Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday, November 26, said his movie Yorme is meant to help revive the movie industry and is not concerned about going head-to-head with international films.
“Who’s going to be number one? Who’s going to be number 2? Who’s going to be watched? It is the industry that I am after,” the mayor said during the film’s conference.
Domagoso pointed that his musical biopic was to open up the opportunity to generate income for the distraught industry affected by the pandemic.
“Na yung industriya nang showbiz, makakapag-produced na ulit ng pelikula, makapag-generate ng negosyo, makapag-generate ng trabaho. Unti-unti na rin bubukas yung movie industry, na greatly hurt by the pandemic.”
He then expressed how honored he is to have his film be the first locally produced movie to be available in the cinemas, showing how concerned he is to the showbiz industry.
“So if this will be the first, I will be honored to open the opportunity for local producers to take the risk and venture into it again. That will generate jobs and opportunities [for] my fellow showbiz.
“Alam naman natin maraming nawalan ng trabaho sa showbiz, yun yung artista. Eh yung sa likod ng background, mas malaki yon, mas marami ‘yon.”
Yorme will be against the international movie The Eternals by Marvel, but Domagoso once again reiterated that his movie is not to rival foreign films. It is to encourage the public to support local films.
“So while it is true na malakas yung Marvel, I think it’s high time sa ating mga kababayan na suportahan natin yung atin, hindi dahil ito yung Yorme, kundi yung industriya itself. Let’s show the Philippine movie industry, yun ang susuportahan natin.
“Parang sa amin sa Maynila, kung makikita niyo katulad ngayon sa Mehan Garden, yung tinatawag namin, it’s been three years na, buy local in local, yung mga ganoon. Ine-encourage naman yung mga utao na suportahan yung mga negosyante doon sa kanilang mga tinda-tindahan. May hanapbuhay, they then generated some jobs.”
The opening of cinemas, according to the mayor, was also a sign that investors should start investing in the movie industry.
“Eto, magandang bukana kasi ngayon lang ulit bubuksan ang sine a year and nine months, if I’m not mistaken. So this will be a signal to the investors, to [the] Philippine movie industry, to bankroll again our assets, our actors, actresses, talents na to make competitive now.”
Yorme is produced by Saranggola Media and Viva Films under the direction of Joven Tan. It stars Raikko Mateo as the young Isko, McCoy De Leon as the teenage Isko, and Xian Lim as the adult Isko.
Catch Yorme in cinemas this December 1.
