SineBuano.com

SineBuano shares the essential visual ingredients that makes a Filipino romantic film.

The general ingredients of a Romantic Drama/ Comedy Filipino film can be set in 3 categories: Cast, Conflict and Commonalities

Cast – the cast is usually a large ensemble of cut-out characters tailor-made-to-fit for the actors’ who portray them. In other words, the actors don’t change into characters since the characters are modeled after the actors.

The Leading Men. For romantic dramas, they have to be very good-looking and strong while for romantic comedies call for their leading men to be goofy-looking initially. Their personalities range from warm, kind to cold, cruel.

The Leading Ladies. They can be pleasant to pretty depending again if the film is either drama or comedy. Their personalities are usually strong and loud or strong and quiet.

The Best Friends. Both the leading man and leading lady should have a best friend, most usually of the same sex or the third sex who outlandish antics and comments usually provides comic relief and steal the scene from the romance.

The Family. The families and homes of the leading man and leading lady. They’re just as affected by the relationship as the leading couple. They can either provide support, advice or the cause of the conflict.

Conflict – be it a comedy or drama, there’s got to be conflict aimed to split the couple apart.

Love Triangle. This is possible the usual cause of conflict between the leading couple. There is always a third party to snare the leading man or sweep off the leading lady.

Social Class. Another common cause is social class. The leading lady is rich while the leading man is poor or vice versa. There’s usually a rival as well as a disapproving parent or influential relative making things difficult for the leading couple.

Other Differences. The leading man’s personality is often opposite to the leading lady. He’s capable, she’s clumsy. She’s serious, he’s laidback. He loves dogs, she’s allergic. It’s a wonder how they ever feel anything for each other or get along since it is not often shown what is they have in common other than their attraction for each other.

Commonalities – other usual things you can spot in a Filipino romatic film are.

Office/Work place of the lead characters. Yes their personal dilemmas intrude on their professional lives.
Holiday outing where the lead characters have the ideal natural setting to spark romance or reconnect once again.

Food. People have to eat. Food is pleasurable for Filipinos as well as love.

Fights. Passion is often expressed in heated exchanges but it’s often over trivial matters.

Wedding. The quintessential happy ending for any Pinoy romantic film is the wedding of the leading couple where everything is resolved and they can start their new lives as a married couple happily ever after the credits.