Ivan Monte livens up Iloilo
Skimbound 2007: The 1st Iloilo Skimboarding
Competition
His Technoval Productions cooks up exciting events for 2008
Bohemianism is a timeless movement and you see Bohemians in every facet of society. Another one of them breaks ground. Ivan Monte is an outgoing and people-friendly yuppy, active in several endeavors at one time.
He had been a development worker for six years and had been working with the grassroots even way back in his university days.
But then, his passion for planning and organizing drove him to start and concentrate on his own events management, marketing and public relations group called Technoval Productions.
Get to know more about him and Technoval Productions in this interview.
Ivan (second from left) with Skimbound 2007
Partner Joy Loriega and ISA's Pyong Sumaria and
Julienne Sevilla
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): Have you always organized events even before Technoval Productions?
Ivan Monte (IM): Yes. It goes back to my university days. I used to co-organize film showings, nature treks, parties, outreach programs, seminars and workshops, among others.
KMV: So, are you an outdoorsy person, too?
IM: Yes, I am. I love to go mountain climbing and camping. I'm also into scuba diving. One of my passions in life is traveling. That's one thing I miss most. Recently, I came across my 2003 and 2004 planners and saw that I was traveling every month during those years.
KMV: I always see you in parties. Am I same to assume that you are an evening person?
3 Days of Darkness' stars Gwen Garci, Precious
Adona, Katya Santos and director Khavn de la Cruz
IM: I'm an evening person, although my day starts at 8 am.
KMV: Speaking of parties, I understand that Technoval is synonymous to rave.
IM: Yes, that's right. One of my original major concepts was to bring the rave scene to Iloilo. People here really love to party.
KMV: What's your working personality like?
IM: In leading a team, I used to be so uptight because I thought that I needed to project so to get things done. However, experience taught me that work can be fun as long as everyone involved shares your passion and understands the whole undertaking. Personally, I am very analytical and keen on details. I can work on something for three days straight without sleep. Coffee keeps me standing (laughs). In working with clients, the initial meeting usually focuses on objective-setting. With that in mind, I then am able to interact with them better and involve them in the whole process.
When Timawa Meets Delgado on location
KMV: What was Technoval Productions' first project?
IM : Our first project was SKIMBOUND 2007. It was a two-day skimboarding * competition held last October. Through that event, we were able to formally introduce skimboarding as an alternative water sport for the Ilonggos. I worked on that project with my long-time friend, Joy Loriega, and closely with the Iloilo Skimboarding Association, a group of fun Ilonggo skimmers. It was a blast for all of us.
KMV: What is your next project?
IM: "3 Days of Darkness (Tatlong Araw ng Kadiliman)", which will be shown at the Indie-Sine Robinsons Movieworld in Robinsons Place Iloilo from January 16th till the 22nd. It is a story of three women, Kimberly, Michiko and Isabel (Katya Santos, Gwen Garcia and Precious Adona) trapped inside their house when the apocalyptic prophecy, the three days of darkness as stated in the Book of Revelations, happened. They must cope and try to fend off the demons that have come to take them. This is a chilling vision of God's wrath. The film frightens with its questions as much as it does with its visuals. The writer and director is Khavn dela Cruz, it was filmed digitally and runs 90 minutes. It is a Filmless Films production.
Ivan (second from left) With ON Production's Ray
Defante Gibraltar, Che Villanueva and Oskie Nava
KMV: Any other project in the offing?
IM: "When Timawa Meets Delgado" by ON Creative Production, directed by Ray Defante Gibraltar and photography by Oskie Nava. This unconventional film is about the unconventional lives of Jun Delgado (Rheno Mar Soqueño) and Ruben Timawa (Kristofer Grabato) and their American dream. It's a take on the nursing phenomenon. The trailer of the film got an X rating from the MTRCB. That left us in awe. People can check the original trailer in www.youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vuUfd_tQI) and decide whether or not the trailer deserves that rating. I am working closely with ON Creative Production in terms of filmmaking and we have lined up several projects. One is an Ilonggo independent film festival slated in the middle of 2008. If things go well, Iloilo might even have an international film festival within the year.
Apart from Skimbound 2008 this October, there will be another skimboarding competition during the Paraw Regatta Festival in February. I'm also planning to organize UrbanSkim in either March or April. We'll put up a man-made skimboard venue and exhibit somewhere in the city.
Technoval also have trainings, symposia and concerts booked this first quarter.
KMV: That sounds like a lot of projects. Anyhow, what are the challenges that Technoval faces?
IM: It's hard to find a very cohesive team. I like my team to share the same work attitudes as mine. When I work, I'm really focused and absorbed. I can work 24/7. Secondly, really good projects are hard to come by. Technoval is lucky enough that before 2007 ended, we already have good projects lined up for 2008.
KMV: What can you say about 2008?
IM: 2008 is definitely going to be an artsy year for Iloilo.