(not the last air bender but the by Titanic’s director)

Avatar

We love Avatar, the newest sci-fi film to hit the cinemas. But as much as we like it, the critics speak great things about it. We admire James Cameron, the film director who directed Titanic, the world’s most famous film ever. In Avatar, he proves his perseverance and courage to follow his passion. The film is awesome. The 3D animation is truly impressive and the story is touching.
Kuris Animators

James Cameron wrote the script for Avatar back in 1994, but was unable to turn his vision into a movie until now because he had to wait for technological innovations to catch up to his expectations of the 3-D spectacular। As it turns out, the delay was well worth the wait, for this intergalactic sci-fi flick more than measures up to the hype, and not merely in terms of its introduction of the next generation of special effects.
The eagerly-anticipated adventure revolves around a socially-relevant story so thoroughly compelling that its nearly 3-hour running time flies by in a flash. Furthermore, this cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked military might and corporate greed also features a tenderhearted cross-species romance. The action unfolds in the year 2154 on the distant planet Pandora which is in the process of being invaded by SecFor (as in Security Force, get it?), a U.S. military-industrial complex/corporate conglomerate with designs on a rare mineral called unobtainium (as in not obtainable, get it?). The precious substance, worth $20 million a kilo, is the only reason for the expedition, as it apparently is the critical element involved in bringing presently-polluted Earth back from the brink of ecological extinction.
The picture’s unlikely protagonist is paraplegic Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), an ex-Marine who has greatness thrust upon him when he volunteers to serve as a last-light year replacement for his recently-deceased twin brother in the Avatar program. Upon his arrival on Pandora, he is instructed by botanist Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) how to mind-meld with his genetically-matched avatar and thereby control its every move. The human-like hybrid physically resembles a member of the Na’vi (as in naïve, get it?), the 9’ tall, blue-skinned tribe of aborigines inhabiting the planet. Jake is given just 3 months by his superiors to manipulate the indigenous people into vacating their sacred lands voluntarily, since it sits atop untapped reserves of the coveted unobtainium. However, much to the chagrin of an avaricious, SecFor bureaucrat (Giovanni Ribisi) and an itchy, trigger-fingered Colonel (Stephen Lang), he goes renegade after falling in love with a young native beauty (Zoe Saldana).
Jake switches sides because he recognizes that the much-maligned Na’vi aren’t bloodthirsty savages as billed, but noble, spiritually-superior beings living in harmony with nature. So, like a latter-day Tarzan who can talk to the animals, the sensitive alien-whisperer must rally all the creatures of Pandora to come to the defense of their peaceable kingdom in an eye-popping battle royal. Along the way Cameron pays homage to (although some might say shamelessly recycles) memorable motifs from some of his own films and from Star Wars, The Fugitive, King Kong, Superman, Pocahontas, Predator, Apocalypto and Transformers, as well. That being said, Avatar’s prevailing theme is the identical to a certain classic Western for which Kevin Costner won a couple of Academy Awards.

pure artistry

Leoniel Cerbas and his winning piece 'Pugad'.

Leoniel Cerbas and ‘Pugad’

By Kathy M. Villalon (www.thenewstoday.info)

“But I don’t want to be an individual who will stay hopeless,” he said, thus he focuses on doing good in school as well as on being artist. His commission works have helped a lot in improving his life.

“Pugad” earned young Ilonggo artist Leoniel Cerbas, 23, the second place in the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence National Competition 2009.

The oil on canvas piece shows the characteristics of a poor family – a big family sharing one sleeping space, meaning, the floor of the living room, together with their pets and some insects feasting on the unwashed dining plates.

A critic stated this about Leoniel’s work: “The sprawl of bodies, seemingly spilled on the slatted bamboo floor, sucks up the air in the constricted pictorial space. Exhausted, devoured by deep sleep, this human array of visages, torsos and extremities, jumbled together and displayed to the voyeuristic eyes of the artist, exemplifies horror vacui, or a fear of empty spaces. Indeed, whatever breathing space there could have been usurped by the family’s domestic pets, a dog and a cat huddled together with their masters in companionable domestic bliss. The image derives from the artist’s own personal experience. Growing up in poverty in his Iloilo hometown, Leoniel Cerbas transforms his memories of a deprived upbringing into a raw and bruising subject matter for his art.”

“I came from a poor family. My mother accepts sewing jobs while my father was once a security guard but because of health reasons, is no longer working. I have five siblings and I’m the second child. I am also the breadwinner of the family.” He sidelines in making streamers, T-shirts and other artworks. “Through my work as an artist, I was able to send myself to school. I help my siblings in their schooling as well. Our eldest is now a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management and based in Manila,” Leoniel said. “My artwork was inspired by what I’ve seen around me,” he added.

“But I don’t want to be an individual who will stay hopeless,” he said, thus he focuses on doing good in school as well as on being artist. His commission works have helped a lot in improving his life.

Also, his determination on becoming a better artist and his real life experience has helped him get a top spot in the competition. The money he won from the competition was used to repair their house as well as buy the things that he need.

Leoniel’s art style borders on socio-realism. “I want to impart certain issues through my works,” he said.

Leoniel is a fourth year Architecture student of Western Visayas College of Science and Technology and a member of the Tatsulok Artisans.

(Leonil Cerbas is one of the pioneer members of Kuris animation Unlimited, the second batch of Ilonggo animators trained by TESDA Animation course that created the BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang, first Ilonggo animated short film shown at SM Cinema last January २००८)

Glimpse of artistry

Our pathway to artistic rise and passion was never easy. We embraced the challenges of fate, nurtured our friendship, and learn from each other’s artistic gifts. In everything we did in the past, it contains pieces of our heart and personality, visions and reveries, pain and joy. That’s the reason why we pursued what we love to do because deep inside us lies a flame of passion and artistic vision, a vision that desires a chance to be heard and seen as an artist.
Whatever we did in the past and the dream we keep inside us, we know that there will come a time that the desires of our heart will be fulfilled as one, as a team of artistic souls dreaming, fighting, waiting, hoping, and believing that we have what it takes to be dreamers who can fulfill their greatest dream.
This is a glimpse of our universe. This is a testimony of our humble artistry as artists and animators who are not afraid to follow the pathway of passion.
Our pencil and papers are instruments of our expressions.
What lies inside is the artist’s heart.
We are not called “Kuris” animators if we don’t have the courage to chase our dream.
Until now, we still believe in our dreams...