Winning moves, trending grooves

It’s still early days for the new entertainment season, but some signs indicate that it could be an improvement on 2012.

For one thing, with the elections coming up, it could usher in more political shows and thus more relevant entertainment—like the “Rock the Vote” satirical revue that we hear could be revived sooner than we think. On the generally escapist show biz scene, any additional relevance is decidedly to be welcomed —and celebrated!

Similarly to be cheered are attempts to revive songwriting on the local music scene, which has been stultified for far too long by the industry’s focus on lazy revivals rather than new compositions. These measures include songwriting workshops and competitions.

Counter ‘colonial’ reign

Efforts should also be made to encourage the production of new Filipino musicals, to help neutralize and counter the  “colonial” reign of imported musical-theater productions.

On TV, teleseryes continue to reign supreme, but it’s instructive to note that familiarity  is breeding, perhaps not contempt, but a conscious effort to offer viewers something else,  and something relatively new.

This “plus programming” thrust should be encouraged because we’ve had it up to here with the usual rehashes of plots of TV seasons past.

At their most basic, the “plus”-program moves include foreign locales and thriller and chiller elements, aside from the usual complications and villainous convulsions.

Evolving trend

“Edgier” characterizations are quite the coming rage and TV actors welcome the evolving trend, because it enables them to dig deeper into their bag of thespic tricks, and shoot an episode without almost literally falling asleep!

Also to be encouraged is the rise of all-news channels, which in turn have had to come up with more documentaries and “soft news” features.

This more personal, emotive and  psychological approach goes beyond the headlines to limn a more well-rounded appreciation of top newsmakers, and what prompts them to arrive  at the decisions they make.

At the other end of the news spectrum, some new shows focus on the “ordinary” Filipino, and what makes him tick. Generally ignored by other news and public affairs shows, he and his views are now focused on by new survey-type shows, and that’s all to the good, because they provide a microcosm of what the entire nation could be thinking and feeling.

Child stars
It’s instructive to note that some of the most popular new faces belong to child talents, some of whom have been precociously headlining big drama series. They are currently paced by Xyriel Manabat, who should be given a feature film showcase. Her handlers should shake a leg; even newer comers, some as young as 4 and 5, are making their bid for stardom this year!

On the young-adult thespic scene, former teen faves like Angel Locsin and Angelica Panganiban have been given meatier and more mature roles in “One More Try,” and other  stars are sure to follow, like KC Concepcion, who’s similarly ready to heat up her screen image.

And can Kim Chiu and Sarah Geronimo be far behind?

Finally, more indie filmmakers are going mainstream, like Lawrence Fajardo with “The Strangers.” As long as they keep coming up with notable productions, the incipient trend should be encouraged, because good movies deserve to be seen by more than just a niche or film-buff crowd!