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A Filmmaker's Introduction

I’m James Magnaye, a photographer and filmmaker based in the Philippines. I used art as a means to comfort my spirit and advocate the social realities of my country.

Ever since I was a kid, I always dreamt of being an artist. Back then, I would consistently use our carpet as a vast terrain and our pillows as mountains. There, I would play with my toys by creating stories and personal background for each of them. Even when I’m playing outside with my friends, we’ll always roleplay as “Survivors versus Infected” from Left4Dead. It was an exciting part of my childhood, and that was the age I realized that I want to create stories and direct them.


For me, Photography and Film is a great medium to portray a story and evoke emotions to an audience. Both media stands out on their own: Film requires video and sounds to create a narrative, whereas Photography needs a single frame to create a story. Both are challenging kinds of art that require patience and effort.


Filmmaking and Photography is a powerful tool right now. Many people want to watch rather than read. Many people want to visualize to understand/believe something. Because of this, many parts of Philippine history are revised because of unchecked propaganda. Even during WWII, Hitler uses film as a means to propagate his accomplishments in Germany.


I made this website to advocate our reality. We’re now living in a digital age where the youth are targeted for dissents. Problems from the past are still haunting our generation. This website holds a safe place for everyone through art. I share Political and Abstract Art for everyone to see.


That is why, as a filmmaker and photographer, I hold a big responsibility to use these mediums to advocate social realities. As an artist, it is my responsibility to use my privilege in helping people strengthen their voice. Art is political. As Cesar Cruz puts it: “Art should comfort the disturb and disturb the comfortable”.



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