Philippine Cinema and the Cultural Economy of Distribution

This book explores the complex interplay of culture and economics in the context of Philippine cinema. It delves into the tension, interaction, and shifting movements between mainstream and independent filmmaking, examines the film distribution and exhibition systems, and investigates how existing business practices affect the sustainability of the independent sector. This book addresses the lack or absence of Asian representation in film distribution literature by supplying the much-needed Asian context and case study. It also advances the discourse of film distribution economy by expounding on the formal and semi-formal film distribution practices in a developing Asian country like the Philippines, where the thriving piracy culture is considered as ‘normal,’ and which is commonly depicted and discussed in existing literature. As such, this will be the first book that looks into the specifics of the Philippine film distribution and exhibition system and provides a historical grounding of its practices. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxi Introduction: Film Distribution in Action (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 1-8 Film Distribution in Film Studies (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 9-38 The Making of Philippine Independent Cinema (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 39-66 Now Showing: The State of Philippine Cinema (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 67-98 Distribution and Exhibition as Intermediary Spaces (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 99-130 Traditional Film Distribution and Exhibition Platforms in the Formal Economy (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 131-166 Emerging Film Distribution and Exhibition Platforms in the Formal Economy (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 167-203 The Semi-formal and Informal Economies of Film Distribution and Exhibition (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 205-240 The Philippine Film Industry, the State, and Cultural Policy (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 241-270 Conclusion: Forward to the Economy, Back to the Culture (Michael Kho Lim)....Pages 271-276 Back Matter ....Pages 277-284