The type of films Filipino filmmakers make reflect the type of people most Filipinos are – people lacking in substance. Just looking at the list of entries for this year’s Manila Film Festival, you can already tell that not a lot of thinking was involved in the process of making them. Even the titles leave nothing to the imagination of the audience. Most of the actors playing the lead roles are the same ones we’ve seen since we were kids or some hot young flavor-of-the-month of one producer or another.
Kraken rip-off
Take the 13th instalment of Shake, Rattle and Roll, and ask: What else can people expect to get out of it? Not much, obviously. People are probably watching it for the eye candy. Every year the film features starlets parading and pouting for the camera hoping to look cute enough to win an award. That’s right. Talent in acting is not really a criterion for winning an acting award in the Philippines.
In the case of the film Enteng ng Ina Mo starring Ai Ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto; the actors had nothing to work with in terms of storyline and dialogue. The characters just basically rehashed their roles specifically with Vic playing his Enteng character from the 1980s TV series Okay ka Fairy ko and Ai Ai reprising her winning role in last year’s Tanging Ina Mo. It’s another one of those things in the Philippines we can refer to as scraping the bottom of the barrel. The producers are obviously milking the franchise until it bleeds.
And what about the new Panday 2 movie? First of all, how does Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr find the time to make movies? Isn’t he supposed to be spending more time deliberating policies in the Senate instead of delivering cheesy lines? Aren’t there enough men to take over the role Senator Revilla inherited from the late Fernando Poe Jr? Second, the new Panday movie is being criticized for being a blatant rip-off of the 2010 Hollywood blockbuster remake of Clash of the Titans. All the film needed was Medusa to complete the cast of Perseus’s nemesis. There was nothing special about the “special” effects either.
How do these filmmakers sleep at night knowing that they are not really creating a work of art but just copies of some other people’s work? They are not even making people think; they are not even stirring emotions or provoking people into doing something with their lives; they are not even inspiring young people to aspire for greatness. What they are producing is just stuff you can discard after one use. In short, most Philippine films are a total waste of the people’s time and money.
Films are supposed to be cultural artifacts that reflect our culture and, in turn, affect us and our outlooks towards life. Most films are considered art, for entertainment and a powerful tool for educating — or indoctrinating — society. But nowhere can we find our culture or any significant message of consequence in our films. Films are powerful tools of communicating ideas and who we are as a people. Unfortunately, our films tell us and everyone else that we are shallow and superficial.
20 years old ako na nagaaral ng multimedia communication sa ibang bansa, i was a fan of philippine movies, pero habang napapagaralan ko bawat bits of techniques sa paggawa ng films, how film plots works, and how every aspects of cinematography affects the overall scenes. I then realized how crappy our films are at gaya nung namention sa taas.. no thrill kasi maprepredict mo na ung plot ng movies natin.
Isa pa, theme genre ng filipino movies:
1. LOVESTORY (with paulit ulit at nakakasawang storyline, sometimes too predictable. Psychologically speaking, nagiging emotional na mga pinoy at ganun kapossess sa pagibig)
2. HORROR (they are so concentrated in visual effects na kung minsan baduy na.)
3. COMEDY (mga jokes at banat na ubod sa corny)
4. ACTION (kung makasigaw ang mga action star bago magpalitan ng bala, halatang scripted – khit saan naman eh haha)
5. FICTION (with boring effects and pirated cultural fictions from other countries)
n-a-k-a-k-a-s-a-w-a. sa pagkakaalam ko ito lang naproproduce nating genre.. marami pang genre ng films katulad ng tragic, mystery, psychological, historical, epics.. etc! pero puro na lng eto ang genre na prinoproduce ng bansa natin.
The sad reality is that majority of Filipinos can’t simply handle films that doesn’t fall in the five genre you’ve listed. No wonder the movie industry simply gives what the audience wants.
I can only imagine the GMA Films and Star Cinema Board Room before they make a movie…
Person A: What movie should we make?
