Copyright laws boost online revenues

EVERINGHAM AND SUWANMETHANON. Portray brothers in award-winning drama.

Last Aug. 29, we attended the Korea-Philippines Copyright Forum at the Dusit Thani Hotel, where filmmaker Young-Gil Park, chairman of the Korea Copyright Association, shared how Asian countries can take advantage of copyright laws.

He explains, “It’s time for the Philippines to resume its position as the leading economy in Asia, as it was in 1960s. One effective method is through the copyright system. Let’s presume that the country sells its music only to Filipinos living abroad—and there are more than eight million of them. If only half of that number buys the merchandise, that would considerably benefit your economy!”

Atty. Thursday Alciso, Filscap general manager, shares: “Digital music has the highest-rising revenue—which increased by 500 percent after we entered into an agreement with iTunes and YouTube! We’re also earning a lot from ad-based services.”

Atty. Marivic Benedicto, PARI chairperson, adds: “We generate 75 percent of our online revenues from the US, Canada and Europe, while about 20 percent comes from the Philippines via YouTube!”

 ‘Shambhala’

At the Thai film fest in Glorietta last Sept. 7, we met director Panchapong Kongkanoi and actor Sunny Suwanmethanon, who were in town to screen their film, “Shambhala,” about two brothers (Suwanmethanon and heartthrob Ananda Everingham) who go on a road trip in Tibet. The movie was adjudged Best Film at the Golden Doll and the Nine Entertain awards this year.

Kongkanoi states, “‘Shambhala’ will teach you how to make your life peaceful.” Shot in very cold weather, the 33-year-old actor disclosed that it was his first time to go to Tibet—and, he said, probably his last—because “it’s very difficult to live there!”

Suwanmethanon portrays a man who fulfills his dying girlfriend’s wish by visiting the mythical country—and brings his reckless brother (Everingham) along with him.