CHALLENGES
One of the initial challenges I faced was the process of developing the script and crafting meaningful dialogue. It was difficult to establish a tone that aligned with the film’s theme, so I sought inspiration from various independent films that shared similar subject matter.
I particularly referenced BuyBust, which also explores the theme of drugs, though Tulak focuses more on the emotional and moral struggles of its characters. This helped me understand how to balance realism and emotion in our story.
During production, the second day of filming proved to be the most challenging. As we were nearing the end of the shoot, we frequently encountered interruptions from nearby residents due to the noise generated on set. To address this, we took the initiative to communicate with them and explain that filming was almost complete, ensuring minimal disturbance.
Another challenge was keeping up with the time indicated in the call sheet, as several scenes took longer than expected, which led to some compromises in pacing and coordination.
Nevertheless, all tasks and scenes scheduled for Day 1 and Day 2 were successfully completed.
BEHIND THE SCENES
I served as one of the graphic designers for the student short film Tulak, where I contributed to the conceptualization and development of the official poster that visually represented the film’s narrative and themes. I also assisted in scriptwriting by helping refine dialogue and scene continuity.
In addition, I appeared as an extra in the opening sequence of the short film and handled sound recording tasks, such as covering “Dumaloy” by SUD for the film’s soundtrack.
The Team Behind Tulak
Beyond my main role, I worked as a production assistant, preparing actors for their roles by applying temporary tattoos, adjusting microphone lapels, and attending to various on-set needs to support a smooth production process.
A student short film by Sinergy Productions
SYNOPSIS
A tough drug dealer softens as a stray dog befriends him. Their bond leads to positive change, prompting him to question and transform his lifestyle.
PROJECT MILESTONE
AWARDS
PRODUCTION TEAM
Michael Chris L. Almasco — Director
Editor, Head Scriptwriter, DOP, Executive Producer
Ace Brian T. De Leon — Production Manager
Colorist, Graphic Designer
Alessandra Z. Clemente — Assistant Director
Production Design, DOP, Camera Operator
Nyomi Celina A. Argosino — Graphic Designer
Scriptwriter, Actor, Sound Recordist
Roevick C. Sison — Camera Operator
Scriptwriter
Nico A. Maguigad — Camera Operator
Storyboard, Production Assistant
Lara Ashana V. Poblete — Wardrobe
Finance, Production Design, Assistant Director
Tricia Glen R. Salonga — Production Designer
Finance, Wardrobe, Camera Operator
Christian C. Azarcon — Camera Operator
Storyboard, Production Assistant
Carlos Miguel O. Martinez — Boom Mic Operator
Storyboard, Production Assistant
case study no. 1
CASE STUDY NO. 2
BEHIND THE SCENES
As the Art Director for our undergraduate thesis documentary Musmos, I was responsible for developing the film’s overall visual identity and ensuring that its art direction aligned with the theme and message of the project. I created various graphic elements and visual assets, serving also as the Graphic Artist and Lead Animator, where I handled both visual and motion graphics used throughout the documentary. Additionally, I designed and animated the team’s logo.
Beyond my role, I handled the note-taking of the answers of our interviewees from our prepared questions, this process was done in order to make offline editing efficient.
In addition, working as the lead Motion Graphics Animator, I designed animated sequences that visually enhanced key transitions and storytelling moments while coordinating with my co-animator and director to ensure that we are still in line with each other. I also performed voice-over work, providing narration that complemented the film’s tone and emotional depth.
My involvement required consistent collaboration with the editors and director to ensure that all visual and auditory components worked cohesively to convey the film’s message about adolescent pregnancy and its social implications.
PROJECT MILESTONE
PRODUCTION TEAM
Alessandra Z. Clemente — Director
Producer, Screenwriter, Researcher, Director of Photography, Cinematographer, Camera Operator, Line Producer
Kenneth Peterson F. Leviste — Executive Producer
Elijah Jiem H. Antonio — Director of Photography
Cinematographer, Editor, Caption Writer, Camera Operator
Jeigh Derrek E. Lumberio — Editor
Motion Graphics Animator, Colorist, Sound Designer, Camera Operator
Nyomi Celina A. Argosino — Art Director
Graphic Artist, Lead Animator, Motion Graphics Animator, Voice-Over
Carl Angelo A. Quejada — Drone Pilot
Production Assistant
Live Action Short Documentary with Motion Graphics Animation by
Artixis Productions
SYNOPSIS
Musmos is a thesis documentary project created by Artixis Productions, exploring the pressing issue of adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines. The production combined live-action storytelling with motion graphics to present both personal narratives and informative visuals, aiming to raise awareness in a way that is both emotionally resonant and educational.
THE MAKING OF MUSMOS’ POSTER
The poster design for Musmos underwent several stages of refinement, each step aiming to balance clarity, emotional impact, and visual storytelling.
draft 1
The first draft served as the initial composition, experimenting with the placement of the title, imagery, and text. It highlighted the central subjects but still felt raw and unpolished in terms of balance and readability.
draft 2
In this stage, adjustments were made to the title treatment and text placement to make the overall layout cleaner. The focus shifted more towards emphasizing the relationship between the characters, giving the imagery stronger emotional weight.
draft 3
With this draft, I tested out other images that were taken on the production. This version worked on contrast and arrangement, ensuring the child and parent figure stood out more prominently while the supporting text felt more cohesive, it still felt lacking in terms of elements and style.
draft 4
The final composition took a more stylized approach, combining layered textures, brighter tones, and collage-like elements. This stage unified the emotional storytelling with a more symbolic composition. The vibrant, layered layout not only captures the warmth of the story but also creates a more memorable and visually striking poster.
FINAL POSTERS
VERSION 1
The very final poster included two additional mothers from the documentary, giving the composition a stronger narrative depth and community feel. The colors were refined to be more harmonious, and the overall style aligned better with the documentary’s subject matter.
This version was considered the most complete and was widely approved for use across platforms, as it struck the right balance between emotional resonance and visual consistency and texts are more readable here compared to the others.
