Wish list for 2004

It’s the second day of 2004 and now should be a good time to make a wish list for this year. Here are my wishes for the entertainment industry:

• For piracy to be eliminated totally. VRB Chairman Bong Revilla may be doing a good job at fighting the pirates, but there is just too much piracy around us and he is just one person. (Let’s call in Captain Barbell?) We, too have to put in our share by not buying pirated VCDs and DVDs. I know we’ll save a lot more by buying those pirated copies, but that doesn’t necessarily make it right and we need order in this society. A tip for movie lovers: Video City puts up VCDs and DVDs on sale from time to time and these are really sold at low prices. And you get a wide array of titles, too in this video store.

• Lower taxes for the film industry. Even back then, decades ago, taxes had always saddled the local film business. Now you know why Philippine cinema is always in the throes of death.

• A more alive movie industry – with local films earning a lot more than those products from Hollywood.

• For Philippine movies to finally penetrate the international market.

• A limit to the influx of Mexican telenovelas, chinovelas and Koreo-novelas. And what’s this I hear? India’s Bollywood is also set to invade Philippine television. I don’t have anything against these imported soap operas. But too much of it will kill the local entertainment business.

• For channels 5, 9 and 13 to be more aggressive in their programming because at the moment, there are practically just two TV stations that matter in this industry – ABS-CBN and GMA 7 – fighting it out. As they say, the more, the merrier.

• For government station, Channel 4, to be turned into something like the BBC London. It’s about time the government paid more attention to this network.

• The return of honest-to-goodness musicals (different from musical variety shows), which unfortunately are quite expensive to produce.

• Less sensationalism and gore in the news.

• For news programs to stop using kapulisan in their police reports. I cringe every time I hear this used in newscasts? What’s wrong with just saying pulisiya?

• For showbiz people with political ambitions to think many times over before they jump into the political ring because they are more vulnerable to criticisms from the public.

• No more cheap gimmicks in the movies. Please, no more starlets using the Iraq war, military takeovers and other chaotic events as a stage to make a name for themselves.

• More intelligent comedy films like Crying Ladies and Bridal Shower. Before the Metro Manila Film Festival, I was afraid for the performance at the box office of Crying Ladies. On opening day, however, I was relieved to find out that it still did okay in spite of the tough competition. I hope Bridal Shower also does well (it opens today) if only for Jeffrey Jeturian who is the most talented among our new breed of directors.

• For young directors to be concerned not only with form, but also with substance.

• A Mano Po 3. Usually, sequels always turn out to be watered down versions. But not Mano Po 2, which has a totally different story from the first Mano Po. It’s more ambitious – and grander, too.

• For moviegoers to support Gil Portes’ socially relevant films. Portes seldom makes movies but the films he does (Mulanay, Mga Munting Tinig, Homecoming, etc.) tackle social issues without being preachy. Very few filmmakers are willing to take the risk the way Portes does.

• More ensemble acting in the movies – just like in the Metro Filmfests entries Filipinas, Mano Po 2, Bridal Shower and Crying Ladies. This may finally put an end to the star system in local movies.

• For a Metro Manila Film Festival with entries that are of true festival quality. This was one of my wishes last year and – guess what? – this wish was granted in the still ongoing film festival. Wishes do come true, after all.

Happy New Year to everyone!