From wholesome to suggestive: Diversity and democracy in Pinoy films

Suddenly this year, an entirely wholesome film dawned upon us, and its producer has "threatened" to come up with four or more movies of the same mold within the next 12 months.

The film is Monday First Screening, topbilled by senior stars (in industry stature and biological age) Gina Alajar and Ricky Davao. The producer is Net25, which is identified with the Iglesia ni Cristo sect. But its president, Ceazar Vallejos, recently clarified that it will be a largely commercial venture and not a platform for proselytization.

The network held a block screening on 5 September at SM North Edsa Cinema on the film's second week in some theaters. That was when Vallejos revealed that Net25 Films plans to make four to five films within 12 months.

Monday First Screening had its gala premiere on 12 June but it nationwide theatrical release began only on 30 August. It's now on an extended run in some theaters.

Net25's Meta/Facebook account reported on 31 August: "On its opening day, 30 August, Monday First Screening earned the top spot as the number one movie in cinemas nationwide!"

Daily Tribune film reviewer Stephanie Mayo wrote about the film: "The rom-com does not contain profanity or indecency, making it appropriate for all ages. The packed theater was thoroughly engaged, frequently erupting in laughter and applause, and loudly gushing at the 'kilig' scenes — indicating that Filipino audiences can still appreciate wholesome entertainment if it's smartly written…"

Vallejos would not talk about specific film projects the company has lined up, but he stressed that Net25 Films is willing to go into co-production deals with established film companies.

"Some established companies do support our vision. I know for sure Regal Films supports us. Regal is our distributor for Monday First Screening," he said.

"Of course, we're also willing to collaborate with indie companies who are into family-oriented movies," he added.

Skin and intimacy
Those who enjoy films that show a lot of skin and intimacy can always turn to Vivamax, which these days practically brags that Ricky Lee, the latest National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, has begun writing scripts for them. One of these films is Call Me Alma, directed by Mac Alejandre, whose movies have won awards in international festivals.

Call Me Alma features Jaclyn Jose, who won Best Actress at the Cannes International Film Festival, in a major role. The Alma character, played by sultry actor Azi Acosta, is a sex worker who discovers that she was a baby sold to a couple by her mother (Jose) due to extreme poverty. The mother eventually becomes a sex worker herself and will one day find the daughter she had sold.

Though Alma has sizzling bed scenes with characters portrayed by Mon Confiado and Gold Aceron, the movie is really about a mother-daughter relationship.

As Alma, Acosta seems to have assimilated the young Jaclyn Jose's skill at underacting, a kind of marked stoic performance onscreen.

Vivamax also takes pride in having another very reputable filmmaker directing for the streaming company: Joey Javier Reyes. The university professor's first project is Patikim-tikim, which alternates man-to-woman bed bouts with woman-to-woman ones.

A newbie director, Roe Pajemna, is being launched via a film called Punit na Langit, whose sex predation scenes transpire within and around a perya (carnival) in the boondocks. The basic story is about two orphaned young women who get preyed on by the macho workers in the carnival.

There's really democracy and diversity in the film market now.