Filipino moviegoers 'Asianized,' notes screenwriter

Updated 09:37pm (Mla time) Dec 20, 2004
By Vincent Cabreza
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A2-1 of the December 21, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines -- The local film industry is down on its knees, but a screenwriter says it could be worse.

Judging by entertainment trends in the past three years, local movies have bowed to Chinese and Japanese filmmakers, whose output have won much-coveted markets in the United States and Europe, says screenwriter Roy Iglesias.

The Taiwanese boy band F4's unexpected popularity in the Philippines and the welcome accorded Korean soap operas on television also suggest that the Filipino filmgoer's taste has become more "Asianized," Iglesias notes. The success of Iglesia's "Mano Po" series, about multiple generations of Chinese-Filipinos, clearly cemented this love affair with Asia.

"Mano Po 3" will be screened in Metro Manila, Baguio, Lucena, Davao and Cebu theaters starting Dec. 25, via the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Racial conscience

The Asian trend has vindicated alternative filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, Iglesias believes.

Kidlat, an internationally renowned Baguio-based artist, has long been known to criticize mainstream Filipino cinema for its devotion to Hollywood formulas.

The independent filmmaker often advises young artists to listen to their duwende (dwarf). By duwende, Kidlat means a man's link to an indigenous racial memory.

It is an approximation, Kidlat earlier explained, of the racial conscience that leads artists to their cultural integrity or their cultural roots.

"Kidlat was correct all along," Iglesias points out, because Philippine cinema has been stripped of its Hollywood formulas in a subconscious "weeding-out" process dictated by the latest box-office returns.

Hardest hit

"From a high of 250 films, Filipino producers have been reduced to filming 30 movies this year," he says, adding that production of action films has been the hardest hit.

"Remember when our action films had the same exploding cars and leaping heroes like (the Bruce Willis' starrer) 'Die Hard'? Well, our audiences don't care for those anymore," Iglesias says.

Prominent action directors and action film crews have been seen milling around a small café in Metro Manila, waiting for projects that never come, he says. "There are no surefire formulas anymore. Now there's more experimentation, because [not even] big-name stars are necessarily box-office guarantees."

Iglesias insists this Asian renaissance in Philippine pop culture could not have prospered without Hollywood's nod. He says Asian cinema became acceptable in most parts of the world only after Hollywood cast modern Asian stereotypes in its movies.

"You remember that [Hong Kong superstar] Jackie Chan and even [2001 Oscar-winning film] "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" became popular, not because they were kung fu movies, but because Hollywood loved them," he says.

Both Chan and period kung fu movies from Hong Kong and Taiwan were popular in the Philippines 20 to 30 years ago, Iglesias recalls, until Hollywood rediscovered them for a more global audience.

"[Even producer] Vic del Rosario [of Viva Films] was sure 'Mano Po' would be a hit because [US-based Taiwanese director] Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' scored in Hollywood," Iglesias says.

Which all goes to show, he reiterates, that local producers are at last getting Kidlat's point.

Asian movies that became hits abroad were more commercial than art house productions, relying on cultural dynamics and eccentricities.

Japan's "The Grudge" and "The Ring" were commercial ventures adapted to US audiences, yet they retained Japanese humor and sensibilities, Iglesias says.

On the other hand, he says, the overseas market for Filipino films was reached through a window that the late filmmaker Lino Brocka opened in various international film festivals through international awards that attracted a cult following abroad.

"Gagamboy," a past MMFF entry, sold very well in Japan as a Spiderman parody, Iglesias says. And when Viva Films started a division devoted to straight-to-home-video production, he says, the company was eyeing the Asian market. Also, television networks have been selling mini-series productions to counterparts in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, where they have drawn a sizeable audience.

Regal Films, which produced the "Mano Po" series, is also looking at an Asian market.

Outside of the region, producers are still scared, according to Iglesias. "You tell Mother Lily [Monteverde, of Regal] that a producer in Toronto is interested in 'Mano Po,' then ask if she can send copies, and for sure she'll say, 'Baka ma-pirate lang [It might just get pirated].'"

this is waht's so funny about filipno movies. i mean its so hard to market it in asia cuz most of it is filipino culture taste only. i mean chines and japanese even korean is much easier cuz their culture is more "asian" stereotypically that people would authenticate with. most of filipinos cinemas are purely filipino. i mean phils is like the boy taht is different problably the most diffrent of all east asian culture that's why it's so hard to market internationally.

