KIDLAT TAHIMIK (Photo by Tony Pionilla)
Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has arranged a meeting with veteran filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik to clarify reason behind their decision to merge entries for both the New Breed and Director’s Showcase categories this year.
Kidlat early on, returned his Gawad Balanghai trophy, a lifetime achievement award given by Cinemalaya for his outstanding contribution to Philippine cinema, as a symbolic protest over the body’s decision, believing it unfair to budding filmmakers.
In a statement reported by ABS-CBN News, Cinemalaya director Chris Millado said they will explain to Kidlat the strategy that the organization will be utilizing for the next ten years “so that he may understand and appreciate it” if also to “assure him that we are one with the vision of developing new and independent films in the Philippines.”
“The environment for filmmaking has changed since Kidlat became one of its pioneers more than thirty years ago. These conditions prompted Cinemalaya to review and realign its strategy while keeping its original vision,” he added.
Chris maintained that the decision to merge the two sections is meant to strengthen and develop the works of newcomers.
“(It) recognizes the potency of the new as it engages with the established. The ‘story’ and innovative ways of telling continues to be the main focus of Cinemalaya films and this is where the new breed derives its power,” he said.
CHRIS MILLADO (Photo from culturalcenter.gov.ph)
Chris believes the revamp will give way to increased monetary subsidy and better exposure to entries.
“We believe that the process of monitoring, guidance and mentorship which Cinemalaya has provided to new filmmakers has contributed to the success of many and we have broadened this opportunity by establishing the Cinemalaya Institute,” he said, adding how, currently, “there are 150 short film features and 120 full length feature proposals that have been submitted to Cinemalaya for consideration for the upcoming Festivals in 2015 and 2016.”
Equity fees
Meanwhile, Ovation Productions President and CEO Renen de Guia has aired concern over the proposed House Bill 4218 (or the OPM Development Act of 2014), which requires foreigners performing in the country to pay equity fees.
In an interview with Interaksyon, Renen wondered who exactly will benefit from the bill. “We have no problem abiding with certain rules for as long as they are reasonable. Presently, we’re already paying the equity fee for the foreign artists we bring in. What many people want to know is what organizations like the OPM, AMP and FILSCAP do with the money we pay them. There could be certain practices being done such that the incomes derived by these organizations do not benefit their members,” he said.
The Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM), Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP) and Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) are the groups that have expressed support for the OPM Bill.
Renen believes not all Filipino musicians favor the bill. “They fear that this could have a detrimental effect to Filipino musicians who work abroad as their host countries might take retaliatory moves in response to what the Philippine government will impose on foreign artists visiting the Philippines,” he said in the same Interaksyon interview.
As to the supposed dominance of foreign artists in the concert scene being detrimental to the local music industry, Renen said the Philippines have long been a regular destination of top foreign acts. He added that the OPM Bill is not the answer to the music industry’s problems.
“Whatever fees we pay, in the end, it will never be enough to sustain our local artists which is what they want to happen. Their plight is the same with other artists everywhere in the world. It is the nature of the business they’re in,” he said.
Ovation Productions has been bringing international acts into the country since 1979, including the likes of Incubus, The 1975, Fall Out Boy, One Direction (as co-promoter with MMI Live), Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift.
Cinemalaya to meet with Kidlat; concert promoter questions OPM bill
Source: Mb.com.ph (April 15, 2015 at 08:40PM)
Continue...
No comments:
Post a Comment