Just came home from watching the very well attended premier Atlanta screening of Hari Ng Tondo. Not knowing what it was about I did have reservations about going based on the title of the movie itself. I’m glad I went though because after watching the movie, meeting, and listening to the producer/director, it was totally well worth it. It shows the ability of Filipinos to produce quality entertainment even with limited budget, showcase local talents, and at the same time impart a lesson. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Practically all, if not, all of those who attended expressed similar sentiments.
The title maybe confusing to a number of folks since apparently there were other productions with similar title. It is definitely not about gang-violence related to the notorious Tondo version of modern-day Robin Hood, Asiong Salonga.
Thank you, Carlos Siguion-Reyna and to the Fil-Am Association of Greater Atlanta board for bringing it here. It was a realistic depiction of life in the Philippines especially the poor.
By the way, Mr. Siquion-Reyna has very impressive credentials. He is very active in Philippine movies, not only as a director/producer, but also as an actor. He was a full-time Arts professor at the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Asia Graduate Film and Television Department from 2008-2015 teaching film directing and screenwriting. We need more of his talent and this kind of production promoted here in Atlanta and elsewhere.
About Carlos Siguion-Reyna
CARLOS SIGUION-REYNA is a film/theater director, film educator, and actor. He received his MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He served three terms as president of the Directors' Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (of which he is a founding member), and co-wrote and lobbied for the law creating the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
For cinema, he directed 13 films, of which several have screened, competed, or received awards in the Philippines and in major international film festivals including those of Berlin, Toronto, Tokyo, and Shanghai. These works include Hari ng Tondo (2014), Azucena (2000), Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya (1997), Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin (1997), Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin (1995), Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal (1992), and Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (1991).
For theater, Carlos directed Katsuri (2019), Coriolano / Coriolanus (2019), Marawing Salamat (opera segment, 2018), Ang Mga Propesyunal (2018), Nothing But Dreams (2017), Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-Araw / A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016), Walang Sugat (2012), and Aawitan Kita sa Makati (2005-2010). He played Torvald in Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, for which he received Gawad Buhay 2018’s award for Outstanding Male Lead Performance in a Play.
As full-time Arts Professor on the faculty of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Asia Graduate Film and Television Department, he taught 12 courses in film directing and screenwriting (2008-2015), and served as Head of Third Year Studies (2013-2015). He currently heads the Cinemalaya Institute (Manila), where he also teaches filmmaking.
Siguion-Reyna is deep in rehearsals of Sarah Rule’s play, Stage Kiss, opening in Manila on February 2020, after which he will prepare the 2020 rerun of the highly successful production of Katsuri. He performs as a guest actor in ABS-CBN’s action-drama series, FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano, and is acting in two films currently in production.
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