Person B: Ah dapat yung may social issue, magtatackle ng real life family problems or political problems or problems na makikita mo araw araw.
Person C: That’s a load of shit, wala yun ano matutunan ng mga tao nun?
Person B: No but……
Person A: I agree with C I guess we have to make something really good and educational…
Person D see’s as script of One More Chance
Person D: Hey why not make a love story?
Person A and C: YES!
Person B: What? Why?
Person C: Shut up B!
Person A: Yeah we rehash the script add a 3rd party sa story, change the name, change some situation at dapat masmaraming kilig moments
Person C and D: YEAH
Person A: Ok hanapin si Binibining J.B. para magdirect…
Person C: kokontakin ko na si (piolo, richard, john lloyd, ding dong etc.)
Person D: Kokontakin ko din si (angelica, bea, heart, marian etc).
Pahabol lang most of our movies are the type of movies that will make both Ethan Hunt and James Bond betray the United States and the United Kingdom and build bombs for the terrorists. Most of our movies are the type of movies that will make Chuck Norris cry!
Step up movie producers we’re tried of your same old shit!
first, the problem is that our producers, directors, and others involved in film-making here are not able to find concepts, styles and ideas that makes film fresh even if the thing is not really fresh…
for example, “500 days of summer”. its genre supposed to be will fall under romantic-comedy and coming-of-age, genres that is prone to cliches, yet, marc webb and company proved that it can really be great film. watch the film and reply to me…
second, all those above-mentioned individuals do not really realize things that you can’t imagine. I mean things the are unfilmable that can actually be filmable…
for example, 127 hours… again, watch the film…
In short, these are the things that our filipino film-makers and company do not possess and our so called “madlang people” does not realize…
I wish that our fellow country (madla) will open their minds and realize these things.
tama, mangilan ngilan na lang ang mga de kalidad at may silbi na palabas sa Pinas, Shake Rattle and Roll you can appreciate the effects and materials pero ano ngayon ang ending puro hanging pero wala namang sequel parang nagsasabi ng lagi nananlo ang masama, ang TITIK the chronicles isa ring walang kwenta, puro kagaguhan, may mga comercial pa pero sa promotion nila parang ang ganda… mabuti pa ang I witness nalang o mga documentary and ipalabas nila may natututunan pa ang mga tao…
“How do these filmmakers sleep at night knowing that they are not really creating a work of art but just copies of some other people’s work? They are not even making people think; they are not even stirring emotions or provoking people into doing something with their lives; they are not even inspiring young people to aspire for greatness. What they are producing is just stuff you can discard after one use. In short, most Philippine films are a total waste of the people’s time and money.”
I’m sorry to say, but I find this very silly. Who said a movie has to make aspire for greatness? Yes it CAN and that would be great but it’s not a requirement. Also these filmmaker sleep very well because they don’t claim what they make is art or original, just the way a fish ball vendor does not claim what he sells is healthy or gourmet. Movie making is also business. Businesses aim to make money. To many people, films are entertainment, a way to relax after a grueling work week. Walang basagan ng trip : )
*make people aspire for greatness
A movie should always aspire to be great. It doesn’t mean the movie will end being great but the goal of doing so guarantees that the film makers are trying to make the best movie they can possibly can.
There’s a fundamental difference between movies and the movie business. Yes there is a need to turn a profit in films but movies should not just be about making money. Movies and Film is an art form a form of expression to leave an impression to the audience whether its an action film, drama, or historical picture. That should be the primary concern in film making, not the money since a great movie will always make money.
Nothing should be always about “only making money” no business should operate that way. It’s about giving value to your product and service first then money will come in later.
Regarding your fishball vendor comment. No it’s not gourmet they are in the business of selling fishballs. But what happens if they take short cuts in sanitation so the minimize cost and maximize profit.
So sorry saying that “a movie doesn’t have aspire to be great” makes film in general insignificant. But it’s not.
