The Bit Player (2013 film)
The Bit Player (Filipino: Ekstra) is a 2013 Filipino socio-realist drama-comedy film by Jeffrey Jeturian. The film stars Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan, who spends her days dreaming of her big break while working with the country’s best small screen actors.[1] The film competed under the Directors Showcase sidebar of 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. It topped the box office in all four venues of said festival.[2] The film was released in mainstream theaters by Star Cinema on August 14, as part of their 20th Anniversary offering.
The Bit Player | |
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Filipino | Ekstra |
Directed by | Jeffrey Jeturian |
Produced by |
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Written by |
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Starring | Vilma Santos |
Music by | Vincent A. de Jesus |
Cinematography | Lee Briones |
Edited by |
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Production company |
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Distributed by | Star Cinema |
Release date |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
Country | Philippines |
Language |
The film had its international premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, set from September 5 to 15, under Contemporary World Cinema section.[3][4] It also showed at the 2013 San Diego Asian Film Festival.[5]
Plot
The film follows a seemingly usual day in the life of Loida Malabanan (Vilma Santos) as she embarks on yet another shooting day of a soap opera as an extra. As the shoot goes on, we get a glimpse of the truth in the ruling system of the production as well as the exploitation of the marginalized laborers like her.[6]
Cast
- Vilma Santos as Loida Malabanan
- Fatima Centeno
- Marlon Rivera
- Vincent de Jesus
- Ruby Ruiz
- Tart Carlos
- Hazel Faith Dela Cruz
- Marian Rivera
- Piolo Pascual
- Cherie Gil
- Pilar Pilapil
- Tom Rodriguez
- Eula Valdez
- Cherry Pie Picache
- Richard Yap
- Terence Baylon
Awards
- 9th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (Directors Showcase)
- Special Jury Prize
- Audience Choice
- NETPAC Award
- Best Actress – Vilma Santos
- Best Supporting Actress – Ruby Ruiz
- Best Screenplay
- Nominated–Best Film
Gawad Tanglaw Awards 2014
- Best Actress - (Vilma Santos)
13th Dhaka International Film Festival
- Best Actress - (Vilma Santos)
2015 New York Festivals
- Best Feature Film - Bronze[7]
References
- "Supreme's guide to Cinemalaya 2013". Retrieved 2013-07-27.
- Cinmalaya Top Grosser
- "The Bit Player". Archived from the original on 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
- "Toronto Film Review: 'The Bit Player'". 11 September 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- "THE BIT PLAYER". Retrieved 26 May 2020 – via festival.sdaff.org.
- "Ekstra". Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- "Vilma Santos' Ekstra bags bronze in the 2015 New York Festivals". Retrieved 2015-04-15.
External links
- The Bit Player at IMDb
- Ekstra at AllMovie
- Ekstra at Rotten Tomatoes