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How the pandemic will change stories in films, according to Mikhail Red

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/02/07/0207cinema.jpg"/><figcaption>A local cinema is prepared to accommodate moviegoers in this file photo. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The wide-ranging effects of the coronavirus pandemic, from economic crises to physical isolation, will also manifest in stories to be told in films moving forward.</p><p>Movies with contemporary settings, in particular, will risk being outdated without at least a reference to the pandemic, according to acclaimed filmmaker Mikhail Red.</p><p>&quot;Kung iyong story mo ignores the whole pandemic, parang period film ka na bigla. Lahat ng stories moving forward, dapat i-acknowledge mo &#x27;yun. Para siyang milestone,&quot; he said.</p><p>The director behind &quot;Birdshot&quot; and &quot;Eerie&quot; spoke of the storytelling implications of COVID-19 in the April 16 episode of #KuwentuhanLang, an online fundraiser that aims to help film industry workers whose livelihood have been affected by the coronavirus lockdown.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/06/25/20190625-mikhail-red.jpg"/><figcaption>Filmmaker Mikhail Red. <em>Instagram: @red_mikhail</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Red gave as an example how World War II and its far-reaching effects still figure in stories based on the real world. Even fantasy movies like Marvel&#x27;s superhero flicks, Red pointed out, acknowledge the years-long strife.</p><p>&quot;Lahat ng conflict ng mga kuwento ngayon, parang ang babaw na &#x27;pag tinapat mo sa pandemic,&quot; he said.</p><p>The challenge, Red surmised, will be offering a story that includes nuances of the pandemic&#x27;s lingering impact, without revolving around it.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon, kung may ongoing projects kayo, paano &#x27;yun? Baka hindi na siya as heavy because nangyari lahat &#x27;to. So kailangan niyo i-adjust &#x27;yun. Ii-integrate niyo talaga sa kuwento,&quot; he said.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&amp;v=658710468240396" data-width="auto"> </div><p>&quot;Or,&quot; he added, &quot;iiwasan niyo ito by going into the future, mga post-apocalyptic, futuristic films, or fantasy, or period film. Iyon na muna ang option, ang tricky.&quot;</p><p>Beyond stories, film distribution also stands to undergo significant changes once the pandemic is controlled, Red said.</p><p>Hollywood studios, Red observed, have been &quot;rush-selling their films to streaming,&quot; to counterweigh the loss of cinema screens amid worldwide lockdowns.</p><p>The &quot;new normal&quot; of streaming movies at home, the director said, will likely carry over beyond the pandemic, bolstered by wide options of platforms like pioneer Netflix and the Philippines&#x27; iWant.</p><p>&quot;Buti na lang &#x27;yung ABS, talagang nag all-in na rin sa iWant, kasi nakikita nila, iyon na rin &#x27;yung future: in-demand and streaming... Lahat ng tao, online na lang nanonood sa bahay. Doon papunta &#x27;yung cinema,&quot; Red said.<br/> </p>

<p>"Kung iyong story mo ignores the whole pandemic, parang period film ka na bigla. Lahat ng stories moving forward, dapat i-acknowledge mo 'yun."</p>

"Kung iyong story mo ignores the whole pandemic, parang period film ka na bigla. Lahat ng stories moving forward, dapat i-acknowledge mo 'yun."