by Christopher Aquino, January 25, 2012.
When we state that we SUPPORT a particular advocacy, concept, or battle, it usually means that we'll dedicate time and put resources to it. We can even swear loyalty to that said object of our support. So when celebrities and various television personnel ask us to support the Philippine film industry, should it always have to mean that we have to watch every film that the they (Philippine cinema) make?
The Philippine film industry has brought us many entertaining and artistic creations over the years, but sadly there has been a great decline in film making because of one particular culprit, piracy. So in order for the film industry to go back to its golden days of prolific quality film making, we should at least consider going legit and actually buy tickets to see films in actual theaters. If you can not imagine spending hundreds of peso for just one film, then at least wait a little for a feature film's home video or cable subscription release (version). The more we buy pirated goods, the more it inspires the film pirates to keep doing what they have been so infamous for doing over the past decade or so and that is destroying the Philippine film industry through piracy. Film making involves money, it is a business, so when people starts patronizing a film's cheaper and poorer quality pirated counterparts rather than the actual film itself, we are dis-encouraging film producers and filmmakers to put money on making films. So what we have today are films that does not require that much of a budget which usually shows with its poor storyline, lazy writing, and contemporary but ineffective actors.
Does supporting the Philippine film industry means that we have to watch in theaters every film that they come up? The usual answer is a YES, because that is indeed what supporting a particular cause means, but I personally believe that the answer to the question is a big NO! What? Don't watch Filipino films that they worked hard for, then how would that actually help the Filipino film industry? Like I said earlier, because of piracy, various film producers have become more cautious with their investments through film making. This is why we now have some poorly conceived and executed formulaic films. Just because the Philippine film industry back in the days has brought us entertaining and artistic masterpieces, it does not mean that every film that came out during those times were all great movies. Even then, there were already some exceptionally stupid concepts and poorly created films which are under all types of genre (action, comedy, drama, and horror). The only difference of Filipino films back then and today is that piracy wasn't that much of a threat or an issue for the entire industry which is maybe the industry's greatest mistake. They should have addressed the issue as soon as piracy start taking phase. Today's increasing film production costs has made film makers to become more cautious in making films, so they usually resulted to irritating and particular measures: recycling film concepts; and hiring low cost actors, writers and production staff. This is why we have films nowadays that are just a rehash of last years films, films that only a child could appreciate, films that only has starpower but lacks an engaging story and direction, films that rides what Hollywood became successful and known for (which may not be always bad), films that focus more on "special effects" even if the technology used are not even that impressive. So how can you support a film like that? Well, I have a solution. We can support it by following an age old formula on how a Filipino tiger parent discipline his or her child. You scold them and let them realize their mistake.
Social networks and blogs have become the new medium to express ones opinion which either be in a form of dismay or praise for a particular thing. This then means that people can now voice out their opinion (solicited or not) and even review a particular Filipino film. If a Filipino netizen thinks that a particular film title did something right, then he usually post something about it which can be in the form of a tweet, Facebook update, and even a review blog post about it. This is all for the good of the industry as they can now know the pulse of the movie goers at a snap of a finger. Let's just hope that such reviews (constructive or not) would be warmly welcomed by the Philippine film industry. Cross your finger that our message to them is loud and clear and that hopefully some Philippine film outfit out there would read your constructive critic or article about a particular film or films in general and somehow realize that you are right... that they should change for the best.
The annual Metro Manila Film Festival has become the breeding place for lazy film making and a testimony of a film industry desperateness to survive. Sadly the MMFF has become the home of films lacking creativity, film franchises that are craving to just end, and predictable and cliche-rich in an irritating kind of way kind of films. There are some few rare decent films found in the MMFF, but if you look at all of them, even the better made ones are overshadowed by the lamely made ones. Filipino celebrities always say "suportahan natin ang pelikulang Pilipino" (let's support Filipino films), but how can you possibly say that to the Filipino movie audience with a straight face when you know for yourself that your film is a perfect example of why Filipinos prefer watching Hollywood films over locally produced ones? I for one have supported one particular film franchise over the past years, Enteng Kabisote. Whether it is because of sheer fandom over Eat Bulaga's Vic Sotto, nostalgic about the Okay Ka, Fairy Ko film and television franchise, or someone who likes comedy and fantasy films in general, I would always make it to a poiunt to watch the annual installment of the Enteng Kabisote film, that is until Enteng Kabisote 3. That film snapped me back to reality, the film's moral lessons feel forced and preachy, then they had sexual innuendos which I think didn't sit well for me knowing that kids are actually watching it, and a film franchise that prefer making the same cliche stuff over and over again just for the sake of having an entry for the next film festival rather than exploring its seemingly wonderful lore (universe). After that, I just lost interest in supporting that film, so the next year I decided to watch Shake, Rattle and Roll which was just okay but when a horror film focuses more on special effects rather than actual make up and prosthesis, it turned me off. The CGI effects aren't even that convincing and realistic. A word of advice to our dear Filipino horror filmmakers, even if the concept or idea is preposterous and fictitious in nature at least try to make it more believable and with sense, make a more convincing monster design and lessen the use of CG effects as much as possible. I know this might be some nitpicking, but I believe Filipino writers can do better than what has ravaged the Philippine cinema like a deadly plague. If by not watching Filipino films will help get the message across, and that we are tired of the same recycled trash Philippine filmmakers keep making year after year, then by all means I am willing to boycott crappy Filipino films for the sake of helping the Philippine cinema get out of its miserable state. Let them realize that their formula no longer works, that the Filipino film audience no matter the social status are smarter than they initially thought of. And I thought piracy pushed the the Philippine film industry a become better, sadly it only made them much lazier and sloppier with the overall production value.
Hopefully there is no need for us to boycott films just to get the message across. Filipino film producers and the Philippine industry only needs to do one particular thing... to make quality mainstream Filipino films worth wholeheartedly supporting.