1st Sem Trailer Impressions: CineFilipino 2016 Entry About Separation Anxiety and Close Family Ties

1st Sem is a drama comedy and an official entry to the CineFilipino Film Festival 2016 which is written and directed by Allan Michael Ibanez and Dexter Paglinawan Hemedez starring Lotlot De Leon, Allan Paule, and Darwin Yu slated and screened on March 16 to 22, 2016 at selected theaters. Let's check out what this CineFilipino 2016 feature length entry centering on the close tie in the Filipino family set-up and the potential separation anxiety that might come out of it has to offer.


1st Sem
Plot / Synopsis

Maru Marasigan, a sixteen-year old incoming freshman from the province, leaves his hometown to study in one of the prestigious universities in Manila. He is accompanied by his mother Precy as he goes to his dormitory.

But Precy cannot help but get emotional when she is about to leave him. Maru feels sad seeing his mother cry. This escalates after Maru spent his first night at the dorm feeling alone and very lonely.

Maru then decides to pack his things and go back home. Precy is very shocked to see him in their kitchen early in the morning the following day.

Down on his knees, Maru pleads to Precy to allow him to study in a nearby college for he cannot afford to live miles away from his family. But Precy rejects Maru's request and tells him to go back to Manila instead.

As Maru insists his decision and disobeys Precy, his relationship with his mother starts to fall apart.

Source: Official CineFilipino Page

Watch 1st Sem Official trailer here:





1st Sem Official Trailer Impression
1st Sem Film Trailer Review


What can be said about the 1st Sem (2016) official movie trailer? Well it starts out endearing but the latter half shows the film's plot of dealing with separation anxiety caused by the dependency to one's family; a close familial tie. The film may also tackle the problem with complacency and comfort zones which is really kind of fresh and we don't usually tackled in mainstream Filipino films. So far this has been really the edge with the movies under the CineFilipino feature length category.


1st Sem also along with other CineFilipino entries have featured newcomers which would either give them their much needed break in Philippine showbiz. It is interesting to see that the future recognize actors of tomorrow will have CineFilipino to give them their much needed break; to look back with a smile and say 'I started out in a quality Filipino film.' You can check out the 1st Sem official Facebook Page as to see which theaters will screen the film, schedule, and other details.





How about you guys? What do you think of the premise of this CineFilipino Film Festival 2016 Feature Length entry? What are your guess as to how will the film unfold or conclude? Have you ever had a similar experience or knew someone who had to deal with separation anxiety when entering college? Share your general impressions, thoughts, and opinion about 1st Sem CineFilipino 2016 official movie trailer in the comments section below and let's discuss:

Buy Now, Die Later Teaser Trailer Impressions: 2015 MMFF Horror Film About Haunted Objects

Buy Now, Die Later a 2015 horror film from Quantum Films and is an official entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival this 2015 under the direction of Randolph Longjas which stars Vhong Navarro, Alex Gonzaga, Rayver Cruz, John Lapuz, TJ Trinidad, Lotlot De Leon, and Janine Gutierrez slated for a slated for a December 25, 2015 theatrical release. Let's check out what this 2015 MMFF horror entry featuring haunted, possessed or demonic objects has to offer.


Buy Now, Die Later
Plot / Synopsis

BUY NOW, DIE LATER is a compendium of five interconnected stories, each one representing one of the five senses. Ang mga kuwento nina ODIE, ATO, CHLOE, PIPPA at MAITA ang magpa paalala sa atin - - that every bargain comes with a price.

Watch Buy Now, Die Later Official Teaser Trailer here:






Buy Now, Die Later Official Teaser Trailer Impression
Buy Now, Die Later Film Teaser Trailer Review


So what can be said about the Buy Now, DIE Later teaser trailer? First off let me commend the marketing Team behind the 2015 horror movie entry as it does what any film should do, market and build hype early for their film. This makes it feel like they are actually proud of their film and an actual effort was put into the making of the film. This is from the same film studious and production behind another 2015 MMFF entry, Walang Forever on which its trailer was also recently released. Tease the audience enough months before to build the hype and create buzz for the film; For that a big plus point.


Now onto the meaty part. Buy Now, Die feels familiar; very familiar. Let's see, a haunted or possessed object up for sale and its unknowing consumer and usually the people around them starts getting killed off Now where exactly have I seen that part before.... Hmmm. This can be attributed with the over saturation of Filipino horror film titles of the past. Well, one can argue that those are old movies and not so many new movie going fans are familiar with them, but what of those who have seen old horror films? Is there nothing new to offer than a fresh coat of paint? When we say "new" we are not referring to the actors featured in the film as I don't really consider Lotlot and Vhong as a "new", what we are referring to is the premise and the potential CGI-fest that Buy Now, Die Later could have. What will differentiate this from one of the many Shake, Rattle, & Roll films of the past? Can we say that film studios finally have realized that they will run out of ideas to play with if they continue featuring 3 different scary stories for each annual installment of the Shake, Rattle, & Roll? Can we then say that this is the reason why we don't have a Shake, Rattle, & Roll entry for this year? Well, by the looks of it, it seems to be case. It is not a bad approach. Film studious can only make so many variations of tiyanak, aswang, and tikbalang, before movie going Filipinos gets tired of it (like most of us do). In every rule there is an exemption though, which comes in the form (genre) of romantic comedies and romance. Will still be looking forward to seeing the actual and full trailer for Buy now, die Later once it hits online to either validate this early impressions of it or praise it for not being a disappointment.


How about you guys? What do you think of a Buy Now, Die Later's premise of a group of people buying a haunted object and later suffering the consequences of purchasing such items? what are your thoughts with the recent application of CGI in Filipino horror films? Are they any good? Share your thoughts and opinion about the Buy Now, Die Later teaser trailer in the comments section below: