FDCP FilmPhilippines Opens Application for its Incentives Program

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Launching its new campaign tagline “Tell your Stories in our Islands,” the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ FilmPhilippines Office officially opened the applications for the first cycle of the FilmPhilippines Incentives (FPI) program this 2023. The call is open to foreign production companies in business with a Filipino production company or producer on an ongoing project.

With the primary goal to promote the Philippines as a highly-viable filming destination, the FDCP FilmPhilippines Office offers location incentives to attract international productions to film in the country.

The Philippines also offers co-production funds to foreign producers who are looking to co-produce their respective projects with Filipino production companies and producers. Interested filmmakers and production companies may apply to the following incentive programs:

● Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP): A selective rebate of up to PHP 10 million per project granted to Filipino production companies that are producing TV/VOD series, music videos, and feature-length or short films with a minimum Qualified Philippine Production Expenditure (QPPE) of PHP 50 million.

● International Co-production Fund (ICOF): A selective fund of up to 40% of Qualified Philippine Production Expenditure (QPPE) capped at PHP 10 million per project granted to Filipino production companies who are producing feature-length or short films with a minimum QPPE of PHP 8 million.

● ASEAN Co-production Fund (ACOF): A selective fund of PHP 2.5 million to PHP 7.5 million per project granted to Filipino production companies who are producing feature-length films. 50% of the applicant’s production budget must be spent on Qualified Philippine Production Expenditure (QPPE).

The first cycle of the FilmPhilippines Incentives (FPI) Program is open until March 17, 2023 which will be followed by a Selection Committee Deliberation.

Some of the most notable film grantees of the FPI include “Ella Arcangel: Awit ng Pangil at Kuko” by Melvin Malonzo, “Arnold is a Model Student” by Sorayos Prapapan, “In My Mother’s Skin” by Kenneth Dagatan, “The Gospel of the Beast” by Sheron Dayoc, and popular television series “Survivor.

Through this initiative, the FDCP FilmPhilippines Office aims to provide funding to local and international production companies to foster collaboration between the Philippines and other foreign countries. The incentive program also opens up a lot of opportunities for Filipino talents and service providers to work on international co-productions.

Now in its fourth year, the FilmPhilippines Incentives Cycle 1 of 2023 comes with a new set of guidelines which interested applicants may download here. For inquiries, kindly send an email to filmphilippines@fdcp.ph.

Top 5 Online Blackjack Strategy Tips for Newbies

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Blackjack remains one of the most popular and preferred card games. Nowadays, every respected online casino offers a variety of live dealer tables as well as electronic options. It looks like players can choose from a wide range of games. But the problem is that many of them have no experience and often make mistakes in their pursuit of quick profit.

If you are also a newbie, it would be good to learn the rules and come up with a strategy before betting with real money. Of course, there are no guarantees, but you might walk away as a winner with a little logical thinking and more practice. Here are some easy tips that beginners will find useful while playing online blackjack:

 

1.Pick the Right Blackjack Table

You should remember not all blackjack tables at online casinos are the same. Some of them pay 3:2, and others – 6:5. Therefore, you should only choose tables where you have a fair shot at winning. Plus, there are live blackjack tables at which you can double down on any two cards, whereas at others you can only double on 11 or 10. To make sure you have chosen the right table, you should take into consideration the following things:

· How much a blackjack pays

· The minimum and maximum bet at the table

· The number of decks in play

· The doubling options

· The number of times you can split aces

2. Follow Basic Strategy Guides

There are basic online blackjack strategy guides in the form of small cards or charts which can be a great help to beginners. They show the player what to do in any scenario which may come up at the table. If you are just starting out, you should look at the strategy guide before making important decisions such as to hit or to stand. For example, if you are not sure whether to hit or stand with a 14 to a dealer’s up card of 7, you can quickly consult with your blackjack strategy card. It will only take a few seconds and will definitely help you improve your game.

 

3. Play Within Your Bankroll

Every player’s financial situation is different, so their bankroll will be different as well. The key is to make sure you stay within your bankroll while playing blackjack games online. It is easier to do that when you slow down and spend more time at the table. If you play too fast, you can easily go broke. Therefore, stay within the parameters that you have set and play the game for longer periods to gain more experience. Most logical for beginners is to start playing blackjack at low-limit tables. In every online casino, there are tables with varied limits and you can choose the one that suits your bankroll.

 

4. Double Down More Often

Many beginner level players make a big mistake in blackjack by not doubling down enough. Users are allowed to double the bet after they see their first two cards and one of the dealer’s cards. And this is usually considered a huge advantage. According to some online blackjack strategy guides, players should double every time they get an 11. If you don’t do it, you are likely to miss out on value. Another recommendation that most newbies probably don’t know is that it’s better to double with a soft 13 against the dealer’s 4,5 or 6. When it comes to doubling down in blackjack games, you shouldn’t overdo it, but you shouldn’t be so hesitant either.

