THE year 2017 drew to a close with a few nice endnotes. In a film festival that seems to change its rules at whim and not out of necessity, there emerged some bright spots—the acting nods for Joanna Ampil, Edgar Allan Guzman and Jasmine Curtis Smith. These three are generally considered as talented performers, so the recognition they got for their performances in their respective films truly served as welcome news.
Ampil’s victory as Best Actress is especially noteworthy considering the uphill battle that the movie for which she won went through. Ang Larawan took many years to be made for the big screen, and when it finally made the cut as one of the eight festival entries, it initially met a sad fate at the box office, even getting pulled out of some cinemas only after the first day of the Metro Manila Film Festival run. We’re glad that the awards bestowed on the film have changed Ang Larawan’s box-office figures dramatically as of this writing.
Hopes and wishes—these are the key words whenever there’s a transition from an old year to a new one. Some New Year wishes for the entertainment industry may seem pointless, as things barely change for the better year in and year out. Then again, we must always strive to keep a positive outlook even in the midst of desolate conditions, more so if these norms were created by industry bigwigs themselves.
We wish for a fair chance for independently produced films to make profit and for theater owners to show a little more genuine concern toward Filipino-produced fare. The tired old line that movies are still primarily a business doesn’t have to apply all the time. Film is also a reflection of the nation’s soul and as such, we should continue to encourage this branch of art to continuously flourish. And movies as an art form can only really flourish if producers will have the financial capacity to greenlight good projects and be given equal fighting chances by the almighty movie distributors and powerful cinema owners.
We wish that seasoned actors—along with brilliant, underrated actors—will be treated better in all aspects, from their talent fee to sensible working hours, down to how they are billed in the film poster and credits. These passionate players have more than paid their dues. We wish to see more original stories on television. Enough of the teleserye cliches and outsized emotions. That will make viewers turn less to imported series to satisfy their sensible soap fix.
We wish to see more really talented fellows take the spotlight, instead of people who seem obsessed in promoting themselves even when they really lack the skills and talents that mark a bona fide artist.
We will appreciate a little more kindness in social media that has turned into an open field where everyone becomes a self-proclaimed critic, movie buff and industry expert. It really doesn’t hurt to display more compassion and tolerance for others.
We wish to see less idolatry, the kind that gives netizens a sense of entitlement and proprietorship over their idols. These are the dangers of modern-day fame, and the phenomenon that is the emergence of social-media creations. When an interesting personality achieves instant popularity but is later proven to have nothing much else to offer, his whole reason for being in the business becomes as fleeting as the renown that he achieved in no time at all.
Nothing beats genuine talent, hard work, diligence, perseverance, and a resolve to keep improving and evolving as an artist.
And, finally, nothing is more satisfying than being bestowed with a title or a recognition for a sterling body of work that no one can question or scoff at. Nowadays, there seems to be a conscious effort to prematurely herald the coming of an icon even before the star in question has achieved the kind of greatness real thespians have worked hard for in their lifetimes. Perhaps, we should learn to refrain from using superlatives loosely.
Here’s to a healthier, more prosperous and kinder 2018 to all.