ABS-CBN
GMA 7
If I'm not mistaken, GMA Network came out with it's own LH video first. I thought that was a great and thoughtful thing to do in terms of a media entity taking control of its field of influence. Unfortunately, their actors don't impress so let's just forget about the casting. And neither does the cinematography.
Since they used a historical approach, they used low saturation for colors--it worked. But the problem of lighting is, again, unforgivable. Why is it that they always have fully illuminated scenes? What's keeping them from toning it down a bit? You see this in ALL their shows. It's almost all like everything's glamour/publicity shot like the way Michael Bay makes U.S. Army recruitment videos. (What? You ever see any of his movies? Don't be misled.) If these "artistas" weren't in period costume, would you ever think this was anything about Philippine history?
Now, ABS-CBN, for their part, turned the humble station ID into grand music videos and I guess they've done well with it. They've come up with creative and elaborate productions and, let the other network admit it, ABS-CBN talents enjoy better recall. For this project though, it appears they're intoxicated with the success of their usual station IDs. They totally forgot what the video was about. Piolo and those other guys running with the flag could have been switched for an ad for Cotton USA. And did someone forget to tell the director that standing around in various locations is, well, what the other guys already did? This would have worked for Penoy's presidential campaign...or maybe they're still reeling from it.
Watching both videos, the one that gave me goosebumps was GMA 7's. It was slightly distracting to see them put Marvin Agustin as Rizal but they quickly captured my vote in that firing squad scene. That moment when he fell to the ground and the anthem started was a stroke of genius. It was THE essence of it all. It was symbolic, perfectly timed, and anyone who knows a bit about our history knows why. And the track was spot on, just the way NHCP keeps reminding us of. Congrats, GMA 7. You did well where it matters.
Still, all things considered, I am pleased that both media giants made the effort to emphasize national pride despite how heavy both continue to borrow from western entertainment. They can't do much to turn the boat around now but this is a way to step back and look at the bigger picture: we're all from one nation and in starting and ending the day, we should remember who we are.
i cant help but notice how unrealistic their depiction is on those historic milestones. You can begin with them picking out too many mestizos and mestizas donned in those pinoy national outfits.
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