Thursday, March 2, 2017

Three Web Series

When I was growing up, there was a dearth of movies and TV series that featured gay characters or tackled gay issues and topics. And if there were, they were classified as “For Adults Only,” so I had no way of watching them. The only gay men that gay kids like me would see on video were from gay porn.

Slowly, the movies and television started featuring gay characters and subject matter. But these movies were mostly from other countries (especially European), and the Marcos government wasn’t going to let homosexuality “corrupt” the minds of Filipino kids. So the Board of Censors never allowed any overtly gay movie to be produced locally or to be commercially shown in theaters. To watch a gay movie, we had to seek out the people who had access to videotape copies (VHS or Betamax) smuggled into the country.

But thanks to digital technology and the Internet, the baklitas growing up today now have role models they can watch on the big and small screens.

* * * * *

For the past few months, the sangkabaklaan have been following the exploits of David, Adrian, and the rest of the latter’s gang in “Hanging Out,” a web series directed by award-winner Petersen Vargas, created by him and Patrick Valencia, and presented by Team Magazine and Blued (yes, that gay social app).


It’s the first locally made gay-themed web series, which may explain the sky-high expectations on the series coming from the community. Naturally, not everyone was happy with it. But for an initial effort, the series was interesting and engaging enough.

The series focuses on the 20-something gay men in the metro who try navigating the post-coming out world of gay Manila. Along the way, relevant topics and issues are presented in subtle and not-so-subtle ways: HIV testing, safe sex, transitioning, etc.

The primary plot driver—will David (played by Paulito Del Mundo) and Adrian (played by Jox Gonzales) get together?—played out over six episodes in its first season. For those who’ve never seen the series, I won’t spoil your viewing by answering that question. But you know that what happens between the two can fuel the episodes for the next season.

Now that the first season of “Hanging Out” is over, what can the sangkabaklaan watch while waiting for its second outing?

One can look to Singapore’s similar web series, “People Like Us,” by filmmaker Leon Cheo. It is co-developed by Action for AIDS, so certain topics like HIV testing and safe sex are also presented. However, they smartly avoid the trap of presenting such topics in a heavy-handed way within the narrative by having a short video attached at the end of every episode. There, three guys from the website gayhealth.sg discuss further the issues presented in the episode.


Like its Philippine counterpart, “People Like Us” also has six episodes in the first season, and more focus is spent on whether Joel (played by Josh Crowe) and Ridzwan (played by Irfan Kasban) will end up as a couple or not. There are many other similarities between this and “Hanging Out,” including an episode devoted to the two “will-they-or-won’t-they” guys taking a long walk while getting to know one another. (HBO’s “Looking” got there ahead of these two, while majority of the movie “Weekend” is focused on two characters chatting. And then there’s “Before Sunrise.”)

But it seems that this Singaporean series has a deeper pocket than the Philippine series, and one can see it in their production design, lighting, camerawork, and even the audio recording and mixing. Makes me wish that the “Hanging Out” team would get more funds for their second season.

Then again, maybe Petersen and Patrick ought to approach Manny Pangilinan. For those who think that Pinoys cannot produce a web series that can technically rival the slickness of Singapore’s output, check out “Sabagay Life” produced by D5 Studio, the digital content arm of TV5. Thanks to the Manny P’s funding, “Sabagay Life” has excellent video and audio qualities. Aside from the technicals, what this series has going for it are its very game cast, a sprightly script, and a light touch by director and creator Joel Ferrer.

“Sabagay Life” is about a mixed barkada composed of three guys and three girls, and their post-college shenanigans. It’s really the dynamics between the characters that fuel interest in the series. There are no gay characters; at least, not yet (well, there’s one guy who was described as “open-minded” and kissed another guy, but he was just in one scene). But I think viewers—gay or otherwise—will find something to enjoy in the series. There’s a drama queen; there’s the torpe-in-love; there’s even an unrequited lover who continues to persist even in the face of repeated rejection.


Besides, this series’ tone is more light-hearted and humorous than the first two series mentioned here. So if you want to watch 20-somethings try to navigate life, love, and lust (oh yes, there’s sex among characters here too, but not as graphic as in the gay series—baka ayaw ni Manny P!), watch “Sabagay Life”.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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