Passion to prestige: contemporary indie films as catalyst for socio-political consciousness.

Abstract

The researcher investigates the nuances within contemporary indie film making in the Philippines from its production up until screening. In the course of the study, the researcher aims to answer the main question whether contemporary indie film is an effective medium in establishing sociopolitical awareness as well as rendering action for solutions among its audience regarding the pertinent and critical social issues it raise. Using Gramsci’s Theory of Hegemony and Baudry’s Apparatus Theory as the theoretical framework as well as Blumer’s Symbolic Interactionism as the methodological framework, this study intends to understand how indie films, influence and facilitates, if at all, the consciousness of its audience and trigger them to be engage on possible resolutions of pressing issues the film presents. In the pursuit of giving corresponding answer and justifications on the main research question, the researcher gathered qualitative and quantitative data through related literature, key expert interviews with UP Diliman College of Mass Communication Dean Roland Tolentino, UP Film Institute Professor Nick de Ocampo and UP Manila Arts and Communication Professor Rose Roque; and survey among UP Diliman and UP Manila students. The major findings of the study are as follows, contemporary indie film deviates from the notfor-profit and advocacy principles of indie film making through the huge mismatch on the audience reach and screening venue which circulates among intellectual crowd and “paying” audience; the lack of engagement of audience in possible solutions of issues concerned; and the danger of sensationalism on the part of film makers creating social-realist films for it is a trend in film making. The gathered data were analyzed and validated through triangulation of data from literature, expert interviews and survey. However, the researcher has not incorporated the insights of contemporary indie film practitioners due to availability and convenience in schedule and it is deemed as the limitation of this study.