Michael Jackson's This Is It

By Angel Constantino
Photo courtesy of Sony Music Philippines

Published: Spot.ph, October 2009
Section: Movie Reviews

This Is It is a film about what could have been.

From March through June 2009, Michael Jackson and his crew were busy preparing for his final comeback—a series of sold-out concerts that would have been staged in London’s O2 Arena—if it weren’t for the 50-year-old performer’s death on June 25.

The movie gives audiences a glimpse of what went on during those rehearsals. It begins with Michael Jackson’s dancers talking about their experience of working with the King of Pop. Some of them are teary-eyed and barely able to speak, as performing with MJ has been their lifelong dream. A few minutes into the film, as snippets of the auditions are shown and the lucky chosen ones perform “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” with MJ, you begin to get immersed into their world.

This Is It is not an ordinary documentary. While there are a few interviews with different people who worked on the concert with MJ, this film is more about his music. Film director Kenny Ortega, who was also MJ’s creative partner and the director of the stage show, did an inspiring job of selecting the most poignant moments from over a hundred hours of rehearsal footage. The smooth transitions from different periods of rehearsals (with MJ and the dancers in different outfits) allow you to see the progression of the songs, which were arranged in the same order as they would have appeared in the concert.

But unlike the experience of watching an actual concert where everything is smooth and polished, this movie allows you to actually feel like a part of it. You see the mistakes they made, hear the odd instructions MJ would give that somehow make perfect sense (“Let it simmer…” he tells his musical director while rehearsing, “The Way You Make Me Feel”), and finally witness something close to the end product. Even the combination of high definition videos with blurry, low-resolution images gives the film an intimate feel—as if you’re seeing something you weren’t supposed to...

Read the rest of the article in Spot.ph!

Read more...

Live the Adventure

A project for my Multimedia Journalism class with Prof. DJ Clark (Asian Center for Journalism, Ateneo de Manila University, October 2009)

Live the Adventure from Angel Constantino on Vimeo.

Every year, AMCI Mountaineering Club conducts the Basic Mountaineering Course, a five-month long training program that aims to promote the sport of mountaineering and equip trainees with the necessary skills to survive in the mountains. The course is composed of a mix of physical activities, academic lectures, and training climbs, where trainees can apply the skills they have learned and appreciate the beauty of nature.

This video shows what this year’s Basic Mountaineering Course was like through the eyes of two trainees, Charles Ty and Lelet Volfango. As they have experienced, mountaineering is not just about having physical strength, but also about having the patience, mental fortitude, and willpower to go beyond one’s limitations.

Behind the Scenes: The Making of the Video
I made this video as a final project for my Multimedia Journalism class with Prof. DJ Clark. The topic is close to my heart because I myself was a trainee back in 2005 and have been an avid mountaineer since I was inducted into the club.

I really wish I could have documented all the events of this year’s BMC since it started in June. However, due to time constraints, I was only able to join two major events: their third training climb in Mt. Pulag and their orienteering weekend in Corregidor Island.

On our second night in Mt. Pulag, a storm hit the mountain. Our tents were literally bending at the poles and a lot of the trainees and AMCI members could not sleep a wink because they were wet and shivering inside their tents. While trekking back to civilization the next day, needle-like rains pelted our faces and we were buffeted by winds so strong that we almost toppled over even with our heavy backpacks.

When I asked Lelet about her experience at the time, she said: “In the midst of the fierce weather, it was also beautiful in a way. It’s a different kind of beauty—it’s fierce, it’s in your face. It’s just you and nature and God. When we were in the grasslands and I was [on the edge of the] cliff hanging on for dear life… at the back of my head, I thought, I’m so scared but this is so cool! I hope I can get to the other side. I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to go there and see it and experience it.”

I wanted so much to include that quote in the video, but it’s long enough as it is. And I couldn’t very well whip out my camera during that crazy weather while I myself was hanging on for dear life. I really wish I could have documented those moments though. Now that would have made for a great story!

The photos at the beginning of the video were taken by Roland Aquino during our climb of Mt. Pulag in 2006. The photos show Mt. Pulag at it’s best. I showed these photos to the trainees and encouraged them to go back to Pulag during the summer so they can see the awesome views for themselves. Roland also took the photo of Mt. Apo when we climbed the mountain in 2007.

Videos for the interviews with Lelet and Charles were shot with a video cam I borrowed from the office. Photos and videos of the Pulag climb, orienteering weekend, and interview with Tonyboy were shot with my Canon Ixus 850IS. I also borrowed a few photos from Mardel and Maida, my teammates during the Pulag climb. A big thanks also goes out to Carlo, Tina, and Marissa—the other trainees whose interviews I was not able to include in the video—and my other teammates Renelle, Merari, Jay and Nelson.

I really enjoyed working on this video as well as all the projects for my Multimedia Journalism class. Hopefully, I can further upgrade my skills and equipment to come up with even better, high quality videos in the future—videos of people who have amazing stories to tell.

November Update: Both Charles and Lelet have successfully completed their induction climb at Mt. Apo and are now AMCI members. :)

Read more...