Cebu International Film Festival - The Big Fans
The Big Fans exposes the secrets behind the hit Philippine reality show Pinoy Big Brother. What does it really take to be a big fan of a reality show? At what point does a big fan lose his loyalty? From exploring the lives of big fans to exposing the show's controversial casting process, The Big Fans tackles what a reality show means to a Filipino.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Drama Del Rosario
Watch The Big Fans here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Philippine reality television has always intrigued me. One of the top local reality shows, Pinoy Big Brother, is controversial for casting soon-to-be-actors instead of real people, and yet thousands upon thousands of Filipinos still line up to audition for the show. It’s easy to say that these Pinoy Big Brother fans are wasting their time, but I wanted to explore their side of the story. I created The Big Fans to tackle what a reality show means to a die-hard reality show fan. The documentary also exposes the secretive casting process of Pinoy Big Brother.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Watch this documentary to see what really goes on behind the casting process of a reality show. The documentary features an anonymous tell-all interview with one of Pinoy Big Brother’s auditionees, as well as interviews with producers who own up to some of the show’s biggest controversies. But more than that, watch the documentary to see that a die-hard fan is not just a stereotypical obsessive person. These fans are loyal to the show because it affects their personal lives and struggles.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
No matter what television show, it's a good feeling to meet another person who watches the same show as you do. Community is a running theme in this documentary—that is, being a fan of a program allows one to be part of a fandom or fan community. The Big Fans takes a look into the personal backgrounds of the loyal fans to explain why it is important for them to find a sense of solidarity in their Pinoy Big Brother fandom. Also, audiences should be able to feel frustration. The Big Fans explores the experiences of loyal fans who have unsuccessfully auditioned over and over again for ten years just to be on the show.
How haves the script and film developed over time?
The Big Fans exposes the secrets behind the hit Philippine reality show Pinoy Big Brother. What does it really take to be a big fan of a reality show? At what point does a big fan lose his loyalty? From exploring the lives of big fans to exposing the show's controversial casting process, The Big Fans tackles what a reality show means to a Filipino.
When I started the documentary, I had assumed that the fans auditioned just to gain money and fame. But there’s so much more to that. I’ve discovered that the grand prize is a non-factor for them, and that they audition for much deeper, personal reasons. I also did not expect to gather an abundance of secrets about the casting process. I thought that past auditionees would be hesitant to share their audition experiences because of legal contracts or even sheer embarrassment. But the people that I interviewed were very unfiltered with exposing secrets. All I can say is that everything that I was shocked to find out about the audition process can be watched in the documentary.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been a year since I started creating The Big Fans, and yet I still get messages from Pinoy Big Brother fans on a daily basis. Their messages range from asking me about which cast members cheated the audition process, to absurd messages begging me to cast them for the show, which I don’t even have power over. Overall, audiences are very shocked about the revelations in the documentary. They always end up asking me for more Pinoy Big Brother gossip.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Reality show audiences are often stereotyped as shallow and dumb. But the feedback that I have been getting from The Big Fans shows me that reality show audiences are becoming more critical and active. They do not readily accept whatever reality show producers throw at them. They constantly ask, “Is this real?” It definitely makes me happy that today’s audiences are aware of manipulations.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope to attract more people to watch The Big Fans, especially worldwide. One does not have to be a Pinoy Big Brother viewer to understand what my documentary is about. Anyone who has ever been obsessed with a television show or has questioned the reality of a reality show will definitely relate to this documentary. Also, hopefully more festivals and publications would express their interest in The Big Fans or any of my other previous works. I would like to get in touch with new people—from fellow filmmakers to fellow Pinoy Big Brother fans. Let’s have a chat and see where it goes from there!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The answer is simple: Pinoy Big Brother fans. The show’s fan community is very large, and their support for this documentary would truly cause a stir in the Philippine television landscape. I need Pinoy Big Brother fans to watch this documentary and begin questioning the manipulation that television producers do, and ultimately demand for better local television. After all, this documentary is about the fans themselves, and they have the right to know the truth about the show that they passionately love.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If anything, I hope this documentary prompts the Pinoy Big Brother producers to start casting real people instead of models or actors as contestants.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is Pinoy Big Brother rigged? And if so, why do thousands of people still audition?
Would you like to add anything else?
The Big Fans has been chosen as an Official Selection for the 2016 Loyola Film Festival (Manila, Philippines) and the 5th Cebu International Film Festival (Cebu, Philippines). It was recently awarded the Best Thesis by the Communication Department of the Ateneo de Manila University.
What are you developing or working on now?
I have currently relocated to Canada to explore their film and television industry. Fellow filmmakers from around the world are very welcome to contact me through aaronmarcusadelrosario@gmail.com.
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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The Big Fans
The Big Fans exposes the secrets behind the hit Philippine reality show Pinoy Big Brother. What does it really take to be a big fan of a reality show? At what point does a big fan lose his loyalty? From exploring the lives of big fans to exposing the show's controversial casting process, The Big Fans tackles what a reality show means to a Filipino.
Length: 29 minutes, 59 seconds
Director: Drama Del Rosario
Producer: Drama Del Rosario
Writer: Drama Del Rosario
About the writer, director and producer: Drama Del Rosario is a documentary filmmaker from Quezon City, Philippines. To view his complete body of work, visit http://dramadelrosario.tumblr.com.
Key cast:
Interviewees:
- Marcus Vinuya
- Jon Moll
- Raquel Mallillin
- Caitlin Jao
- Sarah Bautista
- Elnie Ditchon
- Alseph Joven
- Tonton Papa
- Jhun Silvestre
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above
Funders: None
Made in association with: Ateneo de Manila University
Release date: February 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month?
The 5th Cebu International Film Festival:
- August 23, 2016, 11:45am: Film & Media Arts International Academy
- August 25, 2016: The Little Theater at St. Theresa's College Cebu