The truth about streaming: Is it the future of entertainment?
Jalz Zarate is a filmmaker, producer, and the managing director of a production house. His directorial debut Spellbound was released both theatrically and on the streaming platform Netflix earlier this year. He talks about the good and bad of streaming for the local film industry, as well as how we can better prepare for the future now that it’s upon us.
The truth
With the advent of streaming, watching films became less of an event. Film is a sensorial experience—I believe it has to be big. You see it, you hear it, you feel it. When you stream, there’s less of this.
It’s a big change, but not one without benefits. Accessibility is a big one. You can watch anything anywhere, and the price of one movie ticket is almost the same as a month-long subscription to a streaming platform that the whole family can use.
A lot of content is also being produced now. For example, I’m working on a film with Viva Films. They have their own streaming platform, so they produce a lot of content for it. That’s a good thing for filmmakers and writers—they get to come up with fresh ideas. We can be bolder and as honest as we can as storytellers. The challenge now is to produce quality content, because the quantity is there. And what I mentioned about accessibility, it’s not just nationwide but globally as well. So the content we put out on streaming platforms must be the stories we want to tell to the world.
However, sometimes the effort to produce more content leads to budget cuts. I’m a producer myself so I understand that we’re not just making films for the sake of art, that it’s a business. But our output and working conditions may suffer. With our limitations, I’m not sure if we can still experience blockbuster hits like before. This is also in consideration of inflation—the cost of our basic needs has been growing, so what will Filipino families prioritize?
I’m sure there will be a shift in how we tell our stories as Filipinos. More interesting stories will come out, as well as budding creatives, especially since making films is more accessible. Streaming can also provide a home to independent films that had no wide release after their festival runs. We have a market—I believe every film has an audience.
My film Spellbound was released both theatrically and via streaming. When it was shown in cinemas last February, people were still afraid to return to the theater. When it was released on Netflix, a lot of people watched it and their feedback was positive. I realized that right now, streaming is the way to go.
The dare
I’m sure there will be a shift in how we tell our stories as Filipinos. More interesting stories will come out, as well as budding creatives, especially since making films is more accessible. Streaming can also provide a home to independent films that had no wide release after their festival runs. We have a market—I believe every film has an audience.
If we want to thrive in the streaming age, we need support from the government. This means things like funding and access to locations. With the support of the government, we can make more well-crafted films that tell the story of our nation to a global audience.
