Janella Salvador | Image: Instagram/@superjanella
Calling them “arrogant” and “condescending,”Janella Salvador did not mince words for Filipinos who have shown prejudice to local films vis-a-vis Hollywood-based films which they consider a higher form of entertainment.
On her Instagram Stories, Salvador reshared a post made by her “Under Parallel Skies” film producer Richard Juan about an acquaintance who could not be bothered to watch a local film,” a remark that earned both their ire.
Juan expressed disappointment over the exchange, saying it “broke [his] heart” as a film producer. “I really did not expect anyone to say this to me — ‘No time for that.’ Grabe. Seryoso ba? As a new producer, these words really broke my heart. Ang sakit,” Juan said on his Instagram.
In sharing Juan’s post, Salvador said Filipinos who pass up on local films in favor of their international counterparts are hardly sophisticated.
“People who think they are too good for local films. It doesn’t make you sound more sophisticated, just straight-up arrogant and condescending,” the actress wrote.
For his part, Juan said this mindset of some Filipinos of “dismissing all local films outright” made filmmaking more challenging for film producers like him.
“Let’s be real — lahat tayo may mga kaibigan na ganun din (we all have friends who are like this). I get it, not every film will resonate with everyone, and that’s 100% fine,” he wrote. “Criticism is part of it naman talaga. But dismissing all local films outright? Wag naman? Sobrang sakit talaga (Don’t do this. This really hurts me).”
The film producer then pointed out that Filipino films have the potential to be up to par with “international films.”
“But that’s the reality that we live in. When they say they want to watch ‘international films,’ they always think Hollywood films. Pero hindi ba pwede international film din yung Filipino film (Can’t a Filipino film be considered as an international film)?” he wrote. “Let’s champion not just Philippine cinema, but also Asian cinema with immense pride.”
Juan and Salvador are promoting “Under Parallel Skies,” a film helmed by Sigrid Bernardo and which she stars in alongside Thai actor Win Metawin. Juan also appeared in a minor role in the movie.
