The Bit Player (Filipino: Ekstra) is a 2013 Filipino socio-realist drama-comedy film by Jeffrey Jeturian. The film stars Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan, who spends her days dreaming of her big break while working with the country's best small screen actors.[1] The film competed under the Directors Showcase sidebar of 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. It topped the box office in all four venues of said festival.[2] The film was released in mainstream theaters by Star Cinema on August 14, as part of their 20th Anniversary offering.
| The Bit Player | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Filipino | Ekstra |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Jeturian |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | Vilma Santos |
| Cinematography | Lee Briones |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Vincent A. de Jesus |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Star Cinema |
Release dates |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Languages | |
The film had its international premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, set from September 5 to 15, under Contemporary World Cinema section.[3][4] It also showed at the 2013 San Diego Asian Film Festival.[5]
Plot
editThe film follows a seemingly usual day in the life of Loida Malabanan (Vilma Santos) as she embarks on yet another shooting day of a soap opera as an extra. As the shoot goes on, we get a glimpse of the truth in the ruling system of the production as well as the exploitation of the marginalized laborers like her.[6]
Cast
edit- Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan
- Fatima Centeno as Production Assistant
- Marlon Rivera as Director
- Vincent de Jesus as Assistant Director
- Ruby Ruiz as Josie
- Tart Carlos as Venus
- Hazel Faith Dela Cruz as Olga
- Marian Rivera as Herself / Belinda
- Piolo Pascual as Himself / Brando
- Cherie Gil as Herself / Doña Beatrix
- Pilar Pilapil as Ms. Amanda / Doña Esmeralda
- Tom Rodriguez as Himself / Rafael
- Eula Valdez as Herself
- Cherry Pie Picache as Herself / Ma'am Amelia
- Richard Yap as Himself / Sir Richard
- Terence Baylon as Police 1
Awards
edit- 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (Directors Showcase)
- Special Jury Prize
- Audience Choice
- NETPAC Award
- Best Actress – Vilma Santos
- Best Supporting Actress – Ruby Ruiz
- Best Screenplay
- Nominated–Best Film
Gawad Tanglaw Awards 2014
- Best Actress - (Vilma Santos)
13th Dhaka International Film Festival
- Best Actress - (Vilma Santos)
2015 New York Festivals
- Best Feature Film - Bronze[7]
References
edit- ^ "Supreme's guide to Cinemalaya 2013". Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ Cinmalaya Top Grosser
- ^ "The Bit Player". Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ "Toronto Film Review: 'The Bit Player'". September 11, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "THE BIT PLAYER". Retrieved May 26, 2020 – via festival.sdaff.org.
- ^ "Ekstra". Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ "Vilma Santos' Ekstra bags bronze in the 2015 New York Festivals". Retrieved April 15, 2015.
External links
edit- The Bit Player at IMDb
- Ekstra at AllMovie
- Ekstra at Rotten Tomatoes