Tamara Benitez

Last updated
Tamara Benitez
Tamara Benitez by Martin Rey Aviles.jpg
Tamara Benitez by Martin Rey Aviles
Born (1983-10-14) October 14, 1983 (age 40)
San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
NationalitySpanish - Filipino
Occupation(s)Cinematographer, Producer, Surfer
Known forUnderwater Cinematography

Tamara Benitez (also Mara Benitez) (born 14 October 1983) is a Filipina Cinematographer and camera operator, based in Metro Manila, Philippines. Known primarily for her underwater videography, Benitez has worked extensively for the ABS-CBN Corporation and under its production companies Star Cinema and VIVA Films, and has worked with such directors as Lav Diaz, Wenn Deramas, Sig Sanchez, Paolo Herras, and Martin Aviles. She has also worked with Cinematographer Arvin Viola on numerous occasions. Benitez is one of few female Cinematographers working in the cinema of the Philippines. In 2006 she was Director of Photography for the featured pictures Heremias and Lambanog , and in 2011 shot footage for the TV series Survivor India and served as Director of Photography for the TV series Where's Tony .

Contents

Biography

Tamara Isabel Escudero Benitez was born on 14 October 1983 in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines. She is the daughter of a well-known Underwater Cinematographer. [1] She is of mixed Spanish and Filipino heritage; her father is Filipino and her mother mestiza . She studied Cinematography at the Mowelfund Film Institute in 2003, where she was taught how to use a film camera by Larry Manda. [2] In 2004, Benitez gained her first experience in filming as an assistant on the set of Laurenti Dyogi's romantic drama Now That I have You . Later that year she shot footage for Jeffrey Jeturian's major hit Minsan Pa (2004), as well as having a minor role as an American backpacker in it. [3] A reviewer of Minsan Pa in the Manila Bulletin talked of "beautiful cinematography that makes much of Cebu's beautiful tourist spots (such as its famous dive sites in Moalboal)." [4] Liz Braun of the Toronto Sun also praised the cinematography in Minsan Pa. [5]

She made the 161 minute film Ang Anak ni Brocka in 2005 as a Berlinale Talent Campus project. It explores the life of Filipino director Lino Brocka. [6] In 2006, Benitez was a cinematographer on the epic nine-hour 2006 film Heremias . Discussing Heremias, a reviewer was impressed by the work of Tamara Benitez, calling her "so young and so talented". [7] later that year she was director of photography Lambanog , [8] [9] which featured Luis Alandy, John Lapus and C.J. Mercado. Benitez collaborated with director Paolo Herras, a third prize winner of Star Cinema's first scriptwriting contest, in shooting Lambanog, his first full-length digital film. The Manila Bulletin described the film as "a potent mix of innovative storytelling, anguished acting, and the supreme promise that films can go heretofore uncharted directions." [10] She was also a camera operator for the Star Cinema and Viva Films vehicle Wag Kang Lilington , a horror movie starring Anne Curtis and Kristine Hermosa, in which she supported cinematographers Christopher Manjares and Lyle Sacris.

In 2007, Benitez served as a Second Unit Cinematographer/2nd Camera Operator on Wenn Deramas's comedy picture Pasukob, featuring Ai-Ai Delas Alas. The Manila Bulletin praised the makers of the film, saying "Indeed, "Pasukob," showing on Nov. 28, is a gathering of winners and is guaranteed to translate to success via the excellent production." [11] In 2008, she again worked as a camera operator for a Deramas and Alas romantic comedy movie Ikaw pa rin: Bongga ka boy! . She shot footage in Vista Valley, Marikina and in Manila. In 2009, Benitez was camera operator for Ted Manotoc's film 69 1/2 , a film billed as "The Making of the Most Artistic Filipino Pornographic Film Ever Made". [12] She also served as a Second Unit Cinematographer on Mel Chionglo's Bente , supporting cinematographer Arvin Viola.

