Fearless cinema finds a new home
‘There is everything for everyone in our entertainment app, from the traditional comedies and dramas to suspense thrillers and mature-themed offerings.’
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‘There is everything for everyone in our entertainment app, from the traditional comedies and dramas to suspense thrillers and mature-themed offerings.’
Is there a need for another entertainment app?
There is no absolute yes-or-no answer to this question. Whether we need another entertainment app depends on public preferences and what kind of premium programming and value for money they get as paying subscribers.
Hollywood blockbusters and franchises, the latest imported international anthologies, costume and contemporary dramas and series, and all the other mainstream stuff are available for a fee, of course, on Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Prime Video, Viu and other streaming platforms. With this reality, it is safe to declare that the market has reached oversaturation.
Locally, iWantTFC, VMX and YouTube are the online streaming platforms that cater to a majority of the market. That is why Star SineMax is a welcome addition to the streaming platform industry, as it supports independent Filipino artists and filmmakers.
Fearless cinema
“We have no fear,” said Ery Gushi, president and CEO of Star SineMax. “When I say fearless cinema, it is a vow to present cinematic content with bold storytelling and a refusal to play it safe. We are moving away from formulaic tropes and predictable narratives. What we offer content-wise are fresh and exciting alternatives.”
“We are challenging perspectives,” Gushi added. “There is everything for everyone in our entertainment app, from the traditional comedies and dramas to suspense thrillers and mature-themed offerings.
“What I promise to our subscribers is that Star SineMax will be the home for new and impactful filmmaking that is not afraid to take creative risks.
“My vision of a global hub for boundary-pushing cinema is now a reality,” she continued. “I hope everyone embraces and supports us. We are proud of the fact that we have created a digital and entertainment home for artistic creators that gives its subscribers world-class Filipino cinema,” he said.
What to view
A library of homegrown Filipino films, exclusive original content, short films and documentaries is now available for viewing. There are wholesome and general-audience kinds of content, with romance, comedy, horror, family drama and sci-fi as the genres.
Available now are their top three most-viewed titles, namely The Sign, Fake Sister, and Haunted Bride, plus Guardian Baby, Justice of Love and Mudra Bampira.
These movies are headlined by some of the entertainment industry’s most important stars, such as Cinemalaya 22 Best Actress Marietta Subong, aka Pokwang, AiAi delas Alas, Mon Confiado, Arnold Reyes, Mark Herras, Jeric Gonzales, Paolo Gumabao, Yasser Mata, Norman Balbuena, aka Boobay, Julian Roxas, Timothy Tuppil, and beauty queen Herlene Budol.
The Gap, a heavy psychological drama directed by Chad Kinis, with Arnold Reyes and Timothy Tuppil; White Prince, a man-to-man romantic drama with Tommy Alejandrino, Zuher Bautista, and Tuppil again, also directed by Kinis; and Ronald Bongo’s Condom, a raunchy comedy about modern relationships, are the current top viewing picks in the mature adult section.
Literally making waves in their queer content is Christian Paolo Lat’s Pool Boys, an intense, risky, and temptation-filled drama with Sarah Edwards, Elora Espano, and Kych Minemoto as leads.
Support
The public’s support for Star SineMax is not only necessary but essential because it serves as a crucial platform that actively boosts the Filipino entertainment industry.
Because of it, behind-the-scenes crew, on-screen talents, and many Filipino creatives are given jobs and opportunities.
Their battle cry of fearless cinema, and their role as a new home for independently produced movies that offer diverse genres and foster artistic and production collaborations, are not only laudable but commendable as well because they give a voice and medium to alternative content and narratives.
