Last Wednesday, December 30, former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada and his son Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada met the entertainment press for a post-Christmas party. The older Estrada talked about the current state of the movie industry in the Philippines, and how he plans to revitalize it if he gets reelected in the May 2010 elections.
According to the former President, who became popular with the masses for his hero roles in action movies, it is a sad truth that the local movie industry is performing poorly.
"Nakakalungkot. I was there at the prime of our industry with FPJ. The movie industry was producing about over 300 pictures a year. But now, ilan na lang ang napo-produce? Less than 30. Inaantay na lang 'yung MMFF [Metro Manila Film Festival]," Estrada said.
According to the Internet Movie Database, Estrada has starred in around 160 movies since 1954. In the 1960s alone, the popular action star made 102 movies, or an average of 10 movies each year.
MMFF FOUNDER. In 1975, Estrada sought the help of the late Guillermo de Vega to create the Metro Manila Film Festival, to help the flailing film industry weakened by the importation of Hollywood movies, commercialization in the industry, and artistic decline. Out of around 20 theatres in Manila in the first half of the 1960s, only a small percentage carried local movies. (CLICK HERE to read related story)
In his speech to the press, Estrada narrated how MMFF came to be.
"Kaawa-awa ang producer noon. So I thought of having an MMFF para lahat, all those theaters will show simultaneously all the entries. And that's what happened. That made the MMFF a big success," he explained.
The first MMFF was held on September 11, coinciding with the birthday of former President Ferdinand Marcos, who approved the project. But because September is a lean month for movies, Estrada sought the help of first lady Imelda Marcos to move the MMFF to December.
"When we're aiming for the change of date, nakalaban namin 'yung mga distributor ng foreign pictures, sina Johnny Litton. But then, we were able to sustain the MMFF," Estrada said.
Estrada added proudly that the MMFF sustains the film industry even up to now. As of December 30, the film festival posted P265,282,000 in gross earnings.
"'Yan pa rin ang MMFF ngayon na bumubuhay sa ating industriya. And I'm very happy that I was one of the founders of MMFF," he said.
Estrada also talked about plans to limit the importation of foreign movies to revitalize the local film industry. Read about it in PEP's Election Watch microsite. (CLICK HERE to read related story)
