Throughout the pandemic, I had the luxury of binging on films and TV series, thanks in large part to streaming sites like Netflix, Disney, HBO, Amazon, and even Apple TV.
Indulging in the classics and all-time greats like the Godfather trilogy, Shawshank Redemption, A Few Good Men, A Time to Kill, Scarface, Goodfellas, Casino, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, Air Force One, In the Line of Fire, Saving Private Ryan, Bugsy, Forrest Gump, Top Gun, Pulp Fiction, American Beauty, the MCU, and others too many to mention was really a high and, more than anything, made me appreciate life and all its complexities.
And then there were the TV and Streaming series which were not just entertaining but they really made you think, ponder, analyze, and provided so many emotional roller coaster thrills that blurred the line between fiction and reality.
Gems like Game of Thrones, Narcos, Money Heist, House of Cards, Designated Survivor, Big Bang Theory, Squid Game, and even reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, and the Simpsons were all so engrossing and consuming that really made the pandemic somewhat of a blessing than a curse in terms of time well spent.
But if there is one thing noticeable in my prologue above it is that these were all foreign productions, mostly Hollywood. But again, thanks to Netflix, we have seen the rise of creativity and technical superiority in films and series outside of mainstream America, particularly productions from South Korea, Mexico, Thailand, and even China.
So where are we in the scheme of things?
Talent-wise and imagination, I know that our own local film industry can be at par with the glitzy productions of the above-mentioned countries, and I know that we can have the technical capability if need be.
I really cannot fathom why we are so lagging behind when we could have been pioneers or game-changers in this global explosion of entertainment.
Seriously, we have what it takes.
Perhaps like everything else in our society, the entertainment industry needs to really reflect and do away with the status quo that never appreciated change and simply nurtured mediocrity because it is in the best interest of those who are in control and power.
We need to give way to those who are seriously invested in elevating the craft not only to world standards, but more in providing us Filipinos with genuine art and entertainment that we can proudly identify as our own.
To prove my point, I know that Netflix has its eye on the Philippines, and is really on the lookout for diamonds in the rough here.
And I know that Netflix reps already have an initial impression of how our local film industry operates, how most production houses resort to shortcuts and mediocre filmmaking because the end goal is more about satiating our baser instincts of sex, violence, and needless drama, which translates to revenue. It is such a time-tested but so lackluster formula for success.
But the optimistic part of this journey is that there are the more dedicated and passionate ones who really want to bring the Filipino film industry to new heights. Those who produced the movie “The Doll House” as well as the CGI-powered “Voltes V Legacy” should really be pushed for more output.
There are also upcoming production houses to watch out for — like Pocket Media Productions and Happy Infinite Productions — who show not just promise but an authentic commitment to level up not just their own films but the industry as a whole.
The people behind them are serious thespians who know their craft and who are willing to bet their entire fortunes to bring to the attention of the world what is true Filipino artistry, and what it is really capable of.
And I know that given the opportunity, they will shake up the local film industry to its core, not with mediocrity but with world-class filmmaking the likes of which we can now only experience with Hollywood.
It’s about time we hand them the reins.
Because we deserve to experience the best.
Mark my word.