Democratization of the market

Arnel  Mardoquio

Conclusion

THE democratic market aims for a healthy climate that will favor all the forces in the industry, under the concept of Fair Trade. This philosophy did not just fall from the heavens, as the independent cinema has culled this from the different experiences of independent film productions from many regions through the years.

While there was no uniformity or commonality in the practice of each individual group in standardizing tariffs for their workers, it is devoid of the capitalist’s oppressive method of wages. In some respect, it is not a perfect system, but because most of the workers are already open to the democratic practice and fair trade, they no longer fear the voice of the capitalists’ greed. As such, the independent cinema advocates for an anti-monopoly type of market. This is the most favorable climate for the Filipino business.

There shall be no elimination of legitimate entities and interests, as the aim of democratization is leveling the playing field in all aspects of the industry.

Above all, the independent cinema believes that all that we strive for are legitimate. While the issue of the monopoly of the market and its democratization lies in the economic forum, its political side requires a political solution; which is where government should come in.

The democratization of the market should be initiated by Congress. Only a law passed by Congress can break the monopolistic system in the film industry.

As a transitory phase towards the democratization of the market, the reconstruction of the FCDP and its leadership should be implemented. This transitory phase should be immediate.

The Transitory Stage.  Congress should enable the following into law:

The FDCP should collectively be managed and run by six actors that have comprehensive interests in the film industry. These are:

1. The community of film makers, their associations or union. Their composition, aside from directors, include writers, producers, cinematographers, production, designers, editor, musical scorers, sound designers, colorists, actors, costume designers and the rest of the workers in the film industry.
2. The business men who align with the independent cinema.
3. Theater owners and their associations
4. The government, through the FDCP commissioner. The qualifications of those in the FDCP should likewise covered by law. The positions hence should fall under the qualifications set thereafter by the Civil Service Commission. The sensitive nature of culture and cinema should be free of Malacañang’s political tokenism.
5. Association of festival directors, MMFF, Cinemalaya, QC International Film Festival, Cinema One Originals, Cinema Rehiyon, ToFarm, Sinag Maynila, and Cine Filipino. They shall be the source of quality films and the foundation of independent cinema.
6. The association of film scholars and their representatives.

The council as a transitory body will be responsible for coming up with an economic plan that will favor the local productions of Filipino films that shall dominate the local market.

The council will assist in Congress the preparation for a standard tariff for the film industry workers vis-à-vis programs for their rights and welfare, standard copyrights for films, and proposals on the proper taxes for films. They shall likewise conceptualize a new proposal on film classification, bills that support the distribution of films in and outside the country, market research programs for strengthening genre films, art films, etc.  Aside from coming up with a design for the industry that is based on the positive experiences of other countries with successful cinema industries, the enacted law shall likewise oversee the programming of all theaters in the country. All these should be aimed at protecting our films, our Filipino business and our rights to have Filipino films rule our own market.

Enable into law the democratization of the market:

• Six months of only showing films by Filipino film makers
• Three months for Hollywood films
• Three months for films from Asia, Europe

Once our industry is free of the monopolistic system, all our films will be shown in the market. This will entice Filipino business to invest more and lead to more of our films. The fruition of a One Filipino Cinema!

(Arnel M. Mardoquio is an award-winning film director and screenwriter. He was born and raised in Davao City. He is is now based in Melbourne, Australia. English translation by Erico San Pedro. -Mindanews)