Practitioner-prof inspires UE Fine Arts seniors with production insights

Producer, production manager, film festival coordinator, and educator Kristin Bactad-Jor recently shared her industry experience with University of the East-Caloocan Visual Communication senior students during a talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery.

Drawing from nearly two decades of practice, Bactad-Jor shared her knowledge and tips on producing films, production management, and the complexities of film festival operations.

Since joining Red Room Media Productions in 2006, Bactad-Jor has established herself as an integral part of several film productions. Her career is defined by a commitment to advocacy-driven storytelling, spanning short films, documentaries, and high-impact video projects.

Bactad-Jor has worked on numerous projects, including collaborations with institutions such as the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, GMA News TV, Techtales Asia-Pacific, and the Bacolod City Government Center. She has served as line producer and production manager for award-winning films and documentaries produced under some of these partnerships.

Beyond management, she has also explored the creative helm. In 2018, she wrote and directed the short film “Playground,” which earned 1st Runner-Up and Best Actor honors at the 3rd Makati Film Festival for Anti-Drug Campaign.

Bactad-Jor’s influence extends into the organizational architecture of Philippine cinema. She served on the executive committee of the 3rd ToFarm Film Festival in 2018.

In 2024, she played a pivotal role as the film festival coordinator for the inaugural Bacolod Film Festival, where she guided 10 short film grantees through the entire filmmaking lifecycle, from preproduction to their premiere screenings.

Bactad-Jor, who currently teaches under the Digital Cinema track at the Far Eastern University Department of Communication, remains dedicated to lifelong learning. She has refined her craft under industry legends, completing workshops with Dr. Clodualdo “Doy” del Mundo, Jr. and award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red.

Her talk at the Chua King Ha Gallery served as a vital bridge for students, translating academic concepts into real-world professional practice. By sharing her journey, she offered UE Fine Arts students a roadmap for navigating the evolving media landscape.