Pirates go slow on movies, 'get even' on music
Incessant raids on the city's "Pirates' Alley" in Marymart Mall and similar business havens of pirated CDs and DVDs are taking its toll on local 'pirates.' With business now down to home delivery and personal meetings with regular clients, the stocks of pirated films mostly foreign have significantly dwindled. Even the hardened and most veteran in the city 'pirates' concedes, business is bad. But not to be totally dejected, a group of enterprising suppliers have now set their eyes to music piracy and limited but "quality-produced" Filipino flicks.
One fact that a visiting executive of the Motion Picture and Anti-Piracy Council, Engineer Ric Camaligan admits has done much harm to the Philippine movie industry.
Camaligan said the movie industry in the Philippines is losing some P30 million in its total sales as piracy continues to hit the dwindling industry.
Camaligan said the movie industry is badly affected because of the proliferation of pirated CDs and DVDs in different parts of the country.
He said, the movie industry losses 30-35 percent of its entire total sales for one month period alone. It continues to affect the industry as the implementation of the laws regarding piracy is "ineffective."
He said owners of pirated CD's and DVD's were able to hold back their stuff after the raid. "After three hours they (owners) get back their confiscated CDs and DVDs," he said.
Camaligan, is also part of the executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival. He was in the city Wednesday for the Metro Manila Film Festival parade of stars. The parade of stars is part of the activity in line with the forthcoming Dinagyang Festival 2006. Iloilo City is one of the cities outside Metro Manila where stars of the different entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival had visited.
He said law enforcers should be consistent in implementing the laws against piracy. The local police, Optical Media Board (OMB) and even the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are tasked to help in the campaign against piracy.
Camaligan, however refused to confirm reports on the "protection" extended by the law enforcers on the sellers of pirated CD's.
Camaligan said they are tracking the source of the pirated CD's and DVD's since they could not control the proliferation of the pirated stuff. The pirated foreign films come from China and Malaysia. While, the local films are stolen from the theaters through hi-tech video cameras. The cameras are so high-tech that could not be seen by theater personnel while a movie is being copied.
He added that the theater owners have agreed to upgrade their standards in the kind of cinema they have in order to attract more viewers. There is no comparison in watching in a big screen than in homes using pirated CD's or DVD's. Watching pirated CD's or DVD's could affect eye sight and destroy the media player, said Camaligan.
On the movie industry, Camaligan said they hope to produce better movies next year by using quality cinematographic effects such as those in Harry Potter. It needs the support of actors, actresses, directors and producers. "The movie industry can survive with the help of these people," he said.