Sino malaya?: Melodrama and the Integration of Contemporary Social Issues in Philippine Independent Films

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Maureen Alexandra A. Dungan, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Miracle Joyce C. Geronimo, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Japheth Sean S. Morales, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila
Cristen Dominique L. Tantoco, De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila

Document Types

Poster Presentation

School Code

n/a

School Name

De La Salle University Integrated School, Manila

Abstract/Executive Summary

Various film critics have written about the dominant themes found in independent films, such as gender and sexuality, culture, and sociopolitical issues. Independent filmmakers have distinctive ways of portraying these issues. Guided by Pathak (2017)’s framework on melodrama, the researchers chose to use melodramatic conventions and techniques to analyze further how these social issues are portrayed in independent films. Findings found that the independent films used melodramatic conventions in portraying social issues. Analyses showed that (1) the films made use of issues such as family relationships and understanding reality, (2) various cinematic elements were applied in the context of melodrama to deliver the film’s message, and (3) setting and physical characteristics were utilized in independent films to display social issues better. This study may be relevant to future research on independent film analysis, the development of national cinema, and the progress of local independent films as a whole.

Keywords

independent films; melodrama; contemporary social issues; Philippine cinema; films

Initial Consent for Publication

yes