TV & Film
Every year, the school’s premiere film organization, Loyola Film Circle (LFC), writes and produces an original short film and showcases it to the incoming freshmen as a fun introduction to Atenean culture.
From the quirky romantic comedy tropes of Scott Pilgrim-Santos vs. the World (2011), to the heart-stopping action of The Hungry Games (2012) and the hilarious bromantic misadventures of Katipunan Jump Street (2013)—these productions have come a long way. Now in its eighth iteration, the Orsem Film is Ateneo’s very own movie franchise.
Like any other franchise, these films are linked together by one formula for success. Here, we take a look at entries from the past three years and break that formula down to see what exactly goes into the anatomy of an Orsem Film.
Parody please
The Orsem Film—or OFilm—has a very rich history of parodying popular films. From Twilight (2008) and The Hunger Games (2012), to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and 21 Jump Street (2012), these LFC features never shy away from poking fun at the zeitgeist. The characters of Scott Pilgrim Santos and Ramona Plowers, Agniss Everdeen and Ishmeet were born out of this tradition.
Tim Ng, former LFC member and scriptwriter of the OFilms for the past three years, admits, “It’s kind of been a tradition for some time now that the OFilm should always be a parody.” He even cites the Zucker brothers—the filmmakers behind popular comedies such as Airplane! (1980) and the latter releases from the Scary Movie franchise—as inspiration. “A lot of the jokes in the movie were influenced by them,” Ng explains.
For instance, in Scott Pilgrim-Santos vs. the World, a scene opens with a band ending their set while a host walks on stage saying, “And that was the band just to fill up the scene.” That element of meta-humor is a defining quality of the Zucker brothers’ films and an integral part of all the recent OFilms as well.
Parodies also tend to bring in unexpected personalities into the scenes. This has brought the likes of Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Kiefer Ravena to appear in OFilms in the previous years. This year’s special guest star? The classy British gentleman, Tom Hiddleston, marking Mr. Hiddleston’s first ever appearance in a parody film. Who wouldn’t want to see that?
“I don’t get it…”
Ateneans have a pretty unique sense of humor and the only way to really let the freshmen in, is to let them in on the inside jokes. It’s what makes the OFilms as informative about campus culture as they are entertaining. There have been gags on school rules, student stereotypes and school rivalries.
In the opening scene of Katipunan Jump Street, for example, main character Juan Dee checks his Aisis account to find he has a hold order from the library, requiring him to settle his balance of 1.99 pesos (cue sad music, fade to dramatic landscape).
But if there’s that one running joke that sticks the most, it’s the portrayal of the JSEC man. Director of this year’s OFilm and information design senior Abby Cruz, even cites this as a requirement for every OFilm. “There always has to be a parody of the JSEC man, since that’s one of the most Atenean stereotypes ever. Every other university can have an artsy person, a jock, a nerd, but it’s only [Ateneans] who can actually say that we have a JSEC man,” Cruz elaborates.
But if you don’t catch the preppy fellow in the short shorts up on the big screen this year, don’t fret. You’ll be seeing a lot more of his friends roaming JSEC all throughout your stay in the Ateneo.
Lessons learned
At the end of the day, however, the OFilm is not strictly fun and games. After all the gags are pulled, it takes a semi-serious turn by conveying a very Atenean message, usually at the film’s resolution.
“The important thing was that the audience should learn something positive from the film,” Ng shares.
It wouldn’t be an Ateneo Orsem film if it didn’t feature Atenean values. In Katipunan Jump Street, one of the effects of the infamous energy drink gaining popularity on campus is becoming a genuine man for others (and then going way overboard with it).
“When we wrote Scott Pilgrim-Santos vs. the World, we tried to infuse the 5C’s,” Ng continues, referring to the core values of being competent, compassionate, committed, ruled by conscience and Christ-centered. Of course, the jokes are the focus here, but at the heart of it all, the OFilm is inherently Atenean because its messages are Atenean.
And what better way to convey those Atenean messages than through…
Fr. Jett’s cameo
The university president himself has been an OFilm regular since 2011, the same year he was appointed to the position. Usually, he comes near the end of the OFilms to resolve the character’s main dilemma through a motivational speech. It’s been a very effective way of not only bringing a film to a meaningful close and conveying Ateneo’s core values, but of presenting to the incoming batch of Blue Eagles the biggest, baddest Jesuit on campus.
“I breathe deeply and meditate for ten seconds,” Fr. Jett shares, explaining what he does to prepare for his acting stints.
Even if all his appearances are short and sweet, he still sees the importance of it. “It’s not so much a good impression that I’m after, as an informal, youthful, creative presentation of what the Ateneo is like, from the eyes of our students. Also, the freshmen get to see their president at least once before I give them their diploma four years later,” Fr. Jett candidly elaborates.
Fr. Jett’s best appearance yet was his performance in The Hungry Games (2012). Apart from the motivational speech, the students also get to see him break out a few dance moves for fun. Fr. Jett ends, “There’s always laughter when we’re making these things. Loud laughter. I think you call it ‘LOL.’”
Better than the last one
Just because Fr. Jett always comes and saves the day in the OFilms, doesn’t mean that the production crew can wing it for the next year or so. There may be a formula for a successful OFilm, but that formula is just the beginning. In fact, Cruz thinks it’s a challenge for everyone in LFC to make every OFilm better than the last. “We always try to make it better every year, especially since we learn new things, new techniques, new strategies,” Cruz explains.
Despite last year’s OFilm, Katipunan Jump Street, being such a hit, don’t be surprised if this year’s entry—to premiere first during Orsem and then posted on the online—turns out to be the best OFilm yet.
