Hindi Indie

Listening to MTRCB Chair Eugenio “Toto” Villareal narrate his inspection of moviehouses in Sta. Cruz, Manila, was fun and enlightening.

I learned other meanings of “Indie.”

I have always equated “Indie” films with art films, the kind of movies that are produced by dedicated, passionate film makers like Brillante Mendoza and Aureus Solito. The kind that are shown in Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

After all Indie, comes from the word “Independent” , not controlled by major studios whose primary aim is to make money.

Villareal said as part of their “Matalinong Panood” campaign, he and MTRCB board member Bobby Andrews, went to Sta. Cruz two weeks ago and inspected New Vista, Roben, Dilson, Amigo, and Isetann theaters.

“We are almost through with mall cinemas, so we are now doing the stand alone theaters, “Villareal said.
The movie houses they visited were showing rated R-18 : only those eighteen years old and above can be admitted to the theaters because they deal with themes, language not suitable for individuals below 18 years old. The movies could contain scenes of violence, nudity, sex, horror and drugs.

One theater operator told Villareal that they specialize on “Indie films.”

Alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin ng “Indie”, Villareal asked.

“Hindi negative,” the operator replied.

When Villareal was telling me this, I equated the word “negative” to themes, as opposite of the word “positive.”

I was wrong. Villareal said what the theater operator meant about “Indie” movies was they are not on film.

Before the digital age, movies were shot on films which were very expensive which gave rise to a very interesting practice of “Lagare”. To save on expenses, film producers printed few copies of their movies. A movie consisted of several reels of film. Since the movies were shown simultaneously in several theaters, a lagarista (film reel courier) transported by bicycle reels of film from one movie to another. After the first parts were through in one theater, the lagarista brought the film reel to another theater.

I was told there was a movie , Lagarista, starring Piolo Pascual.

Villareal said he asked the same question, “alam nyo ba ang ibig sabihin ng “Indie film” to another movie operator in the province. His reply: “Hindi po.”

Classic.

Villareal said during their Sta. Cruz visit ,they called the attention of the theater owners to the publicity materials which should be of General Patronage because they can be seen by everybody, even those who will not be entering the movie houses. GP means it should be suitable for all ages.

The “Matalinong Panoood Para sa Pamilya ni Juan at Juana” campaign was started by Sen. Grace Poe Llmanzares when she was MTRCB chair because the Board believes that for the rating system to be effective, it should be easily understood by the moviegoers.

Villareal said through the Matalinong Panood campaign, “MTRCB fulfills its mandate and goal to empower the public and to protect the welfare of the viewers, especially the children, women, PWDs, and elders as regards the media and entertainment they see.”