7-day run for PH films urged

THERE will be no more “first day, last day” of showing in cinemas for local box office flops if a proposed new law is passed in Congress.

An actor-turned-lawmaker has filed a bill requiring theater operators to run Filipino films for at least seven consecutive days “regardless of their ticket revenues” in a measure that is hoped to boost the local movie industry.

Explaining his objective, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez said that movie theater owners “should support local movie producers to encourage and motivate them to make more films, which in turn create job opportunities.”

He also proposed requiring theater operators to equally divide screening slots, with half allotted for local films and the other half for foreign flicks.

The production of more local movies will entice the younger generation to watch original Filipino movies that will “foster patriotism and nationalism in them,” Fernandez said.

Under House Bill 6300 or the proposed the “Local Movies Act,” local movie theater operators shall be required to run local movies for a full week regardless of ticket sales, provided the film has been approved and rated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. DJ Yap