ESPORTS IS SLOWLY being integrated into the big screen as a new Filipino film centered on the industry is on the works.
Mikhail Red, who has worked on films such as Birdshot, Eerie, and Dead Kids, is now working on a new project called Friendly Fire.
The film stars Loisa Andalio, Coleen Garcia Crawford, Yves Flores, Bob Jbeili, Harvey Bautista, and Jan Silverio.
The overall premise
Based on the film's trailer, the film talks about a Filipino Team called Isla, who just recently lost their star player. This forced their team manager, Sonya Wilson (Coleen Garcia Crawford) to sign a new player named Kaya (Loisa Andalio), a female gamer unsure about her life.
With their new player, Team Isla is hoping to break barriers and win the coveted championship.
In the trailer, various Filipino esports and gaming personalities made their appearance which includes MLBB esports host Mara Aquino, cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao, and esports shoutcasters Rogyn "Osiris" Manansala and Aaron Paul Paragas "Burrito" Gaddi.
The primary video game that the film used is the Filipino designed shooter game, Project Xandata.
Addressing the stigma on PH esports
Among all the films Mikhail Red directed, Friendly Fire offers a different experience for the Filipino director.
"Personal din siya because it combines two of my passions, gaming and film making," he said during the ToyCon PH 2024 event.
Then when talking about his motivations, Red revealed what he learned about the industry.
“Esports is becoming quite big, especially in the Philippines, and there’s this stigma and the lack of support. It’s very new and it’s something that a lot of people still don’t understand. It’s just interesting to follow the lives of these esports athletes who are handicapped in terms of resources, support, and even internet speed and lag," said Red in an exclusive interview with Variety.
And together with Black Cap Pictures, Friendly Fire is hoping to make its mark both in the film, and the esports and gaming scene.
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