Hindi “LANG” ang Indie

Hindi “LANG” ang Indie

By: C J Ruiz

Hindi na nga maikukubli ang pagyabong at pamamayagpag ng mga Filipino Independent Films o Pinoy Indie Films. Hindi lamang kasi kilala ang mga ito sa Pinas but totally conquering the world! A great manifestation of it ay ang samu’t saring international awards and recognitions from different countries. Ang pinaka-prestigious nga dito ay ang Cannes Film Festival kung saan nanalo bilang best director si Brillante Mendoza nung 2009 para sa pelikulang “kinatay”. Bukod dito, marami pang natanggap na parangal ang mga Pinoy. Eto pa ang ibang patunay rito:

Mike Sandejas’ “Dinig Sana Kita” won the Grand Prize Award for Special Competition-International Deaf Section while Lou Veloso of the film “Colorum” was hailed as the best actor for International Competition in the recent 36th Brussels International Film Festival (BIFF).

The award came as a big surprise for Sandejas who admitted winning wasn’t his goal for joining BIFF.

“I joined Brussels International Film Festival because I want to know how foreign films designed for deaf and mute audiences are done and I was really hoping I could learn from them. But it looks like they were the ones who learned from me”, he said.

Despite the award, Sandejas expressed his frustrations over Filipino audience’s reception of Indie Films.

“Madaming magagandang indie films sa Pilipinas, na galing ng Pilipinas. Di lang kasi nila subukan. Subukan lang nila, magugulat sila sa quality ng mga pelikulang ginagawa natin na independent, tapos I’m sure na mahu-hook na sila after that,” he said.

He even cited that movie aficionados in the Philippines still prefer the so called melodramas, but he encouraged everyone to believe in Pinoy indie films which have been considered as better films by different International award giving bodies.

“May tinatawag na Filipino new wave cinema kasi ito yung bagong wave ng cinema na tinatangkilik ng ibang bansa. Ang malungkot dyan di pa rin tayo pinapanuod ng mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas. Sana naman maisip nila na siguro naman maganda yung mga pelikulang ito dahil nananalo ng award,” he added.

But more than the citations and awards, Sandejas affirmed that as a Filipino artist, nothing beats the appreciation of fellow Filipinos.

Just the same, he assured everyone that directors and actors of Pinoy Indie films shall continue making good films.

Reference: http://thepinoy.net/2-pinoy-indie-films-win-awards-in-brussels/

Some years ago, the mainstream movie industry didn’t feel threatened by indie productions, even if they were being made in increasingly great numbers. After all, they were only being shown during festivals, on campus or in small venues. Most of the time, when they did manage to get playdates on the commercial theater circuit, they played to near-empty houses and ended up as “first-day, last-day” nonstarters.

From time to time, they have managed to interest viewers, but mostly when they’re smarmily playing the “sex” or “gay exploitation” cards – so, they still end up being disrespected by serious film buffs.

An early exception to this desultory rule was “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros.” Yes, the film’s protagonist was an adolescent gay, but it was also clear that it was about much more than just swishing and dishing.

Formulaic flicks:

“Maximo” did well enough on the commercial circuit to end up leaving some lazily formulaic commercial flicks behind at the box office. But, one exception does not an incipient trend make, so the situation remained pretty much the same.

Earlier this year, however, “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” scored another “unexpected” hit at the box office. And, just last month, “Zombadings” similarly clicked with viewers. The two unexpected and “edgy” hits constituted a one-two punch that now has the mainstream industry taking belated notice of the increasing strength and appeal of the “indie” film “wave” – and its future prospects.

If there’s money to be made here, some mainstream studios want to make sure that they get in on the action – just in case it turns out to be the shape of Filipino films to come.

After all, “formula” mainstream productions have been slumping for a full decade now, with non-indie productions down to a trickle. In addition, some recent mainstream flicks have been laying depressingly nongolden eggs at the box office, even as “Babae” and “Zombadings” have been raking it in.

So, if there are lessons to be retroactively learned here, mainstream producers want to be at the head of the class!

Unfortunately, the solution is much more complicated than an old dog learning new tricks, or a zebra trading in his stripes for a coat of trendier polka dots. “Indie” success is only for indies, because the alternative film mode’s aficionados are attracted to their nonformulaic and thus nonmainstream nature and essence.

To find new success as an indie producer, a mainstream financier needs to reinvent not just his films and his way of making them, but also himself. Which is a much more difficult challenge than simply trading in stripes for polka dots!

Reference: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/14921/indies-vs-mainstream-movies

              : http://www.google.com.ph 

Truly Filipinos are making their way to let the world know not just stories but GOOD production out of limited sources. Where as in Mainstream movies na pag nag flop na ay din na gagawin uli. Sa katunayan pati ang mga artistang sumikat sa paggawa ng mga Indie films ay sikat na sikat na rin sa mainstream like Coco Martin. At it’s like the world turned up-side-down when popular actors and actresses wanted to be part of Independent films. Iba’t ibang award giving bodies ang ginawa to recognize Indie films.