And this now comes from a personal point of view. I have grueling work weeks also but time is short so I don’t want to waste my time on movies that doesn’t take the art of film making seriously. I want too see a movie that tries to value the time of its audience and not just some throw away trash cinema. Unfortunately the latter is what most mainstream local films fall under.
” But what happens if they take short cuts in sanitation so the minimize cost and maximize profit” – pasensya na, pero medyo saliwa yung analogy. Kasi usapang entertainment ito. Walang magkakasakit sa panonood ng MMFF at Star Cinema films. Kung “mental health” ang tinutukoy mo, hindi yun responsibilidad ng pelikula. May value naman itong mga pelikulang tinutuligsa ng article na ito. These films gave families something to watch together. These films created jobs. And most importantly, karamihan ng nanuod, nagustuhan yung napanood nila. Kumita sila Vic Sotto at natuwa ang mga tao. So ano ang probelema? Walang basagan ng trip
Just because many people are watching these movies doesn’t mean they should just stick to the status quo. Evolution of industry requires the ability to challenge what is the norm.
I applauded that MMFF decided to include Thy Womb as part of their selection, personally it wasn’t a great movie for me but I can see there was an effort put by it to make a statement. But the industry went one step forward and two steps back and movie theaters decided to pull the movie in cinemas. Why? Because it didn’t make much money initially? If all you can think of is $$$ signs that you lose sight of why are you in the movie making business to begin with.
Movies are a representation of our society. What does it say about our society when studio execs what movies dummied down to the masses?
The Philippines is one of those countries that has the freedom of expression through art (which film is apart of). The people who are in this industry must bear the responsibility to, not just give the audience what they want, but also give them something they didn’t know they want in hopes that we can be better for it.
Shooter as noble as your sentiments may be, you only need look at Avid’s explanation for why things are the way they are. The local film business is simply feeding an audience that adores their love teams and their slap stick. Then again that audience also responds to tele novellas, Willie R and elected Erap and Noynoy. Everything is related. That is why there is GRP. An attempt to breakdown what is there and maybe shine some light. In no way does it guarantee that people will see regardless of the light.
With the things Get Real Philippines is trying to say through it’s articles. Don’t you think it would be great if films are there to relay these messages?
In a country where we have problems with government, politics, poverty, religion etc. I would think movies would be that avenue that opens the eyes of people.
I don’t know if you saw Give Up Tomorrow in the theaters. But it was documentary about the problems with The Philippines legal, justice, and political system as well as the media. Why is a movie that speaks about The Philippines and where we are as a people and country produced by foreigners? Why couldn’t Filipinos do this story themselves?
“If all you can think of is $$$ signs that you lose sight of why are you in the movie making business to begin with.”
Noble but naive. Have you been involved in a big film production ma’am/sir? Spent your own money on a project & not cared you made your money back? If no, then that explains it. If yes, then I commend you, keep going because as a film maker who experiences the reality of things, I would love to be wrong about this.
I am going to take a little offense of calling my naive. Not because it hurts my ego but you it shows how it’s become acceptable to trivialize the art and craft of film.
And I never said the industry should not be concerned about making money. But it should not be the sole primary objective. Film bears a great responsibility being a window to our society as well as shaping it. And once people start to appreciate it then the money will come.
Take Pulp Fiction, that was risque film. It wasn’t a mainstream film but it found an audience and became a hit. The film was a risk to make but it was rewarded financially. That’s the kind of film people didn’t they wanted but when they saw it they loved it.
This is my insight on this issue because I saw two movies that are unrelated but seems to speak one message. “God Bless America” a Violent Black Comedy about the deterioration of American society due to what the media sees as entertainment. “This is Not a Film” a documentary from Iran and how the country suppresses free speech making it difficult for artists and filmmakers to express themselves.
Why are these two very different films relay one message? It’s because you have one country where artists are censored and they risk going to prison if they make a film deemed inappropriate by the censors. While you have another that has all the freedoms in the world but creates nothing but trashy entertainment to dumb down audiences.
The Philippine Film industry has that freedom use it right.
