why every indie filmmaker should support 'ploning' starring judy ann santos

Why every indie filmmaker and every indie enthusiast should watch Judy Ann Santos'

Initially, na-off ako nang ang unang nabasa kong stance about the "Ploning" movie was that Juday allegedly said its not an indie movie. Pero buti na lang it was later on corrected as to the context of what she meant when she said those.

"Ploning" is an independently produced digital film and to know that it is a story that has been in its Director Dante's heart and mind for years is to see how dreams can be realized in independent movie making rather than in mainstream cinema filmmaking.

Considering that it has a mainstream cinema celebrity actress in the lead role (Judy Ann Santos), the project is a milestone in the way it is being marketed and we, the "independents" should react favorably by supporting it.

Politically, "Ploning" is finally drawing attention to the independent cinema industry with the much publicized presence of Juday as co-producer. This is a signal now to other celebrities or personalities of stellar status that perhaps hindi na sila dapat magsiksikan sa sumisikip na ma-rigodong mundo ng over-rated television. This medium where I come from and where I still work on semi-regular basis needs attention din because while it is flourishing, the materials are becoming more nakaka-bobo, in terms of content. But tv is another story. And going back, Judy Ann investin her talent and money in an independent movie signals to other stars that perhaps its time to take a second look at the independent cinema industry? Perhaps there maybe a renewed interest by the public to this "mas nirerespeto nilang indie movies" (than the mainstream movies). IF THE MOVIE MAKES GOOD SA BOX OFFICE, DEFINITELY THE OTHER STARS WILL KNOW ITS TIME...

Another point is the way it is being publicized where both abs and gma seem to be giving "Ploning" airtime so that Juday can promote and inform the Filipino tv audience. IF THE MOVIE MAKES IT, SM CINEMA AND ROBINSONS WILL KNOW THAT A FACTOR WHERE THEY SHOULD INVEST INTO IS TO HELP POOR INDIES PROMOTE sa TV. I remember my second indie movie "Bathhouse" which had the then S Files of GMA 7 and another talk show program in ABS CBN feature John Sweet Lapus and Jet Alcantara and the very short airtime I got helped "Bathhouse" become an standing room only for every screening schedule for the entire week of screening in 2005, when indie was not yet that popular.

Of course, ang mahirap is if the "clueless" mainstream cinema decision makers credit the movie just to the "presence" of Juday (clueless talaga sila kasi wala naman tayong strategist talaga sa mainstream cinema at puro tayo art film critics walang economist/business point of view na critic). Palagay ko, the Juday factor happens on the first day. Pero ang susunod na mga araw ay may factor na din ng "word of mouth" tulad ng sa Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros noon.

Imagine if movie stars begin asking for indie movie projects, and then another set of stars telling us they will invest funds in our movie projects... and imagine if SM and Robinsons will add to their deal some television airtime? I hope these cinemas do not forget that other indie movies with non-celebrity status actors made it to the box office as well.

"Ploning" is a very positive project and is a milestone in the history of Philippine indie cinema industry. I pray it achieves the producers' and the actress's goals and those other paths and doors that it will open to the less fortunate or less funded or less starred-in indie endeavors bring us further to the forthcoming golden age of indie cinema.