Suggestions for the Metro Manila Film Festival

My views on the Metro Manila Film Festival have changed over the years. I used to dismiss the whole thing outright, but since I started making movies, I’ve come to realize how valuable the MMFF is to our country.

See, the Philippines needs its film industry — not just for entertainment, but as a means out of poverty. Consider the following examples.

In the United States, Hollywood is among the few industries that thrived during the last recession. In fact, every year, it accounts for about 10 percent of the US’s gross domestic product (GDP). Imagine, one-tenth of the world’s largest economy comes from movies!

In the UK, their film industry contributes more than P300 billion to their GDP. In South Africa, the figure is around P23 billion. In Thailand, it’s over P1.5 billion.

These figures translate to millions of jobs created, families being fed, and children going to school. The reason is that film productions support other industries. A shoot doesn’t just need actors, it also needs caterers, accountants, animal trainers, and transportation. When a film is finished, it ties up with theaters, restaurants, video games, action figures, amusement parks, and tourism (think Disney World and Universal Studios).

That’s why other countries protect their film industry. Take South Korea. Since 1966, their government has enforced strict laws that require theaters to play Korean movies. They hedged their film industry, let it grow — and let it grow so much that it has even reached our shores. These days, Filipinos feast on Korean movies, TV shows, and music. What we don’t realize is that this also increases demand for Korean fashion, food, tourism — and even markets Korean electronics and automobiles.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL

Now, for better or for worse, the Metro Manila Film Festival is the closest we have to a program like Korea’s. And it may be this way for a long time because several factors make it difficult to protect Filipino industries at the expense of other countries. In fact, when the MMFF was founded, it faced tough opposition from Hollywood distributors because the festival eats into their lucrative December season.

Yet we have the MMFF, and every year, it makes nearly half a billion pesos, empowering 10 productions, each employing hundreds of people. It’s not something we should be content with. But I realize that it is not something we should dismiss or take lightly. We must improve the festival; each year that we don’t is a missed chance at national development.

The first problem we should solve is that of substandard films. A good number of MMFF entries are amateurish and haphazardly done, so while they make money during the festival, they are quickly forgotten and disposed of.

A smart producer would tell you that that’s like quitting a race half-way. See, a single film can have multiple revenue streams — one domestic, one for each international territory, and going down further, revenues from theatrical exhibition, DVDs, TV airings, and merchandise (books, games, clothes, toys, etc.). A good blockbuster film activates all these revenue streams.

Local producers shouldn’t content themselves with their easy MMFF paychecks and instead produce professional-grade films which can bring them to other markets. To borrow a line from the film The Social Network, “A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.” A tenfold increase in profit means a tenfold increase in film output, more jobs, and more for the country.

So, the role of the MMFF should be to prioritize craftsmanship, increasing profits over the long term, instead of short-sightedly rewarding quick box-office bucks.

Notice I haven’t used the words “quality” or “artistry.” I support an MMFF that is dominated by brainless blockbusters because these hits can remit, not just millions, but billions to the economy. Realize, though, that a brainless blockbuster can only do this if it is well-made.

Having said all that, what then is the key to better-crafted films? It’s elementary. We’re at par with the rest of the world when it comes to talent. We now have an entire generation of film workers finding employment and recognition internationally. We’re also at par with the world when it comes to technology. Because movie production has turned digital, we now use the same cameras, same equipment, same software, and same techniques as Hollywood.

In fact, the biggest difference between us and the rest of the world is this: While the rest of the world knows that it takes years to make a movie, we Filipinos operate with the delusion that we can produce good films in a fraction of the time.

The MMFF is the biggest enabler of this delusion. The committee releases their selection every July, giving filmmakers just six months to work. That’s hardly enough time to refine a script, scout for locations, rehearse actors, make props, test scenes, shoot, reshoot, edit, do special effects, mix sound, record music, test before an audience, and promote a movie. It’s no wonder producers churn out haphazard projects!

So my suggestion to the MMFF committee is simple, and this isn’t two-cents from an idealist; I’m a producer who’s after a better bottom-line. To encourage better films, the organizers need only lengthen the production time of the festival entries. This can be done in two ways.

The first option is to select two batches of scripts next year — one for 2011, and one for 2012. Then, beginning 2012, select a batch of films meant for the succeeding year. This will give producers 18 months to work — enough time to refine scripts to perfection, create world-class special effects, and reshoot mistakes.

The second option is to get rid of the script selection process altogether, so that the committee chooses only finished films. This way, filmmakers have unlimited time, and the MMFF minimizes risk because they won’t have to guess how a movie will turn out — they already see the final product.

If we implement this, we will see the start of progress. It will take a while, but one day, it will be the Koreans, Americans, and Thais buying tickets to our movies, and they will buy our merchandise, and they will come to the Philippines to visit our movie sets. Imagine the possibilities. Now, let’s make the change today.

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