In 2010, Benitez was 2nd Camera Operator for Arvin Viola again on Gil Portes's Two Funerals , described by the Manila Bulletin as the "quintessential Filipino black comedy, a quirky road movie combining melodrama with satire." [13] Footage for the film was shot in Antipolo, Rizal and the film scooped numerous awards, including the Balanghai Trophy for Best Cinematography - Directors Showcase at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. [13] In 2011, Benitez was employed as an underwater camera assistant in the shooting of Survivor India and also served as Director of Photography for Season 1 of the TV series, Where's Tony .

At present, Benitez is working as a producer under her brand ByTheSea, creating surf films for popular surfing brand Roxy Philippines, among others.

Filmography

Film

Television Shows

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinematographer</span> Creative head of a motion pictures camera and lighting decisions

The cinematographer or director of photography is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera and light crews working on such projects. They would normally be responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the image and for selecting the camera, film stock, lenses, filters, etc. The study and practice of this field are referred to as cinematography.

Frederick Elmes, ASC is an American cinematographer, known for his association with the independent film movement. He is a long-time collaborator of directors David Lynch, Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Jim Jarmusch, and Todd Solondz. He has won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography twice, for Wild at Heart (1990) and Night on Earth (1991), and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series for The Night Of (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lav Diaz</span> Filipino film director (born 1958)

Lavrente Indico Diaz is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. He is frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, and has made several of the longest narrative films on record. Diaz is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary Filipino filmmakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Del Ruth</span> American film director

Thomas Del Ruth is a retired American cinematographer.

Marilou Correa Diaz-Abaya was a Filipina multi-award winning film director. She was posthumously conferred the Order of National Artists of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022, she was the founder and president of the Marilou Diaz-Abaya Film Institute and Arts Center, a film school based in Antipolo, Philippines. She was the director of the 1998 film José Rizal, a biographical film on the Philippines' national hero of the same name. She was part of the Second Golden Age of Philippine Cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charo Santos-Concio</span> Filipino television actress and film producer (born 1955)

María Rosario Navarro "Charo" Santos-Concio is a Filipino media executive and actress. She is the host of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the longest-running television drama anthology in Asia. From 2012 to 2016, she was the chief executive officer of ABS-CBN Corporation, the largest entertainment and media conglomerate in the Philippines. She is chief content officer and president of ABS-CBN University. Santos-Concio plays a role in TV and film production in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Lee</span> Filipino screenwriter

Ricardo Arreola Lee is a Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright. He was conferred the Order of National Artists of the Philippines for Film and Broadcast Arts in 2022.

The Cinemanila International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Manila, Philippines. It was founded by Filipino filmmaker Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz in 1999. The focus of the festival is on the cinema of the Philippines as well as Southeast Asian cinema.

The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a film critic organization composed of critics, writers, and scholars. It is the regarded as the highest award for a film given by critics in the Philippines and is seen as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charito Solis</span> Filipina veteran film and television actress

Rosario Violeta Hernández Solís, professionally known as Charito Solís, was a Filipino film actress.

Rafael Aranda Roco, Jr., professionally known as Bembol Roco, is a Filipino actor whose work ranges from films to television. He is best known for his role as Julio Madiaga in the 1975 film Manila in the Claws of Light, which has since gained prominence as one of the greatest Philippine films of all time. He also had an important role in the 1982 Australian-U.S. film The Year of Living Dangerously. He also portrayed villain roles in Filipino action movies due to his signature bald head as well as various supporting roles.

Ronnie Zabala Lazaro is a Filipino film and television actor, producer, casting director, and art director. He won the Gawad Urian for Best Actor for Yanggaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celeste Legaspi</span> Filipina singer and actress

Celeste Kalugdan LegaspiGallardo is a Filipino singer, actress, film and theatre producer, and an advocate for artists' rights. Her singles and albums reached gold or platinum status during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She is the daughter of National Artist for Visual Arts César Legaspi. She has been one of the founders of the following artist organizations: Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Culturtain Musicat Theater Productions, Performers' Rights Society of the Philippines, and the OPM Archive. She is married to Nonoy Gallardo, an advertising director and one of the premier Original Pilipino Music composers.

