Alfred Vargas optimistic about MMFF 2020: 'For the love of filmmaking, ituloy natin'
Actor and public servant Alfred Vargas is first to admit that this year's Metro Manila Film Festival, in which his film Tagpuan is part, is not so much about generating money. It's about sending a strong message that the movie industry--while it may look struggling--is not going to give up anytime soon.
"Just like other industries, our industry really took a hit," he tells GMANetwork.
"That's why I commend MMDA [Metro Manila Development Authority] and all the members of MMFF for finding a way to make sure that the MMFF 2020 pushes through.
"Imagine kung walang MMFF this year parang hindi kumpleto ang Pasko ng mga Pilipino."
Even at the outset, the producer and lead actor knew that participating in a film festival badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic would be a very big risk, if not a losing proposition.
"I don't know if the other producers share the same sentiment as mine. Pero sa tingin ko this is a very big risk for us. Tumaya kami sa MMFF.
"We joined MMFF knowing that there's a very big risk of losing our resources, our investments, pero go kami. Why? For the love of filmmaking, for the love of our industry, for the love of acting, ituloy natin.
"Kung kumita, 'Thank you, Lord.' Kung hindi, okey lang, tapos we'll start from scratch.
"Hopefully, I can produce again in a matter of few years, di ba?
"Whether kumita or hindi itong MMFF, this is good in the sense na marami tayo matutunan and malalaman natin kung ano yung mga variable options for future movies to come."
The upside of MMFF's shift into video-on-demand digital platform Upstream.ph is proving that the good still outweighs the bad.
"On the bright side, there's also an opportunity.
"Number one, for Filipinos, hindi na gagastos ng pamasahe papunta sa sinehan, hindi na sila gagastos para bumili ng pagkain at hindi na rin gagastos to buy movie tickets for each of the family members.
"So P250 lang, puwede na yung buong family mo yung makapanood."
Every movie will also have the chance to be watched.
Alfred says that producers no longer have to dread the "first day, last day," an expression used by pundits for movies that get pulled out of theaters after their first day of screening due to lackluster ticket sales.
"For a producer, malaki ring opportunity rin ito for us, imagine pag sa theater, takot na takot kaming lahat na maliliit na producers sa first day-last day.
"We are at the mercy of the decision making of theater owners. One day lang tapos hindi man lang nabigyan yung movie mo to pick up. Wala nang ganon pag online, kasi mas level na ang playing field."
One segment that would benefit MMFF's digital shift is the OFW market, or Pinoys living abroad.
"Anywhere in the world you are, you will be able to watch the MMFF already," says Alfred.
"Imagine those OFWs na for how many years gusto nila mapanood yung MMFF, hindi nila mapanood from the Middle East, from Europe, from the Americas. Ngayon pwede na nila gawin, it's as easy as parang Netflix na lang, may platform."
These "conveniences," however, have certain downsides.
While MMFF has made viewing from anywhere in the world possible, it could be missing out on another segment.
It is only possible for people who have access to the internet and have smartphones or Smart TVs at home.
Another downside is that the audiences now no longer have that "cinematic experience."
"The cinematic experience is not there anymore, yung pupunta ka, kakain ka ng popcorn. You go to the cinemas to watch the movies, tapos magko-concentrate ka, hindi mo hahawakan mo yung phone mo kasi maliwanag nakakahiya sa iba.
"Pero dito, pag sa Smart TV ka lang nanonood, anytime pwede ka mag-text o ano, madidistract ka, baka di mo maexperience yung ibig sabihin ng movie.
"Tapos yun din, it's only available to people who have access to the Internet, or smartphones or tablets or smart TVs, so definitely nag-iba na talaga yung dynamics nito.
"Nawalan kami ng isang major segment of the whole market. Kasi kung wala naman itong pandemic, puwede itong ipalabas sa sinehan, tapos after ipapalabas online. Ang nawala talaga e yung cinematic experience."
Alfred is not setting his expectations high. What's important is that the film festival pushed through despite the many challenges and limitations.
"If this MMFF will be successful, this will be a very, very big boost to our recovering industry. Kasi mas maraming ma-e-encourage na makapag-produce, mas dadami magkakatrabaho, di ba?
"Ang sabi ko lang, 'Lord, sana kahit papaano merong bumalik sa investment enough for me to produce another indie film next year. Kapag umabot sa ganon, masaya na ako, para may seed money lang ulit. Kasi yung investment lang naman natin dito nanggaling lang naman sa movie nating Supremo.
"Matagal nating pinagipunan yun kasi that was 2012, e, 2020 na ngayon.
"Ako naman, basta mabigyan ako ng chance to produce, I will keep producing.
"We took this risk and I'm happy with my decision."
Alfred adds that the industry is upbeat. As he puts it, "The show must go on."
"We are upbeat, but let me tell you we're prepared for the worst, but we're hoping for the best.
"Upbeat kami siguro kasi we believe we have a good film that could last beyond MMFF.
"Sabi nga ni Peter Jackson, 'Pain is temporary, film is forever.' Never ko naman pinangarap as a producer na maging box-office na producer. Okey na ako n'on.
"Self-explanatory naman yung name ng production outfit ko, Alternative Visions Cinema. So we're an alternative.
"Kung medyo puro ka na lang mainstream, 'tapos gusto mo naman manood ng iba, we're just here as an alternative pero we have a vision, which is to produce worthwhile films that affect the Filipino people."
The MMFF is streaming until January 7, 2021.
If you're interested in watching the movies, here's a step-by-step guide on how to watch this year's MMFF online.
Here are the movies participating in this year's film festival:
'Fan Girl' wins major awards; full list of winners of MMFF 2020 Gabi ng Parangal
How will the new digital platform affect MMFF 2020?