Korea now had produced more movies than the Philippines.

I had posted several topics from Philippine Daily Inquirer about the movies being produced.

How is that guy related to Enrique Iglesias..? LOL

Our culture is very far from the Korean and Chinese culture..that's why. And besides, North Asia stuff is very much indemand nowadays..

and plus like i stated above, filipino is not "stereotypical" asian in the eyes of many westener.

I think it all depends how you tell the story. I mean usually I stay away from Filipino movies because I got a stereotype of Filipino movies, bad acting and Jerry Spring like dramatizations. But I saw Milan and for the first time I thought damn, that got a really good story going here. Besides the love story they threw in the struggle of that the Filipino people go threw just to get there (Milan). I think that’s where a lot of people can relate even if you are not a Filipino.

The movie really got me going until the brother showed up and then it just got too over dramatic for me. Too much crying I don’t think American movies have as much crying. So maybe they should just cut that down a bit too if they are trying to bring a film to the US.

you know what i want to see. is modern depiction of historical filipino events. it seems like during the nineties historical movies are lessened. with better broader view of audiences, and better technology i think they'd make really good ones.

Yeah, that would be great.

Nauso kasi bold..pero dumarami na rin yung mga Pinoyy film..I mean yung about sa Pinoy... yung "Filipinas" pinaghalo-halong current events.. May bagong movie si Joel Lamangan(ata?) pero hindi ko alam kung kelan ilalabas..about sa j@p occupation

before they use to have alot of moro movies. i remember fpj's leading role. and also eddie garcia had one where they had a scene were the sultan was trading with the chinese. i like those movies, maybe because i'm a history buff. also remember that one movie where they cut off their penises as a sign of rebellion?

Sino starring dun?

old na yun. sino na ba to rex something.

i see, i see.. rex cortes?

aww.. i'm not sure. he looks chinoy. but it was i think igorot or ifugao. or one of the mountain tribes. have you sen the one with nora aunor i think or vandolph's mom where it was during the ifugao's building of the terraces and their war with the kalinga?

Nope..hindi ko naabutan. 1986 ako pinanganak, kaya ang movie na naabutan ko yung mga comedy na baduy.

84 ako pero i use to watch it in afternoon movies in channel two or seven or nine

Sleeping hours ko kasi yung hapon nuon...Wala kong mashadong maalala kundi yung eat bulaga

hehehe. taga baguio ka? igorot ka or what?

medyo...ahihihi..hindi ko alam yung ratio...basta yung maternal grandmother ko ibaloi...

okay... i understand this is the filipino chat but why are you always typing in tagalog? you do know that this site is call "asiafinest.com" right? there will be people visiting this section and reading your response.

*Whatever* 2

there are people alwasy typing in other languages what's the matter.

if that's the type of attitude you have then i suggest you post in an "all filipino forum" rather than a pan-asia site. i wasn't even trying to be rude but you rather be close-minded.

*whatever*

Don't take it seriously, I was just kidding..

why are you keeping this against just us filipinos? there are chinese with even they're username in a different writing system much more some of their threads?

but most of them type in english. plus, i wasn't even directing my comment towards the whole filipino people. that's why i quoted Kanlungan.

I remember this guy saying that we're losing our native language..but then.. now...

i see you point of view angkor, and i know kanlungan is proficient in english, but speaking your tongue is so mcuh easier even if you can speak english. especially that many of the patrons here in this forum are not abroad but rather in philippines. i am much sure that if rockheart could just speak cambodian he would be much easier understood.

someone here was telling us that phil language is dying out cuz we speak too much english, and then we get beefed for speaking filipino it's just weird.

and ps if you've read alot of chinese chat's articles many are written in chinese.

yes, but that doesn't mean you have to post every single thing in tagalog.

ok sino po ang papatayin ko dito? siya ba? sabihin niyo!!!

Uhmm..like everything here is posted in Tagalog. DarkTT often comes here but he does NOT have any problem with us speaking Tagalog.

OO siya..

Aming ligaya
Na 'pag may mang-aapi
Ang PUMATAY nang dahil sa'yo

inaapi niya tayo, di ba?

2

oo naman, ok kukunin ko na yung kutsilyo ko!

ala bonifacio ey?

Kung ala Bonifacio, dapat hindi kutsilyo..dapat BOLO..

tama ka!

They should put English sub-titles too!

they do. they've been having them in filipino movies dvd for years now.

The new movie of Cesar Montano..something like Subo.. I heard it has subtitles because the conversations are in Bisaya.

