ARGUABLY, the Philippine film industry is more accepting of female filmmakers than Hollywood could ever be. For instance, when Laurice Guillen directed her first film in the early eighties, Kasal, the legendary superstar Barbra Streisand was struggling to get financing for a movie she wanted to direct.
Hollywood, they say, remains patriarchal. Only a few female directors have been nominated for Oscars. Unlike Streisand, Guillen was not a star, but it was easier for her to get a directing job. She was a respected actress though, having proven her mettle in several prestigious projects of Lino Brocka. Her directing debut had her coaching a top-flight cast that included Christopher de Leon, Hilda Koronel, Jay Ilagan and Chanda Romero.
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