It seems some of our voices in the forum has been heard,
just saw this article on
www.inq7.net by Nestor Torre
Filling the need for tapes of outstanding Filipino filmsTHESE past weeks, we’ve been getting more than the usual number of queries from film buffs both here and abroad about where they can buy videotape copies of outstanding Filipino movies by the likes of Brocka, Bernal, De Leon, Romero, etc.
Our standard reply is that we head for the video shops at Virra Mall for our own “quality” “films on tape” needs, but some people say that they haven’t found much there. Any other sources?
Last week, we were with a number of film people and we asked for tips in this regard. Alas, all that most of them could come up with was our own Virra Mall advisory.
Maybe the trick is to give the Virra Mall shops a longer and more detailed look. When we’re looking for tapes of good movies, we go through hundreds of them to find maybe four or five really good ones.
What about, yes, dear reader? Do you have of a source of good Filipino films on tape that most people don’t know about? Tell us, and we’ll pass the information on to the growing number of people who’ve been asking us.
By the way, the growing interest in good Filipino movies should get a film-savvy entrepreneur to think about going into this new kind of service. There appears to be quite a demand out there for tapes of Filipino film classics, so somebody could turn a tidy profit servicing that need.
Royalties will have to be paid to producers, of course, but there should be enough left over from entrepreneurs’ while. Any takers?
“Why,” asked a member of the audience at a recent film forum,” do bad movies make money?” Good question!
First, quite a number of people go to the movies to relax, to escape. They don’t want to think, to be bothered, to face up to reality. They just want two hours of fun, and this is what some bad movies give them.
Second, some bad movies are very well promoted. Their publicity is so good an pervasive that people feel practically compelled to view them, just to see what all the fuss is about – and to be among the first to talk about the movies at home, in school or at the office. That’s a status symbol in these parts, as you know.
Third, the bad movie topbills the viewer’s favorite star. Some local moviegoers are very loyal to their idols, and are prepared to patronize star’s movies more than once, just to boost its showing at the box office. How loyal can you get?!
Fourth, the bad film is a sequel, and some people watch sequel’s because they have “brand name appeal,” and you know how we go for name brands. If the sequel turns out to be lousy, well, worse things have happened, it’s only a movie, life goes on, no sweat, etc.
Fifth, some viewers dote on specific film types and are prepared to see just about any movie that conforms to their preferred genre. Thus, action film buffs will sit through the nth rehash of a tired, old revenge or “global domination” plot, as long as it has the regulation number of fight or chase scenes, plus special effects galore.
Sixth, a number of viewers may not even know – or care – that the movie they’re watching is bad. This is the dream combination of low expectations and even lower production values that keep quickie move producers happy, even as they sneer at viewers’ terrible taste.
Unluckily for them, however, some moviegoers have become less abysmally slap-happy to please. Plus, movie ticket prices have gone up so much comes to the movies they choose to see.
Bad movies will continue to be made, but these will be fewer people who will patronize them, so fewer lousy flicks will be churned out. That’s one happy prospect to look forward to, at least!
