IF you're a true blue film maker, you'd soon realize that film production is not just about this glorious dedication called PASSION.
For one, you can't eat ART.
Film making is a BUSINESS, it's all about BOX OFFICE SUCCESS.
That is, if you want to stay afloat in this fickle entertainment arena.
If your movie tank at the BOX OFFICE, then you might well be singing your swan song on the way out.
This industry is that brutal.
GAY VISIBILITY IS FILMS?
Can the PINK INFLUENCE be more affluent or more wired?
The other day I was enjoying an AUDREY HEPBURN's 1957 classic movie musical called FUNNY FACE on DVD. It's this dreamy feel-good yarn of a Miss plain bookworm-turned-beautiful fashion model.
As Co-Actress KAY THOMPSON belted out the snappy but whimsical song THINK PINK!! with the beautiful scene bathed in glorious CHRISTIAN DIOR's pink....it suddenly occurred to me that the word PINK has a different connotation these days, one of a sexual gender.
Think PINK?
Because if you do, you may be treading on solid paths of gold.
Do NOT undermine the true value of the PINK dollar.
These days, the PINK dollar can garner votes, wields so much power, too much strength.
Even our singing divas, MADONNA and KYLIE MINOGUE know this and play by the rules.
In return, they earn the unwavering support of the the international gay community, thus accounting for their "star staying" power and their consistent growing CD album sales. Where many failed, they have succeeded. Smart manoeuvre.
Even ace film director ANG LEE is no exception. In his early directorial career in Taiwan, he helmed a very successful family but gay genre film called THE WEDDING BANQUET, a 1993 breakthrough film about a chinese son based in the USA who was torn between parental expectations to marry and his closeted sexual identity.
THE WEDDING BANQUET was all-at-once funny, touching and poignant.
In 2005, ANG LEE took the ACADEMY AWARD for Best Director in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, a tragic tale about two lustful but confused cowboys and their marital angst.
In 2008 it has been earmarked that ANG LEE is exploring again, the making of a new gay-themed Hollywood film revolving around the 1960s WOODSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL.
The glowing success in terms of box-office popularity of ANG LEE's gay-theme genre has inspired many of hisASIAN counterparts and paves the way for them to jump onto the bandwagon.
Targeting the PINK dollar is brisk business these days for film makers, executive producers and investors.
And how are we going to ensure a surefire successful formula?
Rule Number One :
Throw in gorgeous hunks with chiseled bodies. Go fishing, cast your net wide and audition, audition, audition with help from your neighborhood's friendly media. Before this, arm yourself with a solid script and a competent storytelling film director.
Rule Number Two:
Add a couple of beautiful actresses but get them only for cameos. They are after all, "vases", but an inspiration to the core story. Hey, surely you are not going to make a film featuring guys only? My bet is that it's going to be so boring !! We need nubile belles for eye candies thrown in for a measure, lo.
Rule Number Three:
Next, infuse sizzling scenes of half-draped hunks in " scanty white undies" or "dare-to-bare-all" penile shots of the aspiring actors. If these hunks are hungry for fame, undressing to make it big and displaying their manhood in full glory - would never be a problem.
Rule Number Four:
Then the FINALE. The lead hunk must die, for whatever tragic reasons. It is a love that is never meant to be. This is to induce the audience to leave the cinema with misty eyes and clamoring for more. Sex sells, so do tragedies, given that myriads of die-hard fans craving for Korean soap operas these days.
Now let's talk about the success stories on the ASIAN circuit and the LEAD ACTORS who had since made it big on the big screen:
HONG KONG celebrity-stills photographer-turned-motion-picture Director YANG FANG paired newcomers DANIEL WU and STEPHEN FUNG in the 1998 controversial gay-themed flick BISHONEN on the unlikely tale of a young policeman and his gigolo boy friend. BISHONEN made superstars out of DANIEL WU and STEPHEN FUNG and was YANG FAN's best film to date.
In 2002, award winning Hong Kong director STANLEY KWAN took a gamble on the then unknown CHINA actor LIU YE to play the lead in LAN YU, a tragic story about a bankrupt middle aged businessman who sought solace in the arms of a call boy. LIU YE disrobed to reveal his flaccid pecker in a bedroom scene that was deemed not absolutely necessary, but garnered media attention anyway.
LAN YU went on to win many festival awards. including BEST ACTOR for LIU YE. Today, LIU YE is much sought after, super rich and successful.
Taiwanese director LESTE CHEN helmed the production of a similar ETERNAL SUMMER in 2006 and launched the career of wannabe BRYANT CHANG who won a best new performer award for his screen debut.
In the PHILIPPINES we are lauded with a slew of gay related films that were hurriedly made between 2007 and 2008 on digital beta and HD mostly, usually produced on very modest budgets. Not easy, therefore we should take a lesson from our Pinoy friends for their unwavering belief to stay "within budgets" and schedules. Dedication to the art reduces operational overheads and saves costs.
Such were MAN IN THE LIGHT HOUSE, DAY BREAK, SIKIL, SERBIS and the most recent BUTAS to mention a few.
HARRY LAUREL, COCO MARTIN and MARCO MORALES are stereo typed in a number of these flicks where they get to display their "precious jewels" in full glory.
COCO MARTIN is one smart actor who believes in crafting his art by venturing into a variety of roles in the direction of a la EWAN McGREGOR to establish his portfolio's stronghold. His performances are a delight to watch and gives fellow actor JERICHO ROSALES (who is now better known for his love escapades), a run for his money.
HARRY LAUREL's daring erection saw his popularity soared immensely as a no holds-barred gay icon.
Yet despite all the brouhaha, HARRY is still awaiting his big break into the foray of serious acting. No concrete offers yet, apparently.
Hopefully, aspiring sex symbol hopeful - MARCO MORALES' shameless rounds of showing off his tantalizing penis in BUTAS would do him justice for this selfless "sacrifice".
From exotic THAILAND, it was CHAIWAT THONGSAENG, a new Thai hunk who stole the thunder in BANGKOK LOVE STORY in 2007 with his vivid portrayal of a rugged policeman who fell desperately for a hitman and neglected the needs of his exasperated fiancee.
The ending was predictably tragic. CHAIWAT THONGSAENG has since gone to do serious roles and is now preparing for a movie musical in 2009.
From the shores of rigid SINGAPORE, young directors KAN LUME and LOO ZIHAN co-directed an eye-popping SOLOS depicting the perplexed love of a junior college student for his male teacher. This Singapore film was withdrawn from the Singapore Film Festival in 2007 on the pretext that graphic homosexual love making scenes and other content needed to be cut. Audience outside Singapore are looking forward to the screening of SOLOS.
A trite sad for the Singaporeans, but kudos must be given to the entire production team for their commendable effort.
KAN LUME, LOO ZIHAN and BOO JUN FENG (of short story KELUAR BARIS 2008) are the multi-talented next-generation wave of film directors to watch out for in the Asian film circuit.
So think PINK.
It's the battle of the PINK dollar these days.
In tinseltown the PINK dollar ensures brisk business.
And for sure, which professional long-sighted film maker who believes in the magic of BOX OFFICE clout, would ever want to ignore this fact?
