This is a combined version of the update I sent to FilipinoWriter.com and PinoyFilm.com Facebook page fans. - :)Dino

Hello folks!

On behalf of some of my friends who are involved in the production of 'Amigo', the new movie on the Philippine-American war by 2-time Oscar nominee John Sayles, I encourage you to watch it in any of the following theaters:

SM North Edsa
SM Mega Mall
SM Mall of Asia (with English subtitles)
SM Bacoor
SM Cebu (with English subtitles)
SM Davao, SM Manila
TriNoma
Glorietta 4 (with English subtitles)
Robinson's Galleria
Robinson's Ermita

You can find the screening times here: http://www.clickthecity.com/movies/cinemas.php?id=13291

The film opened in theaters last July 6, Tuesday, and its survival in the box office depends on your support (it is scheduled for a one-week run, but this might be shorter or longer depending on ticket sales). I, myself, have seen it twice, and I highly recommend it. We need to support films like this because we need to encourage producers to make more films such as this, which helps us clarify our culture and identity and thus, also helps us clarify where we are going as a nation.

As filmmakers/writers/storytellers, you will also learn a lot from John Sayles, a masterful writer of fiction (he recently came out with a 900+ page novel called A Moment in the Sun about the same period but more international and epic in scope) and scripts (Lone Star, Matewan, Eight Men Out, etc), on how to integrate research, particularly historical research, into a story.

So starting this weekend, bring (better yet, drag :P) your friends and family to the cinemas for a unique history and storytelling lesson. If you're a teacher, please urge them to watch this movie which tackles a topic rarely, if ever, seen on the screen. This film will make them curious about a very important period in our history more than a textbook will. For context, you may direct your students to visit the following links about the Philippine-American war:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.384730383610.164200.729633610

http://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/

 

Other helpful links about Amigo and John Sayles:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189234871130598

https://www.facebook.com/AmigoTheMovie

http://www.amigomoviephil.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sayles

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000626/

http://johnsaylesbaryo.blogspot.com/

http://www.pinoyfilm.com/amigo-by-john-sayles-philippine-theaters-screen...

 

Reviews of Amigo (may contain spoilers so I advise you to watch the movie first before reading):

http://opinion.inquirer.net/7348/%E2%80%98amigo%E2%80%99 (Conrado de Quiros)

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showpost.php?p=57244415&postcount=30 (a rating of 9.5/10 by Jecoup Asombrado)

http://bakyastomp.blogspot.com/2011/07/american-junked.html (Andrew P.)

 

Finally, anything you can do to spread the word about this must-see movie -- share the Amigo the Movie Facebook page, or forward this message, or invite them via this Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189234871130598 -- will go a long way toward changing the kinds of movies we see on screen, and also toward helping our economy: foreign producers will be encouraged to shoot more in our country which means more work for everyone.

 

So hope you have a wonderful cinematic weekend! Be an Amigo to our cinema and to our country. :P

 

Best,

:) Dino Manrique
Publisher, FilipinoWriter.com & PinoyFilm.com