“If all you can think of is $$$ signs that you lose sight of why are you in the movie making business to begin with.”
Noble but naive. Have you been involved in a big film production ma’am/sir? Spent your own money on a project & not cared if you made your money back? If no, then that explains it. If yes, then I commend you, keep going because as a film maker who experiences the reality of things, I would love to be wrong about this.
Shooter, let’s put it this way. The same people who come to GRP are usually not the first ones in line for whatever love team movie comes out. Nor do I suspect do they watch that show that comes on daily around 1130. There is a saying when the student is ready the teacher will appear. I don’t know what millennium the students in this country will be ready.
But you cannot deny there is a market for movies like that. If a website like this can become so popular and viral through (and controversial) through WOM it’s possible movies that share a similar goal will find an audience. It’s the studios and industry that need to take that risk for that to happen.
“But irresponsible and complacent with keeping the status quo.”
Seriously, since you feel so strongly about this, help break it then. Between this year’s Cine Filipino & Cinemalaya entries there are at least 15 films in production that could use extra funds. Do your research, I’m sure you will find more than one that fits your category of a “smart” film, bring out your check book & help these films out
I am completely aware of these film festivals. But that alone isn’t going to change things if these films are kept in the film festivals. They need to be made available to the public and studios need to market these films so people can be aware of them. Some do make it to theaters (and I have supported them) but I still don’t see an effort for studios to support these films.
Also if they studios do manage to get these talented film makers to work for them they don’t give them freedom to work on the films or shows they like. It’s all about studios dictating the films because of the what the “masa” wants. I have friends in the industry who say this is what happening backstage.
So yeah these film festivals showcase talented film makers, their creativity is stifled if they end up working with these studios.
“but I still don’t see an effort for studios to support these films. ”
Kaya nga put your money where your mouth is & withdraw your savings and help fund a “smart” film. If you don’t want to do so because it’s not your “duty” then that is the same answer a studio exec would give you.
No that’s a stupid rebuttal. I’m sure most people want to improve education so why not open their own school right? Really by your logic that is what DEPED would tell these people. I do what I can by paying for a ticket for these films when given the opportunity.
Seriously I still don’t know why you are such an apologetic for studios that don’t raise the bar for local films. That’s the point of an industry progression not regression. If technology was like The Philippines we would never have had the tablet since people were already contented with PC’s and Laptops before right?
“No that’s a stupid rebuttal. I’m sure most people want to improve education so why not open their own school right? Really by your logic that is what DEPED would tell these people. I do what I can by paying for a ticket for these films when given the opportunity. ”
No. Not open your own school but help pay for the education of deserving students. Get your analogies straight. And don’t be so quick to say my rebuttal is stupid, I didn’t even say “make your own film” I said “help fund quality films”. Again put your money where your mouth is. You want studios to take a risk, then take a risk yourself. Studios don’t want that risk.
“Seriously I still don’t know why you are such an apologetic for studios that don’t raise the bar for local films.”
I’m not apologetic for studios, I’m just trying to point out to you & the writer of this article that your concerns about films that make people think are none issues to the producers since their main goal is turning a profit, not making art.
“If technology was like The Philippines we would never have had the tablet since people were already contented with PC’s and Laptops before right?”
Your analogy sucks because most people are never contented with their gadgets while many Pinoy movie patrons are contented with what they watch, hence the status quo. Technology is different from movies.
Apples and oranges you are trying to challenge me which I have no financial capability to. Well except maybe kick starter so yeah know what, how about this find me a local film maker that needs funding for their indie movies via kickstarter. Than I can contribute some money so there I did my part.
Also no technology and movies can be similar. Remember the I-Pad, yeah the thing everyone wants so badly? As I recall people were making fun of the I-Pad or heck the I-Phone. So yeah one example there people thought they didn’t need a tablet, Steve Jobs and Apple decided to make people want it. An evolutionary moment in technology. Movies is also a product and service of art, it also has the same evolutionary path except studios need to push for it.
This is what I learned at work. Never be complacent always try to find ways to do new things and make yourself better. Find new ways to give value to your customer. Why is this principal found in every industry except the film making business then?
“Apples and oranges you are trying to challenge me which I have no financial capability to.”
That’s the same answer film producers give. In different scales of course… but at least producers don’t claim to support the arts. In more prosperous times, Regal produced films for Lino Brocka, Mike de Leon, and Ishmael Bernal. They made “thinking films” & those films made money. Now they just churn out Mano Po’s & Shake Rattle & Rolls. They validly say that sales are much lower due to the economy & piracy. They release a film & a few days later it’s already on dibidi dibidi. You are so sure that it’s the studio that dictates what people wants when it is far more complicated than that. Thy Womb was a test & it failed in the Pinoy mainstream, thankfully Brillante Mendoza won;t stop doing those kind of films, but bigger studios wonn’t get into that kind of risk for now.
Star Cinema churns out a lot of silly films but they are also responsible for restoring classic films like Himala & Oro Plata Mata & giving them wide releases… which very few people watched but the current project to restore classic films continue. Have you seen This Guy’s In Love With You Mare? It’s a serious look into gender politics wrapped in the Star Cinema formula. My Amnesia Girl can kick the ass of any Hollywood made Rom Com & I can recommend it over any Micheal Bay film. There is Zombadings (independently produced) which made people laugh but was also deep & thought provoking. There is Buwakaw which deserves to be seen by the world… these are all very recent films. My list could go on & on but maybe/probably you don’t watch much local cinema & is just content in dissing it. It’s stupid to compare Hollywood to Philippine cinema because we have very different economies, but one thing is for sure though, the ratio of crappy films to quality ones would be just about the same.
“how about this find me a local film maker that needs funding for their indie movies via kickstarter. Than I can contribute some money so there I did my part.”
Ako pa talga ang pinaghanap mo ano? Parang wala kang access sa internet. Yan ang problema sa maraming Pinoy, ang gagaling mag complain, pero pag binigyan mo ng pagkakataon at paraaan tumulong sa solusyon, ang hina ng initiative.
Since you are too lazy to search Google & ask around… here are a few links:
http://www.artisteconnect.com/ – the local Kickstarter type site, take your pick what project appeals to you.
http://www.savingsally.com – an indie animated feature film about love & monsters.
Peace out.
That was uncalled for calling me lazy, FYI I did make a quick search in google and kickstarter and couldn’t find anything.
So yeah how dare you … calling me lazy is a harsh thing to say. Who the f*** do you think you are. So you deserve a smack in the head for your comments. Hope you get your ass kicked since apparently agreeing to disagree involves name calling.
Made a pledge … so there. But calling me lazy … still warrants an apology.
You said “find me a local film maker that needs funding for their indie movies via kickstarter. “, if it had been posed as a question or along the the lines of “I can’t seem to find a local project that can be crowdfunded via kickstater” then I would not have assumed you were lazy but you said “Find me…” it wasn’t name calling, it was an observation based on the context of your sentence.
The act of finding (which I said I did) means that I tried to look at places like Kickstarter, does it not?
Let me reiterate:
It wasn’t name calling, it was an observation based on the context of your sentence. Only you know what you meant exactly but you can’t deny that “find me a local film maker that needs funding for their indie movies via kickstarter.” sounds more like an order, than a request. Based on the sentence, how is one to know that you have actually attempted to look for a project to support?
Regardless, you’ve made a pledge (thank you) & producers don’t care about art as it does not guarantee money. I never challenged the noble intention of putting art before profit, it’s just not realistic in mainstream cinema (but this is the thrust of art house films) Unlike poetry & painting, mainstream films require lots of money to make, so profit concerns will take precedence. As an artist, do I like this? No, not at all, but this is reality. If I had 40M of investors money to spend on a film project, I’d have to assure these people that they will make their money back. But if the money were an consequence free artistic grant , then profit is not a concern.
That is all.
I doubt people in Star Cinema, Cinema One, Seiko, Regal or whatever use GRP as some reference to frame their material. Not to self promote too much but read my stuff when I discuss values. Yes I saw Give Up Tomorrow. Marty and I go back a way. Pinoys do not value justice and I explore in that things I write.
“Take Pulp Fiction, that was risque film. It wasn’t a mainstream film but it found an audience and became a hit. The film was a risk to make but it was rewarded financially. That’s the kind of film people didn’t they wanted but when they saw it they loved it.”
Pulp Fiction came out 19 years ago. How many films have we had like that since? Compare it to the number of mindless blockbusters with explosions & robots. How many films like Himala or Oro Plata Mata have been made. If they are the recipe for success why aren’t they being replicated? Because those great films were risks that paid off but unnecessary risks nonetheless from the point of view of those who sign the check. It’s their private money. I love all sorts of film & on a personal level, I’ve put all my savings into a none mainstream film, I support my friends who work hard on their indies & I watch as many festival films as much as possible but I see nothing wrong with what the major studios are doing. Just as these producers are free to fund what they know will make money, you are free to produce your own films. So do so, if you really want to change the mind of producers, prove that the money will come.
Pulp Fiction is a freak of nature success but doesn’t mean other films that took a risk afterwards didn’t pay off.
Just to name a few:
Fahrenheit 9/11, Midnight in Paris, The Descendants, (500) Days of Summer, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Kids Are All Right, Brokeback Mountain, The Wrestler, Slumbdog Millionaire, American Beauty, Election, Sideways and Once
Were all these movies smash hits? No but did they make money relative to their budget? Yes.
In the case of the US Film Industry yes they clog their films with summer tent poles but, more often than not, there’s a relationship between the actors, film makers and the studio. That they make these “safe” movies so they can fund their own ambitious pet projects or at least help these kind of movies get funded. In The Philippines this is not the case, even MMFF, which supposed to show the best of Philippine cinema, usually half of the line up produce generic films.
And were not just talking about moderately budget films. Even what may seem safe blockbusters now weren’t the case before. Star Wars was a huge risk done by the studio, Toy Story was one too, as was Lord of the Rings. These films could have easily bankrupted the studio if these films bombed. But they didn’t and paved the way for motion pictures.
I am not saying what the studio’s are doing is wrong. But irresponsible and complacent with keeping the status quo.
“That they make these “safe” movies so they can fund their own ambitious pet projects or at least help these kind of movies get funded. In The Philippines this is not the case”
Sorry ma’am/sir, pero sobrang mali ka sa puntong ito. Paki kilala muna ang industriya at mga tao invovled dito before you make uninformed generalizations.
In my 35 years on earth, nothing has changed with Filipino films. It’s often crappy, predictable and in fact rip-offs from foreign films. While we are a country full of talent, the mainstream movie industry has conditioned the mind of local movie goers to stick to the same formula and as a result there are very few Filipino films that met my expectations. Specifically, the majority of the local audiences have not developed a sense of depth in knowing and understanding what films are worth watching. For instance if the plot of the films require period settings, most audiences tend to get bored take for example the movies Rosario and Baler. During the 80s and the 90s, local actions films carry the same revenge stories that by watching the trailer, you can easily predict the ending. Romantic films over the years always have happy endings and if you ask why this has been the “norm”. So I have doused myself with a colonial and neo-colonial mind but what can I do? What are the options? Often it’s either the movie goer chooses a romantic flick with an overly recycled story line, a comedy that uses the same punchline and a horror film that repeats the same conflict. On the other hand, the only saving grace we have right now are the Indie films and Indie film makers who create ground-breaking and unconventional stories, and stories that stick to reality.
The Philippine mainstream media, where the movies belong has never intended to educate the public it’s all solely for the profit, with the movies as a way to temporarily sedate the society from its problems, to momentarily numb the audience from reality. While we need every now and then a dose of entertainment, having to altogether rely on this method will not bring change. Truth is, ours is a perennially sick culture.