Limited Edition
By: Maria Reylan M. Garcia
Imported television, this appears to be the current talk of the town. Major television stations in our country take turns in bidding for production rights of latest hit television shows on the other side of the globe. More and more foreign based quiz shows are squeezing themselves in thus, extending primetime to wee hours of the night. More and more reality programs and singing contests are driving more support from the public through voting and polls thus, giving the telecommunication networks a run for their capital. More and more remakes of yet another Asian drama mania are keeping the public's eyes peeled thus, providing more debut for promising love teams. We may see native actors and celebrities still starring these shows, but let us open our eyes; Philippine television starts to grow out of its name. Our country has a hobby for creating local versions of almost anything coming from abroad. We started from fashion, chocolates, and movies. Now stopping at nothing, we localized imported television shows.
We have found an easier way around, an easy street, a shortcut. Since those television shows have been a huge chartbuster in their own native lands, we took advantage of those names and trademarks, definite that it will do the same effect to our own country. It was indeed successful and a sure win, making it more than just a fad to our entertainment industry, it has already been a standard. I don't oppose in anyway to these current realities, I myself am quite hooked to outsmarting fifth graders or spinning wheels for money. I am just anxious of the consequences that will come sometime soon. On a small scale basis our means of importing foreign based television shows resembles a struggling casting agency trying to find a look-a-like of a huge celebrity. Because the celebrity is continued to be swarmed by millions of screaming fans, that celebrity's personality, physical appearance and overall appeal is profit. So, here comes a look-a-like that would copy off the big shot and settles for secondary attention, supporting roles and adequate talent fee. The scenario doesn't stop there.
It may be quite beneficial to the look-a-like; it may appear that the struggling casting agency is sucking all the gains using the celebrity's name, but that's only one side to the story. Since you copy off someone, you're bound for criticisms and comments; you're immediately put under comparison with the original one. The look-a-like's life will be set to the standards, not of himself, nor the struggling casting agency, but that of the celebrity. What the celebrity does, the look-a-like must follow with twice the effort. Same through with any situation, once you made use of the original you must avoid scratches; you must not take detour with what's set by the original. These television shows based from who knows where are locked up from free will and decision making, Filipino franchisers are not in the position to, they can only adopt but never adapt. Call me bitter, but I am guilty of criticizing some copies our country has made. I keep on comparing our own hosts from the original hosts of the show; I keep on contrasting the voice of an unknown yet popular homeowner to his original version. These are quite inevitable, as they come with the decision of copying off someone.
Although, I admire and want to be like a lot of people, I like more myself to be original. I wanted to be known for my own efforts, not for mimicking others. I want myself to be criticized according to my own standards and not to another else's. I don't want to be a version of, I want to be a rare limited edition. I could not tell if until when this fad of imported television shows may cease. I could not even tell if what other copies our country would be making. But somehow, I am sure, that it is but always that a copy will never be the original one, and it will end up trying and trying to desperately be like the primer. I think it is much more pleasant to hear someone telling you, you set a record rather than you beaten one. Being original is sometimes quite difficult because you seem to be blinded with the bounties of another's success, popularity or even audience ratings. But wouldn't it be more fulfilling and satisfying that it is your own, and you can make decisions on your own without thinking of what they might say. No one can sue you nor blame you for being original. It's your patent. It's your trademark. Don't settle for looking like someone. Be that someone in your own right.
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