Developing the film industry
Film is a powerful medium that can
spread the fame of a country far and wide. Today, cinema is enjoying an
unprecedented boom around the world. Hollywood and Bollywood
blockbusters are still playing to packed houses the world over, but
European and Asian cinematic creations are fast catching up. From
China's sublime The House of Flying Daggers to Japan's haunting Ju-On,
Asian cinema is literally taking the world by storm.
It was not too long ago that Sri Lankan cinema was in limbo. There
was not much to see apart from cheap comedies and semi-pornographic
flicks. Thankfully, the picture has changed for the better.
Several young directors have won critical acclaim and prestigious
awards for path-breaking films. They have moved away from the
song-and-dance, lover and villain formula to explore new, sometimes
controversial themes. Audiences in turn have flocked to the theatres,
leading to record box office collections for so-called 'artistic' films.
We read the good news in yesterday's newspapers that President
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has pledged increased Governmental
assistance towards building the cinema industry while hailing the
efforts of the cinema artistes who recently brought fame and glory to
Sri Lanka by their unique cinematic creations.
This will certainly be music to the ears of those in the movie
industry, especially directors and producers aspiring to make artistic
films with different subject material. The very fact that the
Presidential Film Awards ceremony was held after a lapse of four years
highlights the Government's firm commitment to uplift the film industry.
Indeed, State assistance is essential for the healthy development of
the film industry. In this context, President Kumaratunga's pledge to
increase budgetary allocations for the further development of the local
film industry will be a boon to cinema artists.
As the President has said, the mere doling out of funds alone would
not be sufficient to uplift the cinema.
Local film makers must keep pace with the latest trends in the global
film industry such as surround sound and digital shooting, production
and projection. The film makers will wholeheartedly welcome her
suggestion to provide affordable access to new technology and equipment.
More cinemas need to be built and the existing ones equipped with the
latest technology. The infusion of new trends and technology is also
vital to conquer overseas markets. A number of Sinhala movies have
already run successfully in European cinemas.
Although the majority of viewers were Sri Lankan expatriates, the
natives too had shown a tremendous interest in these films. Several
Sinhala movies have also been purchased by foreign TV stations.
Our film industry must also look seriously at the DVD phenomenon
sweeping the world. Many Hollywood films now make more money from DVD
sales than from the box office.
Sri Lankan film directors must explore the possibility of tying up
with major DVD distributors to market professionally produced DVDs with
multiple language subtitles and even English-dubbed soundtracks. They
will find a ready market especially in countries with considerable
expatriate populations. There are also countless world cinema lovers out
there who would collect outstanding movies.
The local cinema has successfully weathered the television and video
revolution. The film makers have proved that innovative storylines still
draw patrons to theatres despite high admission prices. Further State
assistance will enable them to create even better silverscreen dazzlers. |