Today I’ll share some of my scrambled thoughts on the endless comparison between independent and mainstream films. One thing’s definite though: I am neither a Star Cinema nor Cinemalaya extremist. In fact, I love watching both blockbusters and art films. This isn’t a post meant to bash any of them; rather, I just want to address this burning issue as much as I can so don’t expect me to act like some know-it-all blogger.
The summer before my first year of high school, I watched every Filipino blockbuster at the comfort of my own home through those DVDs purchased off the stalls in Divisoria. No negative words slewed out of my mouth whenever I am asked if this certain movie met my standards to consider one as a good film. I was attracted easily to the marketing strategies Star Cinema did just to promote their films. Whether it was a horror film starring Kris or a romantic comedy featuring Sam and Toni, I watched them anyway because the fans on TV said so. I didn’t care if the film was critically panned just as long as it gave me pleasure. First Day High aka that Rexona film was one of my favorites when it first came out in 2006 but things were different back then. More on that later.
We move forward to nine years later. Last month at the 1st DLSU Communication Conference, Direk Joey Reyes gave a talk on defining mainstream and independent cinema. Needless to say, I regret nothing in listening to one of the best professors I’ve ever had because we practically shared the same sentiments on the subject. What struck me the most from his thirty minutes on stage, however, was something that has been going on in my mind even before the Comm Con happened.
Begin rant.
Direk Joey said it best, “Not all independent films are good; not all commercial films are bad.” To keep it simple, cut the stereotypical crap about the better type of film and the audience each attracts. There are a lot of good and bad commercial films, same goes for the indies.
One thing that irks me so much about this whole indie vs. commercial film audience debacle is how it has evolved into a battle of stereotyping audiences according to the films they watch and appreciate. My blood boils every time I hear or read someone saying all films produced by big shot studios are inferior compared to the ones off international film festivals. To be quite honest, I’ve heard of some people who would go on a tirade of words only because you don’t watch Cinemalaya films or you can’t give a critique of the latest Hollywood blockbuster ala Roger Ebert. Some would claim there is a correlation on the quality of films an average human being watches to his / her general intelligence which is probably the most retarded thing I have ever heard. In short, mainstream films are generalized as something “dumb” people watch while the indies are hemorrhage-inducing, experimental works that only self-proclaimed geniuses could understand.
If you live by this perception, then you need to re-evaluate yourself. Don’t act like you’re better than everyone else or you know everything about cinema just because you’re pro-indie or pro-commercial. You can be the biggest film aficionado or student or an armchair critic but you still have a lot to learn from the cinema industry’s finest, admit that. Classifying audiences depending on the type of film is just petty. Mainstream doesn’t automatically mean “pangmasa” all the time and indie films aren’t just for hardcore hipsters. Everyone has their own standards on how they critique and enjoy the films on the big screen. Don’t force people to like the same movies you do whether it is the cheesiest Star Cinema comedy or the most mindblowing indie film in recent history.
Rant over.
Now back to First Day High. Watching the opening musical number during INDIFLM got us laughing in stitches because not only the High School Musical vibe was there with students divided according to their high school stereotypes when they are actually in college. It was also due to the off-key singing of certain actors (looking at you Gerald). Nevertheless, I liked how it followed suit with a song and dance scene which has long been a staple of Filipino films.
UPDATED: I could critique films better now but it doesn’t prevent me from enjoying the films I watch. First Day High may be bleh in the critical standpoint but at least it was funny and light-hearted.
It was only in the same class when Sir Doy revealed that First Day High was directed by a Comm Arts graduate who was making an attempt to cross over from indie to mainstream. As you may have guessed after doing some research on how it fared critically and commercially, this director never did another film with Star Cinema again. From what I’ve heard last about him from Sir Doy, he is currently working under an underground production company.
Before I end, thank you Direk Joey for the talk that inspired me to write and complete this entry in three days. I shall write more about films soon.
P.S. I have already completed my screenplay for thesis last week! Just waiting for my mentor to return the draft so I could make the final revisions #success
