If Julie Andrews can sing a song of her favorite things when the dog bites and the bee stings, let me enlist things I dream and hope for Philippine Cinema (so help me god):
5. Leave the hosting to Kris Aquino
This does not only goes out to lambaste Kris Aquino and her acting prowess or the lack thereof. But more of my wish that the culture of looking up to film actors should not rely on connections, on looks but well on the acting ability itself. I do not exempt myself from having artista crush (Yes, Papa John Lloyd, someday you and I will be! *swoon*), but I wish that soon there will be a new breed of actors or the actors of now will pay more attention to their acting and will be vigilant enough to accept films worthy of acting in. I know this wish is a bit far-fetched for there is a deep and long history of how the people perceive film actors and casting in the mainstream film industry. For now, not seeing Kris Aquino in any movies will be good enough for me, for now.
4. And the award goes to...
Like all art forms, having an award in film making is an essential standard for one film maker to say that he has made it in the industry. I am all for awards and recognition, but it is just sad to realize that as years go by most award giving bodies in the film industry had lost pristine reputation. That it just became a playground where groups can boost their egos by handing out pieces of brass (or whatever material). I am not generalizing that all award giving bodies in the Philippine film is this way. Though maintaining a standard in the industry is problematic and close to being just a dream, I wish for the day that these awards are handed out to people who are really deserving. That the Metro Manila Film Festival for one will stop showing sequels of past box-office hits. That there will be a true award giving body for digital and alternative films.
3. 50 pesos or less is enough.
I took up Korean Cinema a few years back but up until now I am envious of the Korean Film makers who enjoy government support in distributing and showing their works. You see in Korea, a cinema house is required to follow a quota in showing Korean films vis-a-vis Hollywood films. Distribution and showing a film is essential in appreciating film in the first place. That for me, there will never be a 'film consciousness' among the Filipino people up until we are exposed in films in general. That the cost of producing a film, the price to watch a movie, the price of a dvd or vcd (original) is far from affordable for the common Pinoy poses a great problem on distribution. I condone any criminal acts like piracy, but let us dig deeper on why the public (poor and rich alike) buy pirated dvd's. Is it just being cheap or the cost of enjoying a film is just too much? (I saw a study before that it is not piracy which caused the movie sales of Filipino films to plunder but it is because the watching public prefers Hollywood films. Will get back at you on this :P )
2. A new breed of film makers thrive!
Thank god for digital cinema and the opportunity it gave for people on the budget to make film. I do agree with Prof. Baumgartel that film production being affordable could has a couple of down side. But, FTW the fact that it allows film production to be enjoyed not only those who have the money is a good thing waves better than those of the bad.
1. May alternative independent films be given due recognition in the discourse of Philippine Cinema.
In connection with number 2 on this list, I think that enough space for discourse in the academe will really help boost and give space to alternative independent films. It is not enough to give film makers the boost in terms of distribution and production, but film being a live organism, it is a must that people who understands film be unwavering in the discourse of film particularly of alternative and independent films. I think that independent films is the new frontier, that it is a good thing film production is now enjoyed by people and not by just big production houses and media conglomerates.
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