 

5. Do Not Play Insurance

Blackjack insurance is a type of side bet which is offered to the player if the dealer’s up card is an Ace as insurance against their hand being “blackjack”. But it pays 2 to 1 and the maximum bet allowed is half of the player’s main bet. This will be a winning bet if the dealer has a natural blackjack. It happens when their down card is worth 10 points. Even the most inexperienced player in online blackjack can guess that the odds of this are too small. That is why insurance bet is not considered profitable and should be avoided in most cases.

Before trying the strategy tips described above, don’t forget to study the rules of the online blackjack variant you have chosen in detail first. In such games, knowing the rules is very important. Only when you understand them well, you can begin to implement strategies. It is also not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with the principles of responsible gambling because you can easily get carried away, especially when playing exciting live blackjack.

Seven Features of A Successful Mobile App

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“Mobile is becoming not only the new digital hub but also the bridge to the physical world.” -Thomas Husson.

It has been said that mobile is where everything is at.

With mobile phones and tablets becoming more powerful, conventional desktops and laptops are used primarily for education and corporate purposes. On the other hand, most users are glued to their mobile phone screens 24/7. Considering how the online marketplace never closes, allowing your customers to learn about and interact with your company around the clock is imperative.

Needless to say, developing a well-designed mobile app is paramount for every business. Unfortunately, designing mobile apps is a complex process. Great and effective apps allow consumers to complete transactions, enable them to gather information, and allow them to contact your business. On top of that, it should be user-friendly with an easy navigation tool and interface that does not turn off users from using it further. Lastly, it should assure visitors that any personal information they encode on your app is protected.

All that considered, the idea and prospect of developing an effective mobile app may be a little daunting. However, having one for your business is essential as it allows users to keep coming back to your app (and business) for more. Before you seek the help of a mobile app developer in the Philippines, however, knowing the features of a successful mobile app will help you determine what you need for your business’s own mobile app.




a.) Simplicity for the End-User

Your users do not want to spend time figuring out how to use a complicated app. That said, developing a mobile app with logical navigation and a convenient user interface is necessary. Just this characteristic alone can make an app rank the best among its competitors. Developing an app that is simple, straightforward, and easy to use is key. This way, your target users will have no reason to look for alternatives. Keep in mind that functionality matters as well, but the simplicity of the app should not be overlooked.



b.) iOS and Android Should Be Covered

There are two basic mobile app platforms which are iOS and Android. Partnering with a credible mobile app development company in the Philippines allows you to develop a cross-platform app. As a business owner, it is imperative that you include both iOS and Android users to ensure that you are maximizing your reach.



c.) Security

Regardless of what industry your business is in, this feature is important and cannot be emphasized enough. Mobile security means that your users' personal data is legally protected. Therefore, a successful mobile app has this feature as a critical requirement.



d.) Regular Updates

Developers who create well-designed mobile apps know that in order to stay at the top, they need to continuously improve and refine their apps through updates. Regular updates mostly guarantee the popularity of a mobile app. That said, you should maintain your server and ensure that your content is always up-to-date. Additionally, your mobile app should keep up with the times and regularly supplement it with new features.



e.) Offline Work

With a good and stable internet connection, most apps work. However, successful mobile apps should be able to work offline as well. While it is not critical for all sorts of apps, there are specific applications, such as complex corporate apps, that would be incredibly useful if the user could use them offline. That said, you should have a little forethought, think of situations where there may be no internet connection, and create mobile app features that will work offline.



f.) High Performance

Your target users do not want to wait for something to work. That said, your software product should not make users wait long for something to be loaded. Your mobile app should be as functional and fast as it was when it first launched. Ensure that your app works fast. If it is clunky, determine what is not working and find ways to resolve it. Additionally, you should continuously work on mobile app optimization to ensure that screens and in-app processes are loaded in a speedy or timely manner.



g.) Personalization

Users tend to gravitate toward products that offer avenues for customization. So make sure you use it whenever possible. Successful and well-developed apps have features such as settings, colors, flexible fonts, backgrounds, etc. Allow your users to make an app look and function how they want it to, and they will keep coming back to your app for more.



h.) Social Media Integration

Your mobile app should have a feature that allows users to share information or content about your app or business with their friends on social networks. Social media integration should be seamless, and more importantly, it should make sharing posts and content easy. This is an important feature as it helps spread awareness and information that your business has a mobile app. As a result, more people will be introduced to it, and your business can begin engaging new users through the app.