“Costume design discouraged. Cinematography is in!”
Thus said one Twitter user about the telecast of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Mon, Jul 25.
The comment was a reference to two changes in this year’s address: the downplay in the fashion aspect of the event (no red carpet this year) and Brillante Mendoza directing the SONA.
READ: No long gowns: Duterte’s first SONA won’t be a fashion show
In earlier interviews, Mendoza — whose film Ma’Rosa competed at the 2016 Cannes film festival — said he wanted Duterte’s SONA to be very sincere and very real.
“The essence is to communicate with the people,” he said.
We’re not sure if Mendoza indeed managed to to present a real and sincere SONA. However, we’re pretty sure it’s very different from the SONAs before it.
READ: Brillante Mendoza’s SONA videos will be sincere and frill-free
Early into the President’s more than an hour address, it was clear we wouldn’t be getting the usual SONA, at least visually.
Mendoza utitlized high-angle and low-angle shots, and used close-up shots of Duterte during the more emotional moments of the speech.
He also focused on the VIPs inside the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa — including Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos laughing at a joke and Vice President Leni Robredo and Philippine National Police head Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa listening intently, among others
But the acclaimed director also had some… interesting shots. No less than two times, the viewers were treated with a close-up on Duterte’s during the speech.
A number of netizens were also not pleased with a number of “under the table” shots.
“If what Brillante Mendoza meant by ‘we will see the real Duterte’ is seeing the President’s brain through his nostrils, well,” a netizen commented.
Directors and members of the media and the entertainment industry also took part in the conversation, making Mendoza an instant trending topic online.
Made-4-tv SONA works. Closeups of hand gestures, face, camera not static at all. Superb directing by Brillante Mendoza
— Thelma S. San Juan (@ThelmaSSanJuan) July 25, 2016
Cinematic highlight of SONA: Vilma Santos dolly shot! @brillante_ma
— Raya (@rayamartin) July 25, 2016
Ang ganda ng low angle shot. Parang Citizen Kane.
— Phil Dy (@philbertdy) July 25, 2016
Congratulations to Brillante Mendoza for his first mumblecore full feature
— Anj (@anjpessumal) July 25, 2016
Online reaction is mixed. And, of course, many made jokes and memes of what many perceived as an unconventional way to present the SONA.
Buti na lang bagong gupit kuko ni #PresidentDuterte! Ibang klase mga Brillante Mendoza shots #SONA2016 pic.twitter.com/96o3soE1bM
— Cheng (@KULASAAAAAAA) July 25, 2016
First live indie film: SONA 2016. Directed by Brillante Mendoza.
— Peter Jerome Reyes (@peterjamesjohn) July 25, 2016
Mala Citizen Kane ang atake nitong sona… hmm…
— Earl (@tweetearl) July 25, 2016
I assume Brillante Mendoza hopes to submit this #SONA2016 as the Philippine entry to the Oscars.
— DryedMangoez (@dryedmangoez) July 25, 2016
Was Mendoza successful in giving us a real and sincere SONA? We’re not sure. But we’re sure about this: we’ll be talking about Mendoza’s SONA directorial gig for a long time (or maybe for the next few days).
