Prominent Filipino filmmakers and hosts of Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Antoinette “Direk Tonet” Jadaone and Jaime “Direk JP” Habac, expressed their hopes for stronger government support for the local movie industry.
Photo: Antoinette Jadaone/Instagram
While he did not mention any specific names, Direk JP shared his disappointment during a guest appearance on Khalil Ramos and Gabbi Garcia’s vlog. He called out former film industry workers—actors, actresses, and filmmakers—who now hold government positions yet seem to disregard the industry’s call for help amid declining theater viewership.
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“Ako ‘yun pa rin talaga—’yung tulong talaga from the government. I mean, to think na ang dami na nating mga kasama sa industry na nakakapunta sa posisyon ng power—sa Senate, sa Congress—pero ‘pag nandoon na sila, nakakalimutan na nila ‘yung pinanggalingan nila. Parang ‘Uy! Tulungan mo naman kami,’” he said.
“Kasi ‘di ba parang nung magkausap tayo, nagkakwentuhan tayo, agree ka na may problema sa industriya, pero bakit nung nagkaroon ka na ng power para baguhin ‘yon, parang nakalimutan mo na s’ya? So, I think ‘yun talaga ‘yung pinakakulang sa industry natin—support from the government,’’ the director added.
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The director behind the critically acclaimed 2020 Philippine boys’ love (BL) series Gaya sa Pelikula also lamented what he called a “lack of appreciation for the arts,” noting that Filipino artists and filmmakers aren’t being given the recognition they truly deserve.
“Kasi for some reason, like for example, kapag mga nananalo sa boxing or nananalo sa pageant, ‘pag pauwi ng Pinas may homecoming na bongga, may parade. Pero nung nanalo si Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, si Jaclyn Jose, wala. Parang nakakalungkot na hindi natin binibigyan ng ganoong kalaking importance ang arts,” Direk JP stated.
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Meanwhile, Direk Tonet emphasized the critical role of government intervention in keeping local cinema afloat, pointing out that ticket prices have become a major barrier for moviegoers.
“I think ‘di naman tayo magkukulang sa magagandang stories, at tingin ko kapag ‘yung audience natin, kapag may makita silang magandang story, willing naman suportahan,” said the director of That Thing Called Tadhana, one of the highest-grossing independent films in Philippine cinema history.
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“Pero I think kailangan pa rin talaga ng mas malakas na support from the government. Kasi malaking factor talaga ‘yung presyo ng tickets. Pero kung may support or subsidy from the government ang mga Filipino films, mas madaling mapababa ‘yung ticket prices,” Direk Tonet explained.
Substantiating her call for institutional assistance, the 46th Metro Manila Film Festival Best Director pointed out that government subsidies for the film industry aren’t a novel idea. She highlighted that neighboring Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, have successfully implemented subsidies to make local films more accessible to the public.
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Despite the ongoing challenges facing local cinema amidst dropping theater attendance, both Direk Tonet and Direk JP reaffirmed their commitment to telling Filipino stories, while urging the government to help revive theater culture and sustain the local film industry.
ALSO READ: Antoinette Jadaone Just Launched a Women-led Film Studio—Here’s What to Expect
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