Sen. Revilla files bill for movie industry

The Philippine movie industry is indeed one of the industries severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It became more difficult to produce and market Filipino movies due to the restrictions in place thereby affecting the film producers, movie theater operators, and patrons. And in spite of the recent reopening of cinemas in the country, many are still hesitant to watch films inside movie theaters due to the long stay inside an enclosed venue.

This challenge is compounded by the existing decline of movie ticket sales in the country due to the various online platforms that evolving technology made available.

Aware of these difficulties, actor and current Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. filed Senate Bill No. 28 which aims to revive the Philippine movie industry by providing fiscal incentives to the proprietors, lessees, and operators of theaters and cinemas.

The bill removes the different national and local taxes imposed on the said industry such as income tax, excise tax, value-added tax, and amusement tax.

"Unofficially Yours" - the First Movie Team-Up Cruz/Locsin

Star Cinema's "Unofficial Yours". the first movie teamup of John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin, earned already 18.5 million Pesos on its first day.

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, this movie tells the story of a casual relationship. The opening numbers bode well for the film, especially since "No Other Woman" went on to become the second most successful movie last year with total gross revenue of 282.5 million Pesos for its entire run. 

The success of "Unofficially Yours" also cements Cruz's strong appeal at the box office. 

Relax - and enjoy a movie. Enjoy: "Unofficially Yours".

Philippine Film Industry in Decline

As one could learn from AFP, the number of films produced in the Philippine movie industry has halved over the past decade in the face or privacy and Hollywood competition, a government study showed.

Only the rise of independent film-makers has saved the industry from declining further, with "Indie" movies now accounting for more than the half the total made in the Philippines.

"There are many factors causing the fall. There is piracy and competition from foreign movies. Local movies are also not given as much support from the oublic", said government statistical  coordination officer Gerald Clarino.

No wonder, the top-grossing movies in the Philippines were typically US-made films with multi-million-dollar  budgets that the local movie industry could not afford.

Filipino "indie" directors, such as Brillante Mendoza (check out here http://www.germaninthephilippines.tropicalpenpals.com) and others, have won awards at prestigious foreign film festivals.