Sen. Tito Sotto iaapelang ‘wag nang isali sa susunod sa MMFF ang Indie films
MANILA, Philippines – Irerekomenda ni Sen. Tito Sotto sa Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) na bumuo na lang ng isang film festival na exclusively para sa indie films sa panahon ng long semestral break o bakasyon ng mga estudyante sa eskuwelahan.
Ito ay kaugnay pa rin sa nagaganap na Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) kung saan indie films ang namayagpag.
Ipinaliwanag niya ang kahalagahan ng pelikulang mainstream sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan at ang indie na umano’y isang uri ng artistic self-expression.
Narito ang bahagi ng resolution ni Tito Sen. na nakatakdang ipasa sa Seventeenth Congress (First Regular Session).
“WHEREAS, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is an annual film festival created to showcase locally produced films as no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters for the entire duration of the festival, which runs from December 25 (Christmas) through New Year’s Day and into first weekend of January in the following year;
WHEREAS, on its 42nd year, the MMFF introduced significant changes, particularly on the criteria for choosing the final 8 films to be shown in the cinemas – doing away with a 50% allotted to “commercial viability” – to wit:
• story, audience appeal and overall impact (40%)
• cinematic attributes or technical expertise (40%)
• global appeal (10%), and
• Filipino sensibility (10%);
WHEREAS, by reason of the new criteria in place, independent films have dominated this year’s ‘Magic 8’;
WHEREAS, according to Paciano Cabagnot, whose career in cinema spans more than three decades, in his paper entitled “Pinoy Indie 101”, traditionally, the term independent cinema was coined to refer to films produced outside of the big studio (Hollywood) system. On the other hand, indie films were also known as “art films”, alternative cinema, or short films. The former refers to the reason why these films were made, for artistic self-expression.
WHEREAS, the dominance of independent films in the 42nd MMFF stirred discussions in social media and in the movie industry. While these independent films are considered by some as “breath of fresh air from the usual funny, fantastical storylines,” and “encourage people to think;” most of the regular MMFF moviegoers are still looking for the kinds of films screened in the previous MMFFs – movies that give them a good laugh;
WHEREAS, since Christmas season is for children, and it is likewise the time when MMFF movies are being shown in the cinemas; the absence of the mainstream films in the MMFF entries for 2016 was prejudicial to the regular MMFF moviegoers, particularly the children, who always look forward to these movies to bond, enjoy, be entertained and share a good laugh with their family and friends;
WHEREAS, while the 2016 MMFF entries are mostly independent films, the audience turnout has been low prompting a number of theaters to drop some films from its list of movies being screened. MMFF official Liza Diño-Seguerra confirms this development;
WHEREAS, other than to ensure the production of quality Filipino films, the MMFF also promotes the welfare of its workers by allotting relevant portions of its proceeds for its beneficiaries – which include the Mowel Fund, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Academy of the Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Optical Media Board – with the intention of reforming the local film business;
WHEREAS, in selecting mostly independent films in the 2016 MMFF, the mandate of the MMFF to promote the welfare of its workers has been somewhat brushed aside due to the low earnings from this year’s entries;
WHEREAS, the contribution of the independent films in the Philippine movie industry cannot be disregarded as well as the honor they have given the country – considering that some Filipino independent films have been nominated and have received numerous awards in different well-regarded international film festivals;
WHEREAS, independent films must likewise be given its well-deserved spotlight – separate from the mainstream films that can take or divide the attention from them – from the public in general;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to recommend that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) establish a film festival exclusively for the independent films during the long semestral break to give the festival its much-deserved and much-needed time and attention.”
Agad naman sumagot si Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño: “?Dear Honorable Sen. Sotto,
It is not in MMDA’s mandate to create festivals, it is under FDCP. As a developmental agency, our goal is to UNITE the industry not to divide.
We are on our way there. TIWALA LANG PO!
Para sa sining at pelikulang Pilipino,
FDCP Chairperson/CEO”
MMFF hindi raw talaga binalak na kumita ng bilyones
Speaking of MMFF, naglabas kahapon ng official ranking ang MMFF mula December 25 up January 3.
Number one sa takilya ang Die Beautiful, sumunod ang Seklusyon at pang third ang Vince & Kath & James.
Nakakagulat namang nasa no. 4 ang Saving Sally, no. 5 ang Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, no. 6 Sunday Beauty Queen, no. 7 Oro at no. 8 ang Kabisera.
Ayon sa spokesperson ng MMFF na si Noel Ferrer, ang resulta ay base sa mga pelikulang ipinalabas sa Metro Manila na may equal number of theaters sa pamamagitan ng bunutan.
May ibang resulta sa probinsiya na hindi officially kasali sa MMFF dahil discretion ng mga sinehan kung magpapalabas sila ng MMFF entries.
Maraming hindi sumali dahil ipinalabas nila ang mga laglag sa MMFF tulad ng Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers, Mano Po 7: Chinoy at The Super Parental Guardians.
Base sa ranking ng MMFF, no. 1 outside MM theaters ang Vince & Kath & James, no. 2 Seklusyon, no. 3. Die Beautiful, no. 4 Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, no. 5 Saving Sally at hindi na nagbago ng ranking sa no. 6, 7 & 8.
Ayon pa sa statement ni Noel, sa actual gross ng festival, hindi naman target ng MMFF 2016 na higitan ang kita noong isang taon. “Alam naman nating nagkaroon nga ng pagbabago at kasama roon ang demokratisasyon ng kita ng MMFF. Ibig sabihin, sa halip na mapunta ang malaking percentage ng earnings sa iilang malalaking kumpanya lamang, kumikita din ngayon ang mas nakararaming maliliit na producers (dahil maliliit lang naman ang budget - kumpara sa dati- ng karamihang produksyon) - sapat para makagawa ulit ng makabuluhang pelikula. Kung ‘di dahil sa filmfest malabong kumita ang mga maliliit na produksyon nang may masayang tubo/profit pa,” pahayag niya sa press statement.
Wala nang ibinigay na figures ang MMFF.
Pero naglabas ng figures ang Star Cinema na producer ng pelikulang Vince & Kath & James.
Sa lumabas na article sa ABS-CBN.com, sa kabuuan, kumita lang umano ang 2016 MMFF ng P373.3 million na wala pa sa kalahati ng kita noong 2015 MMFF.
Ayon sa report nila, ang VKJ ay kumita ng P105 M, Die Beautifu P98 million, Seklusyon (P82 million), Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2 (P45 million), Saving Sally (P27 million), Sunday Beauty Queen (P7.8 million), Kabisera (P4.3 million) at Oro (P4.2 million).
Ang nasabing resulta ay nanggaling sa Star Cinema at hindi galing sa MMFF Executive Committee.
Influential daw Mocha Uson nilagay sa MTRCB ni Digong!
Bongga ang singer and dancer na si Mocha Uson.
Siya ang pinaka-bagong board member ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Yup, ini-appoint siya ni President Digong.
Tungkulin ng mga miyembro ng MTRCB na mag-review at mag-monitor ng mga pelikula at TV shows at iba pang publicity materials bago ipakita sa publiko.
Ayon sa lumabas na pahayag ni Communications Secretary Martin Andanar nang matanong siya tungkol sa appointment ni Mocha na noong ay kilala sa kanyang grupong Mocha Girls, “What makes her not qualified? Mocha is an artist; she’s one of the biggest artists we have in the country. She’s been in the show business world for more than a decade already. She’s an educated person. She’s one of the biggest bloggers we have in the Philippines; very influential.”
Isa si Mocha sa kumampanya at tagapagtanggol ni President Duterte.
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