MANILA, Philippines ? On my recent trip to France, Paris-based filmmaker, Glenn Cruz, displayed his hospitality by taking us to the awesome light show at the Eiffel Tower. I met Glenn in the mid-1990s at the Mowelfund Film Institute, where we both took workshops.

Early in his career back home, Glenn learned editing techniques by observing Jess Navarro. He reminisces, ?Kahit sandali lang ?yon and low-paying, it was an enriching experience.? He nurtured his appreciation for films by working as a projectionist of classic movies for the defunct Pelikula at Lipunan film festival.

Passion

Now married to a Frenchwoman, he continues to pursue his passion by making his own films in France. What are the challenges he encounters there? He shares: ?Before you do anything, you have to integrate yourself into French society by learning their language and culture. When you make a film in Europe, I guess having an Asian eye is something of a novelty because of your different perspective about things.?

Any tips for those who want to shoot in Paris? He replies, ?It?s relatively easy if you just follow their laws about shooting exteriors. First, you should have less than 10 in your crew. Make sure you do not cause a commotion in pedestrian and road traffic. Huwag mag-iwan ng kalat. In the subway, lights, tripods and boom microphones aren?t allowed inside the Metro. Libre at walang babayaran ?pag nasunod lahat ito. But, if you want to ?control? traffic (like hihimatayin ang character in the middle of the Arc de Triomphe), may bayad na. Another survival technique is when you?re with a French crew, because you?ll feel very secure.?

Glenn was involved in the Pinoy version of ?Lovers in Paris.? He relates, ?I supplied all the French talents, who are friends of mine. They?re actually a mixed group of extras?French, English, Russian, Swedish and Ukrainian?and a number of them have backgrounds in theater and film. Kaibigan ko ang Frenchman na may supporting role (Antoine Dauer), the one who keeps harassing Vivian, KC?s character. I always use him as an actor in my short films here. I also served as translator during shooting if KC was busy.?

Bread and butter

How fulfilling is the cinema and arts environment of France? He answers, ?The bread and butter of the tourism industry here is the visual arts. There?s the Louvre museum, Palais de Tokyo, Centre de Pompidou and Quay de Branly. In movie theaters, the films of Hitchcock, Boorman, Cassavetes are screened at Cinematheque Française. Godard?s classics are being shown on Arte TV.?

Right now, Glenn belongs to a group called Los Muchachos, which is composed of visual artists and photographers who are currently working on the film, ?Gangsters of Paris.? He shares, ?It?s a cinematic take on the divisiveness of Filipinos living and working here. Excited ako sa project na ito, kasi lahat ay hango sa totoong buhay.?