Anti-Camcording trailer premieres

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine film community recently launched a 90-second trailer that aims to raise awareness and reinforce its commitment to fight illegal camcording of movies in cinemas.

The new trailer, starring the comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola of GMA 7’s Eat Bulaga! as well as Jobert Austria of ABS-CBN’s Banana Split, will be shown in cinemas nationwide to encourage moviegoers to play a proactive role in the campaign against movie theft by reporting illegal camcorders.

The Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council (MPAFPC) and the National Cinema Association of the Philippines (NCAP) launched the trailer as part of the 2011 Manila Film Festival.

It is part of a continuing education campaign that began last August. Last year, the industry initiated an information drive educating the public that camcording in cinemas is a criminal offense under the newly passed Anti-Camcording Law, an offense strictly enforced by the industry and the Philippine National Police.

Since the Anti-Camcording Law (RA 10088) was passed in July 2010, concerted efforts have been made by the industry to curb the incidence of illegal camcording in the country. There’s also a closer collaboration with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to apprehend offenders.

Cooperation among the exhibitors, theater operators, film producers and Philippine law enforcement has resulted in a total of 49 interdictions made in cinemas nationwide. Charges have since been filed against five of these cases before the DOJ Prosecutor’s Office in Manila, Valenzuela and Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council (MPAFPC) has lauded the progress of the anti-camcording campaign in the Philippines: “The industry’s concerted efforts will help ensure that intellectual property rights are finally given due respect in the country. In time, we believe this will revive the health of the countryís film industry and foster the production and exhibition of even more movies, both local and international.”

Over the years, a significant number of camcorded movies used in the production of illegal optical discs or found online have been forensically matched to cinemas in the Philippines. In 2008, there were 45, then 21 in 2009 and last year, 20 movies traced back to Philippine screens. This year, there has been only one forensic match to date.

“We congratulate the Filipino movie community, lawmakers and enforcers. Their outstanding efforts have had a significant effect on the incidence of illegal camcording in the Philippines,” said Mike Ellis, president and managing director, Motion Picture Association, Asia-Pacific.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines believes that the industry’s anti-camcording campaign is a step in the right direction. “The collaborative efforts must continue if we are to prevent illegal camcorders from stealing intellectual property,” said IPO director general Ricardo Blancaflor. We also hope this campaign will encourage the Filipino public to avoid patronizing illegal copies of movies. This is the only way we can truly win the fight.”

“We are thrilled to see the launch of this trailer. It is a simple message but one that is easy to understand,” said lawyer Rolando Dueñas of National Cinema Association of the Philippines (NCAP). “It reminds moviegoers that the act of movie theft impacts not just movie producers, major stars but also the people behind the scenes and other individuals and businesses that support the movie industry.”

Under the Anti-Camcording Law, any person who is caught using or attempting to use an audiovisual recording device to transmit or make a copy of any part of a performance in an exhibition facility of any cinematographic film or other audiovisual work will be charged with a fine of P50,000 to P750,000 (US$1,000-US$17,000) and will face imprisonment of a minimum of six months and one day to six years and one day.