‘Asia’s gay Netflix’ GagaOOLala scored an unlikely hit with Unlocked, a Filipino LGBT drama shot on iPhones, offering a candid look at same-sex relationships during lockdown
Covid-19 is an emotional time, and the Philippines is one of Asia’s worst-hit countries; this is why director Adolfo Alix Jr thinks his LGBT drama Unlocked – an online series filmed on iPhones for Taiwan’s streaming platform GagaOOLala – resonated with so many viewers whatever their sexuality
On the eve of lockdown in Covid-19-ravaged Philippine capital Manila, a young man seeks comfort in the arms of a male escort he met online. Meanwhile, a heartbroken gay writer left alone with his thoughts during quarantine starts seeing things. And, as three men in a polyamorous relationship enter lockdown together, allegiances shift and lies emerge, leading to violence.
Nine-episode online series Unlocked invites audiences into LGBTQ+ Filipinos’ homes for an intimate and candid look at love and loss in the time of coronavirus. It quickly became one of the most-watched series ever on Taiwan-based streaming platform GagaOOLala, which is often dubbed “Asia’s LGBTQ+ Netflix”. Last month, the finale was more than 10,000 times over four days.
“The themes resonate, it is a very emotional series,” said director Adolfo Alix Jr. of the success. “We wanted to highlight emotions people feel when times are uncertain and they are not in control – issues of trust, of commitment, of jealousy.”
Alix’s characters are full of the anxiety, frustration and passion many people across the world feel during the coronavirus pandemic. The Philippines, one of the worst-hit countries in Asia with more than 300,000 cases, has seen restrictions for the last six months. “We are still trapped in a sea of uncertainty,” explained Alix.
Most of the 20-minute episodes unravel in a single setting, such as a small urban flat. Writer Jerome Zamora’s dialogue is frank and raw, but also often tender. Alix and his four-person crew shot long, uninterrupted takes on iPhones, producing footage that quickly immerses audiences in the drama.