<i>Minsan Pa</i> 2004 film

Minsan Pa is a 2004 Filipino indie drama film directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, and written by Armando Lao. It stars Jomari Yllana, Ara Mina and Christian Vasquez. The film was critically acclaimed and garnered numerous awards in the Philippines. With a soundtrack by Arnel de Pano and Lucien Letaba, the song Minsan itself was performed by Jonathan Badon. The film was produced by lawyer Joji Alonso under the MLR Films studio.

Heremias: Book One – The Legend of the Lizard Princess is a 2006 Filipino crime drama film written and directed by Lav Diaz. It stars Ronnie Lazaro and Sid Lucero, alongside a cow named Jordan. The 8-hour digital film was produced by Celso De Guzman, with principal cinematography by Tamara Benitez, and was shot in Pililla, Rizal, Luzon. The film is "the story of a farmer who makes a pact with God to save a girl from rape."

The Young Critics Circle - Film Desk is a society of film critics and an award-giving body for cinema in the Philippines. It was established in 1990 and had its first awarding in 1991.

Maria Rosa Francisca Catalina Gil-Eigenmann y Castellvi, known professionally as Rosemarie Gil, is a Filipino actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of rich socialite-villainess roles.

Magkano ang Iyong Dangal? is a 1988 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Laurice Guillen and starring Christopher de Leon, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Joel Torre, Jestoni Alarcon, Princess Punzalan, and Michael Locsin. Adapted from the "komik" of the same name by Gilda Olvidado, the film is about the adulteries committed by married couple Paolo and Era, played by de Leon and Padilla respectively. It was released on December 25, 1988, as part of the 14th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Urban Terrorist is a 1988 Filipino action film directed by Dante Javier and starring Mark Gil, Ronnie Ricketts, Vivian Foz, Tom Olivar, Kristel Romero, Dick Israel, E.R. Ejercito, Dhouglas Veron, Juan Rodrigo, and Charlie Davao. Produced by South Cotabato Films, the film was released on April 22, 1988. Critic Lav Diaz panned the film, criticizing its direction, writing, cinematography, editing, and anachronistic elements.

Rodolfo "Rody" Austria Lacap is a Filipino cinematographer. He started as a projectionist before becoming a photographer and cinematographer. His work in films such as Itim (1976) and Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) earned him awards for best cinematography.

References

  1. Alexis A. Tioseco. "A River Runs Through It: Reflections on a Shot in Lav Diaz's Heremias". Kino. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  2. "About Tamara". Tamara Benitez. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  3. "'Minsan Pa,' a must-see movie.(Entertainment)". Manila Bulletin. 19 September 2004.[ dead link ]
  4. "New movie outfit produces 'Minsan Pa'.(Entertainment)". Manila Bulletin. 19 September 2004. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012 via HighBeam Research.
  5. Braun, Liz (6 May 2005). "'Minsan Pa' too long of a romance". Toronto Sun . Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "Ang Anak Ni Brocka" . Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  7. "I survived Lav Diaz's Heremias (2006)". Rough Groove. November 16, 2006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  8. Jocelyn Dimaculangan. ""Lambanog" screens at IndieSine, September 10–16". Cerphin. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  9. Paolo Herras. "Whiskey di cocco / Coconut Whiskey". AsiaticaFilmMediale. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  10. "Is Bianca now avoiding Zanjoe?(Mr. Showbiz)". Manila Bulletin. 6 May 2006.[ dead link ]
  11. "A gathering of winners in 'Pasukob'.(Entertainment)". Manila Bulletin. 29 November 2007.[ dead link ]
  12. "69andahalf". 69andahalf.com. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Star Magic Ball not just a social event.(Showbiz)". Manila Bulletin. 28 August 2010.[ dead link ]