The State of Filipino Movies

[diem]

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@IceinHell, please don't be offended by vanceloma's antics... its just his indirect, eccentric and creative way of stating his agreement with the validity of your points in your previous post.

SUPER INGGO is a prime example of the kind of material that the local entertainment industry produces a lot. Its 'cheap' in most aspects but somehow a majority of the Filipino viewers find the distraction worth watching.

And concerning about the current state of local Philippine cinema, vanceloma knows a lot of what is happening and I'd like to believe, he's doing his part in helping improve the standards his own small way.

While being a student of fine arts. he produces film and video projects for practice and works closely with the multi-talented, multi-awarded Khavn De la Cruz (one of the international independent filmmaking scene's best kept secrets).

Anyway please continue any further discussion on the state of local cinema in this previous thread (forum rules, you know)

The State of Filipino Movies
https://www.istorya.net/forums/index.php?topic=36207.0

Please actively support your local independent artists and their efforts.

[IceInHeLL]

You got me wrongly my friend. I can assure you that I am not offended by his statement. I was actually being partly sarcastic in my second post. I too find it pathetic sometimes how people find this crap entertaining. I was actually got kidnapped by my cousins (kids) and had me watched a few episodes of this series (while baby-sitting). I just can't believe later when I learned that grown-ups actually dig this series.

Yeh, people should do something about this. I too am doing something about it, by not watching this type of series or not watching those pathetic movies. hehehe.

I can't wait to watch "Wag Kang Lilingon" and criticize it. I think this is one movie that the producers tried their best. I wanna see if their best is good enough for me. Imagine, they will even show it in europe, the US and MidEast. They must be proud of it.

[vanceloma]

Other people could just be shallow huh? Each on his own. As long as they don't do harm to anyone....so be it.

actually it harms, cause it shows that the people are just content with shallowness and mediocrity, and so they are supplied more cause it sells.

i just hate it when some people complain about the industry, pero when you see anotyher "Don't give up on us baby" ila dayun linyahan para tanawn.

it seems we are just content of not pushing phil. cinema's envelope and just deliver the same thing.


I'll make a mock thread somehwere, let's see if it works.

[IceInHeLL]

Well, you can't really put total blame to these people. That is the type of entertainment that they get to grow up with. The type of entertainment that they could relate with. I mean, there are people who find it hard to acknowledge the entertainment value of deeper movies or series. An example of which is when I was kid, I always find the series "Murphy Brown" very amusing (to the point that it had me daydreaming of becoming a journalist). But I don't have my own tele then (my parents believed that it will cause troubles for me studying putting my study materials and a tele in one room) so I have to watch my favorite shows in the living room. The helpers and my nanny get to watch the tube with me and they tend to complain everytime I watched Ms. Brown because they can't understand it and it ended up that they find amusement watching me laugh so hard when they don't understand what I am laughing about. In their eyes, I was crazy. In mine, they were ignorant.

They came from poor families, with poor education (if any). They tried to work and send themselves to school but with the hard work and low sallary, what can they do? They will just end up not being able to work effectively (based on their employer's standard) and not be able to pass their studies (no more time to study and poor nutrition).

Why do movies like "The Silence of the Lambs", "Y Tu Mama Tambien", "Kids" or series like "Seinfield", "House" or documentaries doesn't appeal to the majority of the Filipinos (or the "masa")? Isn't it because of their incapability to comprehend the entertainment (not to mention the educational) value of these films. Why can't they understand them? Isn't it because of the country's poor educational system? Why do we have poor educational system? Isn't it because of the incapability of the government to establish a good one? And why do have these type of government? Isn't it because of the Filipino's (majority hereof) failure to elect a good one? And why are they a failure on this? Isn't it because of a bad educational system? Then it goes round and round.

I have noticed that majority of the Filipino peole are fond of merry making or having fun. When they watch movies, they watch movies that they can easily understand or else they won't enjoy it. That is why shallow movies or series kicks off here. It is easily understood thus they find amusement on these films.

So the questions goes back again: Can you blame them?

[vanceloma]

no, all I could do is watch

[diem]

I wouldn't blame anyone, its just how things are. But these things can be changed.

I am among those who believe that Film and Television are mediums not just for mere entertainment but also for education and enlightenment. Film and television are undoubtedly influential; these can be used as a catalyst for change.

Some talk about it, some do something about it. All in all, I hope everyone would just support their local artists in their creative efforts. We're seeing a movement of reform in the industry now, a small ripple now yes but it will grow, it will grow.

[piccolo18]

What would be nice is an INTELLIGENT Filipino comedy film or TV sitcom. Emphasis on the word "INTELLIGENT". Right now it's very rare, most comedies here are slapstick, or they showcase crude humor. The closest thing to a smart comedy I saw was that Robin Padilla flick in which he's trying to get a visa, I forgot the title though.

[Santini]

kapoy pud ug tan aw anang salida nga ang character sa gadala ky pobre. overused na kau na nga concept. pero kabalo ko na mao nay mahalin sa mga masa. intawn pud, unya mga gwapo ug gwapa raba kaayo ang nagdala, seriously asa man ka mkakita ug pobre nga nindut kaayo ug kutis, plucked eyebrows, de salon ug buhok, its so full of BS. and dare i say na sayop pajud ang gpangtudlo nila sa mga masa. im sure i'll get flamed for this.

[piccolo18]

kapoy pud ug tan aw anang salida nga ang character sa gadala ky pobre. overused na kau na nga concept. pero kabalo ko na mao nay mahalin sa mga masa. intawn pud, unya mga gwapo ug gwapa raba kaayo ang nagdala, seriously asa man ka mkakita ug pobre nga nindut kaayo ug kutis, plucked eyebrows, de salon ug buhok, its so full of BS. and dare i say na sayop pajud ang gpangtudlo nila sa mga masa. im sure i'll get flamed for this.

No need to fear the flames, It's totally true.

Naa diay taga-squatters na mag Bosinni? Or Blowing Bubbles, or whatever sponsored wardrobe ang naa nila... BS lagi kaayo, hehehehe

[IceInHeLL]

I think for the Filipino Film Industry to grow, the work is not just mere making a good one (because the majority will not appreciate it) or merely supporting the industry (even if we know the movie sucks, we just have to pay for it in the spirit of nationalism?). I think the industry is basically catering what they think would sell. It's a business venture and not merely an artistic expression anymore. Its like, would you sell air conditioning units to eskimos in Alaska? These production outfits would make a product that they know would sell to the majority. I think what they should do is make something that sells, but with sense. Lets take the highest grossing Filipino film for an example. It was effective in the marketing and they know that Filipinos will buy this type of films. I myself is a horror-suspense fan. I watched that movie with the help of my cousin and I think it wasn't that bad. It was that good as well but at least not something Filipinos could totally be ashamed of. They could actually have done better (I believe) with that movie. At least it got something: not that bad but sells well. I remembered Yamashita. The script wasn't that bad either and the war photage. It also went well in theaters.

I think that will be a good start and I hope Filipinos will stop patronizing half-baked films. It will just give the money-hungry producers an excuse to make more of these type.

Moreover, they should make the prices of VCDs and DVDs appreciable and stop piracy.

The government's incentives of giving Grade A movies 100% tax exemption is actually really good. It's a sacrifice for the government but at least we know that they are helping this industry (that's the good thing of putting an actor on the presidential seat).

The producers should really also give better avenue for new (but really artistic) players in the industry. I have noticed that big productions usually get the services of already known and popular script-writers, directors....I believe that these young minds really got something to create a nice evolution to this industry. New themes, new approach, new ideas.