On December 25, Jose Javier ‘Joey’ Reyes, MJ Felipe, Antoinette Jadaone, and other showbiz industry people weighed in on the cold first-day reception of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2021.
First off, Felipe shared reasons why MMFF 2021 had a low turn-out based on people’s sentiments on the ground.
According to the reporter, people are looking for child-friendly and fun movies for MMFF. He added that families prefer to bond during Christmas Day rather than watch movies with seats apart and no food in the cinemas. He then pointed out the expensive cost of the movie ticket.
(A THREAD) Sa aming pag-iikot sa mga sinehan, eto ang mga dahilan ng ilan kaya mababa ang turnout ng 1st day ng MMFF:
1. Hinahanap nila ang mga pambatang pelikula gaya nina Vica Ganda, Vic Sotto at Coco Martin. Yan ang gusto ng mga bata. Sa matatanda,they just want a good laugh.
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) December 25, 2021
2. Ayaw nila manood kasi bawal ang pagkain sa loob ng sinehan.
3. Bonding time ang panonood ng sine, pero kung magkakalayo lang din naman, wag na lang daw.
4. Nakasanayan na raw nila na sa bahay na lang nanonood, magkakatabi pa, big screen na tapos pwede pa kumain.
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) December 25, 2021
5. Mahal daw ang tiket. Nagtaas ng 10 to 40 pesos ang ilang sinehan. Ranging from 320 to 345 para sa regular screening tickets. 450 naman para sa mga premium/deluxe cinemas. Tight budget daw talaga.
These are the sentiments on the ground.
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) December 25, 2021
Director Joey Reyes, a juror for MMFF 2021, shared a photo by MJ Felipe with his thoughts on why people prefer to stay at home rather than go out and watch movies.
Reyes echoed people’s sentiments on Felipe’s post, such as the expensive ticket was too expensive, food accommodations, the drawback of social distancing to family bonding.
Director Reyes then noted to accept the reality of the situation. Then, to adjust and advance.
Director Antoinette Jadaone agreed with the screenwriter Hyro Aguinaldo on the lack of promotions from the MMFF governing board, citing her experience
TOTOO!
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) December 25, 2021
Parang nakasalalay na lang lagi sa producers mag-promote. Walang sapat na tulong at ingay mula MMFF o kung kanino man na bukas na pala mga sinehan. Parang totoo nga: na umaasa na lang every yr kung gayon kay Vice para mapromote ang MMFF. Kung walang Vice movie, kebs sa promotion.
— Toñet (@tonetjadaone) December 25, 2021
Director Rod Singh expressed her disappointment over the lack of support from Filipinos for the local movies, citing the netizens who bombarded the internet with demands for Spiderman: No Way Home.
Nakakalungkot ito. Pero mas nakakalungkot makabasa ng comments like daserv, ang papangit daw kasi ng palabas etc.
Anyare sa support local natin? Gets naman ang demand for NWH. Pero sana naman ano, bigyan ng chance ang local industry na makabangon. https://t.co/08J0fM3Xov
— rod singh (@iamrodafrog) December 25, 2021
Producer Jerome Vargas agreed with Felipe’s tweet, criticizing the expensive ticket price for the movie.
Mas pinili ng mga taong bumili ng pagkain, mag-travel at ang magtipid. Who’s paying for 300-400 per person for a movie tapos bawal ka pa kumain sa loob vs 500 pesos monthly payment for Netflix tapos unli nood ka pa and you can enjoy with your family.
Sad but it’s the “NEW NORMAL” https://t.co/Iqg4gMAbgO— Je Vargas (@TheJeromeVargas) December 25, 2021
Award-winning Poet Jerry Gracio, on the other hand, posted a screenshot of Noel Ferrer’s Facebook post giving a counter-argument to Felipe’s tweet.
From Noel Ferrer on MMFF 2021: "Kahit nauna nang iniulat na matumal… ‘yung December 25 opening pa rin ang highest grossing day… not even the big Hollywood films (like Eternals) are able to approximate the gross that MMFF 2021 has generated so far." pic.twitter.com/5fz8iwkUEq
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) December 26, 2021
Gracio cited Ferrer’s comparison for the opening day of MMFF 2021 versus the opening of Marvel’s The Eternals.
Ferrer, who was also a jury for the festival, defended the efforts of the MMFF committee to revitalize Philippine Cinema amid the pandemic.
The 47th MMFF opened on December 25, Christmas Day, and remains in cinemas until January 7, 2022. Previously, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) opted to hold the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) via streaming platforms.
