Supporting the Philippine and Asian Independent Film Industry

During the meeting of GUMIL Metro Manila last Sunday, 26 Oct 2008, I managed to get in touch with the Director of the Indie FIlm Rotonda, which got nominated for a lot of awards during the 2008 Gawad Urian. For those of you who are not aware, GUMIL stands for Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano or Assocation of Ilocano Writers. Apart from writing online and maintaining my blogs, I do write in Ilocano and became a member of GUMIL just this year.

image courtesy of www.cartoonstock.com

I talked with Ron Bryant about the state of independent film in the Philippines and how indie films are being distributed. Ron said that they distribute the films themselves (a kind of self-promotional thingy) or a film distribution company ties up with them and distributes the film all over the Philippines and all over the world. I want to share several observations about the Filipino independent film industry below.

1. The Philippine independent film industry is growing and gaining recognition in the country and abroad.

If it is any indication, there are a number of independent film festivals yielding really good Pinoy indie films. We’ve got Cinemalaya, the Quezon City Independent Film Festival, Cinemanila, CinemaOne originals and other lesser known but equally important film festivals in the country. These film festivals facilitate the growth and the vitality of the indie film industry.

Independent film festivals dominate the nominations to award giving bodies such as the Gawad Urian, which recognized indie films, directors and actors and actresses over the past few years.

2. The quality of independent films are becoming better and better.

Independent films in the Philippines have become really good in terms of cinematography, script development, editing, and even in effects. This means that indie film makers are becoming more adept in their craft and are employing the latest trends in the field. With the improvement of quality, indie films are bound to be noticed more and more.

3. Youth, film critics and the moviegoing public are becoming increasingly aware of the better option offered by indie films.

Because indie films do not cringe in dealing with difficult issues and topics on the screen, moviegoers are turning to them as an alternative to the cheesy, corny and clicheic treatment of mainstream cinema. Indie films are helping shape the artful sensibilities of moviegoers. In case you are attending the various international film festivals such as the French and the Japanese Film Festivals at Shang EDSA Cineplex, you’d notice a lot of people going there to watch really good films. This is the same with Philippine independent films, they help educate the Filipino film buffs in their taste for films.

The Independent film industry, however, is beset by several issues and problems. If it were to really develop and gain wider acceptance in the Philippines, indie filmmakers and producers need to surmount these challenges.

1. Distribution

In terms of distribution, Manila remains to be the cultural center in the Philippines. The indie films are not distributed in other provinces and cities all over the Philippines. The concept of tyrannical Manila is still very much in force. If independent film were to become a truly national undertaking, those at the fringes should be involved.

Why don’t independent filmmakers engage schools and universities in the provinces as audiences? Students from the provinces do need exposure to indie film. But as it stands now, they know close to nothing about indie film, unless they are film buffs, themselves.

Although distribution through record bars and other means are desirable, there should be a greater movement for the propagation of indie film. This would help create an awareness and better tast for indie films all over the Philippines and not just in the cultural and economic centers.

2. Commercialization and Co-optation by Mainstream Cinema

As the independent film grows, it will be co-opted by mainstream cinema such that the original focus and the “alternative” quality of indie films will be compromised. I have no qualms against featuring mainstream actors and actresses in indie films. In fact my conversation with Ron Bryant revealed that mainstream screen artists are also willing to do indie roles for free if they believe in the script and the story. That’s great. But there are also some dangers. When the “alternativeness” of indie film is removed, what would differentiate it from mainstream cinema? How would it challenge the status quo if it has become part of the status quo?

3. The Emergence of a Truly Filipino and Asian Cinema

This is also a big challenge for indie filmmakers and producers. I remarked in this movie blog sometime before that Chinese cinema has a well-defined character. The Philippines don’t. A lot of movies are too melodramatic, comedy films too slapstick, historical films are close to non-existence and there is but the tiny flicker of fantasy and sci-fi in Philippine Cinema. The independent film industry is posed to make significant contributions to the development of the character and identity of Philippine Cinema.

These are but several issues that I see in the industry. There may be more but as the Penstalker’s Movie Blog identifies these issues, they will be posted here. One thing is certain, Penstalker’s movie Blog will remain a supporter of Pinoy Indie film while featuring those from the mainstream.

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