Producers natatakot nang gumawa ng pelikula; mas tumaas pa ang gastos
AMINADO si Quantum Films producer Atty. Joji Alonso na may agam-agam siyang magbalik-shooting ngayong Hunyo o Hulyo dahil iniisip niya ang kaligtasan ng kanyang staff.
Pero dahil nga kailangang kumita rin ang mga tao niya at para may ipangsuweldo bukod pa sa iba pang pagkakagastusan ay gagawin nila nina Direk Marlon Rivera at Chris Martinez ang “Hotel 6” under Dreamscape Entertainment for iWant.
Nu’ng isang gabi ay nag-post si Atty. Joji tungkol sa nakausap niyang co-producer na itinigil muna ang shooting ng pelikula dahil sa takot nitong baka hindi kumita lalo’t nagtaas ang production cost dahil sa lock-in setting ng mga artista at buong production staff.
Ibinahagi sa amin ni Atty. Joji ang naging usapan nila ng isang kapwa niya producer.
“Colleague/Producer: We decided to pack up shoot and wait until things are more settled.
“Me: Why, what happened?
“Colleague/Producer: Our cost will go up by 46%. Too huge a risk. And we don’t even know yet when we can release our film.
“Me: Yeah, chances are – the earliest that the cinemas will open will be in July. MGCQ is not likely to happen by June 15.
“And gross receipts will certainly go down as people will not be rushing to watch theatrically released films.
“Colleague/Producer: Wait and see na muna.
“The film industry is the hardest hit in these times along with tourism. It is the most taxed industry – with amusement taxes, VAT and income taxes.
“For those who are not aware, for a film to recoup its cost, the producer must gross 3 times more a film with a budget of 20M has to gross roughly 60M to BREAK EVEN.
“It is at the mercy of pirates who await the first day of a film release. Then, we now have all forms of digital formats that either cost less or are free to its audience.
“So Quo vadis? Wait and see na lang muna.”
Ayaw namang banggitin sa amin ng producer kung anong project at sinong direktor ang kausap niya.
“Ay ‘wag Regs, ayaw nila malaman. Actually 3 films sila naka-hold kasi sobrang mahal ng cost. Basta yan ang reality ngayon,” katwiran sa amin.
Anyway, para mawala ang stress ni Atty. Joji ay kumuha ulit siya ng puppy Labrador para may kalaro siya bukod kay Atorni na isa namang Golden Retriever.
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Usapang pelikula pa rin, nabanggit naman ni Direk Yam Laranas na naka-hold din ang pagpapalabas ng pelikulang “Rooftop” ng Viva Films na dapat sana’y noong Mayo pa ipinalabas.
“On hold muna ang schedule ng release until puwede na at safe na ang mga sinehan,” sabi ng direktor nang maka-chat namin.
Dagdag pa niya, “Magbabanggaan ang mga playdates. Alam ko July 30 ang Asian release, maybe.”
Ang isa sa ipalalabas sa Hulyo 30 ay ang sequel ng “Train to Busan” na “Peninsula” na nakasisiguro kaming maraming manonood dahil blockbuster nga ang part 1 nito.
Naging pabor din kay direk Yam ang mahigit dalawang buwang lockdown dahil dalawang screenplay ang natapos niya at nagsisimula na siyang isulat ang ikatlo.
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