Film director Roman Perez Jr. has advocated creating scriptwriting clinics to mentor young Filipino scriptwriters on their path to mainstream show business.

Roman suggested this following the success of The first Blvck Entertainment Scriptwriting Contest 2024 Awards Night held at the B Hotel Grand Ballroom in Quezon City last Aug. 3.

"Naghahanap tayo ng mainstream-ish na scripts or edgy. Yun naman ang hinahanap ng mga producers. Maraming batang scriptwriters, mga amateurs or regionals ang sumali," said Roman, the commissioned Project Creative Director, during an interview.

Roman added: "So pinag-usapan namin ni Zig Dulay, a member of the jury of the contest, at sinabi niya na sobrang daming script na sana na-guide natin bago nila isinali.

"So ngayon, nakita natin ang problema. Sa regionals, kahit sa Metro Manila, kulang tayo ng scriptwriting clinics. Nakita natin yung kahinaan ng pagtuturo. Tumutulong naman yung ibang group pero kailangan pang ma-develop sila.

"Dapat alagaan yung process. Hindi lang yung one-time. Every month sana meron tayong inaalagaan through workshops or seminars. 

"Sa ibang bansa, inaalagaan talaga nila yung mga young talents. Yung ibang talents natin pumupunta pa ng France kung saan may pabahay at food. Inalagaan talaga sila," added Roman, who directed the first Vivamax movie intended for theaters entitled "Unang Tikim."

Winners

First place went to Mario Banzon for Tres Marias, who will receive P100,000.  Banzon was not able to attend the event, so Abet Raz received the award for him.

Second place went to Joseph Abello for Chester’s Eight Birthday Party. He received P50,000 cash. The third place was Dustin Celestino for Supremo, who got P30,000.

The top 10 finalists and their respective entries were: Joseph Abello – Chester’s Eight Birthday Party, Gian Arre – Habang Tulog Ang Mundo, James Ambito - Memories of the Forgotten, Mario Banzon – Tres Marias, Ronald Batallones – Mento, Nash Casiño – Drifters of Britannia, Dustin Celestino – Supremo, Paul Singh Cudail – Huling Korona, Kristofer Ted Navarro – Grrrbage and Abet Pagdagdagan Raz – Little Miss Hope. 

The panel of judges comprised entertainment industry practitioners: Erick Castro, Mon Confiado, Zig Dulay, John Carlo Pacala, Roman Perez Jr., Ronald Rios, and Raffy Tejada.

Before announcing the top three winners, a special citation for the Armando “Bing” Lao Scriptwriting Memorial Award was given to Ronald Batallones for his work, Mento. 

Engineers Louie and Grace Cristobal organized the scriptwriting contest.

Roman said the first prize will be made into a movie. "But if I had my way, five could be made into a film."

Blvck Entertainment hopes to continue this contest every year. This event was made possible by Alkaviva Waters Philippines, GLC Infinite Waters International, Grace Electronics Philippines, Blue Green Dragon Marketing, LG Realty Development, and Blvck Creatives Studio.

Advice

Roman, who has been a director for 10 years, shared some advice to aspiring script writers.

"Sa pagsusulat kailangan din talaga ng research: society and readings. Parang writer din yan eh. Dapat marami kang readings and influences. Importante yung influences: nanonood ka ba? nagbabasa ka ba? O baka naman bigla ka lang may maisip na kwento. Kailangan mo ng exposure. Kapag nanonood ka ng pelikula, dapat nagbabasa ka rin ng script ng pelikula.

"Noong nag-umpisa ako sa scriptwriting, sumali ako sa To Farm Contest on its third year. Kami yung audience choice award noon yung Soul Searching. Nawala na yun contest. Puro edgy ang sumali noon. Kaso naghahanap talaga ng sustainability kung paano mabebenta yung scripts. Yun ang naging problema.

"I remember lagi akong hindi nakakapasok sa Jun Lana Scriptwriting Program. Pero sinabihan ako ni Jun Lana. Huwag na raw ako sumali roon. Mag direk na daw ako. Huwag na raw ako magsulat. Kung meron daw akong maisip na isusulat, isulat ko lang daw. Pero mag-direk na raw ako," Roman said. And the rest is history.