This film, told mainly in Cebuano, takes place in a remote village in Central Visayas during the Japanese occupation. Duroy is attracted to Iset, who, on account of her materialistic parents, draws suitors who might lift her out of poverty. One is her American employer, Smith; the other is Fumio Okohara, a Japanese officer who leads the Occupation troops in that area. Duroy joins a band of guerrillas and becomes their leader. Iset, appalled by the brutality of the Japanese, also joins the guerillas. She is tasked to help her comrades lay a trap for the Japanese and rescue villagers from a river prison. Starring Cesar Montano, Juliana Palermo, Ronnie Lazaro, Daria Ramirez, Reiven Bolado, Jacky Woo, Rebecca Lusterio, Caridad Sanchez, Joel Torre, Rommel Montano, Ramon Villanueva, and Suzette Rallio. Directed by Cesar D. Montano.

Tsismis => Cesar Montano sold some of his properties to be able to produce this film. Totoo ba?

Viewfinder : 'Fearful' forecast

Updated 10:11pm (Mla time) Dec 25, 2004
By Nestor U. Torre
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A2-3 of the December 26, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.


WHO WILL romp off with the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival trophies? Our "fearful forecast," for whatever it's worth:

Best Picture: "Panaghoy sa Suba." Director: Cesar Montano. Actor: A toss-up between Montano in "Panaghoy" and Eric Quizon in "So Happy Together."

Actress: Vilma Santos in "Mano Po 3." Supporting actor: Dennis Trillo in "Ai$hite Imasu." Supporting actress: Rebecca Lusterio in "Panaghoy."

We've arrived at these choices after having viewed the film fest entries. Will we be proven right? Only the film fest jurors know for sure, and they aren't announcing their decisions until Dec. 29.

This early, however, it looks like the film fest's big surprise is "Panaghoy." Cesar Montano's movie is a trailblazer because it's the first Filipino movie produced in many years with its dialogue in Cebuano.

If enough people go out of their way to see it, the film could all by itself revive the long-dormant Visayan film industry.

That's a consummation devoutly to be wished, because many millions of Filipinos speak or at least understand Cebuano, so their lifestyle and viewpoint deserve to be represented on the movie screen.

"Panaghoy" is also significant because it's a surprisingly good movie. Director-producer-lead actor Montano really poured his heart into this production, and his passion and talent make it an exceptional production.

Yes, it has its weak points, but its many virtues effectively mitigate them, and leave us admiring this little gem of a film.

We trust that, even if you don't speak Cebuano (it has English subtitles), you will make it a point to see "Panaghoy sa Suba," not only to encourage Montano, but to prompt other filmmakers to also make their dream
films.

'Probe' special

ON TUESDAY, Dec. 28 at 10 p.m., "The Probe Team Documentaries" on ABC 5 airs a special episode in which artist-reporter Robert Alejandro documents his first six grueling months in Vancouver, Canada.

He has brought home a unique personal home video of his stay in Canada, from plunging to the depths of loneliness after he arrived, to job-hunting, working as a janitor, then as a graphic artist, etc.

As Robert recorded his own daunting experiences, he found himself going through the daunting, emotional roller-coaster ride that many immigrants and OFWs must go through in starting a new life in a strange country.

Thus, he found himself understanding the feelings of countless Filipinos who dare to leave and try their luck elsewhere. It is hoped that viewers will also get to better understand the phenomenon of the new Filipino "diaspora," which has been continuously increasing in number and importance in the past two decades.

'Constantine'

KEANU Reeves' big starrer for the first half of 2005 is "Constantine," an action-thriller with a big difference.

The unusual element is Reeves' characterization, which goes beyond realism. Based on the DC/Vertigo comic book "Hellblazer," the film tells the story of an irreverent "supernatural" detective, John Constantine (Reeves), who has literally been to hell and back.

He teams up with a skeptical policewoman, Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister (also played by Weisz).

Unexpectedly, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beneath the city of Los Angeles.

Caught in a startling series of otherworldly events, the two lead characters become inextricably involved, and struggle to find their own peace-at whatever cost.

"Constantine" is directed by Francis Lawrence, who had megged award-winning videos for famous musicians like Aerosmith, Incubus, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez and Will Smith.

His first feature film is written by Kevin Brodbin, Mark Bomback and Frank Capello.

Is this the first Pinoy film na Bisaya ang lengua?

No, This is the only Visayan film in the 30th MMFF award