LK and don nmn sa voltez 5 alam finishing move pang dagdag alng ng humor.. anyway her entry is the best kahit pa ndi sya naka pasok sa top 3 kc NADAYA sya hayz lagi n lang tlga may dayaan sa competition..
October 23rd, 2008 @1:22 pm
Many at LU Live 2008 were pleased with “Ascension” but we have to face the reality that the LU Filmfest is not a popularity contest. It is a legit competition with a panel of judges that follow strict criteria, and “audience impact” has a low percentage.
October 23rd, 2008 @4:55 pm
Meron ba silang binigay na criteria sa pagjujudge? Aba dapat lang meron. Tapos sabihin nila kung ano yung points na nakuha ng bawat entry para magkaalaman.
October 23rd, 2008 @5:28 pm
Yup they always post the criteria as soon as the contest is announced. Check here: http://levelupgames.ph/live2008/filmfest.php
October 26th, 2008 @12:59 pm
love precious’ entry. when i saw it during RWC, thought it was a sure win. it’s only here in your blog that i found out it didn’t even make the top 3. but you’re right. we ain’t the judges. maybe the judges weren’t so into love stories. even so, the artistry put into the entry must have earned big points. couldn’t figure out why those points were not even enough to land Ascension into the top 3.
November 9th, 2008 @4:59 am
i was a bit skeptic at first because although “test of courage”s story wasn’t impressive, the effects were good.. i then watched “Ascension” afterwards, and i couldn’t hate reality more, that a story as good as that didn’t even make it to the top 3…
Keep up the great work Jewel.. dont worry.. someday it’ll all pay off..
at least its better to have people thinking that you deserve to win, rather than winning an award but having them think that you’re unworthy of it..
November 11th, 2008 @5:23 pm
I’ve watched almost all the videos during the Level Up Live and I rated my top 3 favorite videos:
Ung sa perfect world na “to be continued” (forgot the title)
Ascension
Hindi ako botter
Kadismaya lang di nanalo ascension pero ganun talaga. Move on ika nga. Hehehe. This may be a little late but congrats kay Master Diwa.
April 3rd, 2009 @10:23 pm
well guys, i personally thank all the comment, sa mga konting people na sumoporta sa aking ginawa… just dropped by, and accidentally na padpad ako sa website na e2,
let me introduce myself, my nick is Jaaru, and im the creator of
TEST OF COURAGE,
well, so far, konti lng ata nkta kong negative about sa Film ko, and most is about the other 2 films, and i respect all the negative comments given to me by other critics, im not saying my entry is good, but its hard work, well, isang araw lng sya inedit, 20 hours to be exact, ksma na ung shooting ng half ng film…
well, im not good, but ill promise to be better… mdyo may ggnda pa sana ung gwa ko, kaso, 4 days nlng ang natitira nung inumpisahan nmn ishoot, and it took 2 days of shooting ksama na ung editing with effects… sana na paganda ko pa at napag handaan ko ng maaga,
let me add that, sinubukan ko lng xa, wala nmn mawawala kng mag papasa ako, i tried my luck… ayun, di ko inexpect na id be one of the three.
its ok, for all negative comments, ill cherish that and ill treat that as positive, so maybe i can improve more…
to master diwa, i respect your comment… hndi lahat may gus2, or wala talga may gusto, cguro, nahawig lng sa criteria, and i respect that… ill try to do my best the second time, if i get to be in one of that competition again…
thank you all, and god bless…
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