PRC proposes professional licensure exams for artists, media people

Should artists and the media industry be required to earn licenses before practicing their professions?

This question has been making the rounds of networks these past days and the local show biz circle isn’t exempted from the issue. Movie, television, music, live entertainment and radio people according to some quarters should take civil service examinations before they are hired by film, TV, recording, live show and radio companies.

According to Jose Rafael Cesar Atencio of The PhilippineCinema@yahoogroups.com, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) (www.prc.gov.ph) is planning to give licensure exams to movie industry professionals like the directors, producers, scriptwriters, cinematographers, actors, and the ordinary movie workers.

The proposal is to regulate the industry by issuing licenses to the movie industry professionals.

In the media industry, licensure exams will be given to the working press such as reporters, (contributing/correspondents) writers, photojournalists, editors, columnists, copyreaders, deskmen, and the like.

The only licensed professionals in the media industry are the civil and mechanical engineers who ran the printing presses and the broadcast stations

.The same goes for the broadcast industry: even though it is self-regulated by the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), the only ones licensed in the radio/TV are the electronics and communications engineers.

In the public relations and advertising industry, there is also a proposal to give licensure exams to PR practitioners and advertisers including copy writers and account executives.

Here are some of the reactions to the idea.

From TV, movie, stage personality and comedienne Evelyn Vargas-Knaebal who is also now a film festival organizer abroad: “Though here in Swiss and in Europe all workers in the film industry, media even hairdresser to aide in the kitchen gets formation to get a license. They are paid well and not abused by employers. You are right, there's so much bureaucracy that goes with licensing but we have to start somewhere to discipline ourselves, our government offices, our leaders, etc...”

From Tamara Benitez, cultural artist: “I don't think we need to take it to the level of licensing artists. What will be your criteria for licensing? Education? What about the artists who learned from the bottom up, and didn't study in any formal school? What makes a director? What makes an editor? A person can know all the textbook terms and processes but still not be a director.”

“Fine line there between regulating professionals, and regulating artists. The latter's dangerous. Ingats lang” –Iñigo Mortel, artist

“Mukhang tax ang makakalaban nila. Pero di ako masyadong sigurado sa magiging impact. Baka mas makabuti ito in general.” –Manuel Pangaruy, movie enthusiast

”This is quite impossible. These professionals' skills only gets honed over the years and they all come from different backgrounds or academic trainings (some writers I know are engineering graduates and they write really well...)” –Andy Tejada, artist

“Yes, the industry needs this: licensure exams. So, the exams should be made by scholars and practitioners alike. License can protect professionals from pseudo artists. There is no law in the Philippines protecting the artist and in turn the movie/stage/advertising industry. I had been a victim of abuse on numerous occasions and I know there have been others abused among production crew and even directors.” –Gilleth Sandico, actress