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| Director Brillante Mendoza directs the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte. Presidential Communications/Released |
Film Director Brillante Mendoza achieved what he was aiming for: make common viewers feel that president Duterte is close to them while watching
in their living rooms, in barbershops, in carenderia or even with their cellular
phones.
His cuts were unorthodox and unprecedented for an event like
State of the Nation Address of the President. Lighting was subdued as opposed to the previous
ones with well-illuminated plenary hall. The screen’s output of somewhat
color-graded videos commands sincerity and dominance of the speaker, who is the
highest leader of the land.
Shots of the hand movements, midriff shots (shoulder to
waist),under-the-nostrils angle, the close-up shots and the one-third – two thirds
shot of the president and the Philippine national flag were well-planned. It made one feel that the president is so much within reach but at the same time sent a
message that he is strong and powerful.
Although, I was annoyed on transitions at some point.
All in all, Brillante was brilliant in his new take of how
SONA should be felt by the masses who are not inside the hall. He made his own platform
of “change” that this administration is standing on.
For video, here's one from Rappler:
For video, here's one from Rappler:
