Bela Padilla hopes for greater opportunities for Filipino filmmakers.
Actress and filmmaker Bela Padilla backs the proposal that supports the local film industry and hopes for a stronger future in the industry.
Bela Padilla has participated in the recent hearing for a proposed bill supporting local filmmakers. After her participation, she then took to social media to share her thoughts about the ways of addressing long-standing challenges in the Philippine film industry.
It was the proposed Local Film Industry Development Act, where she highlighted the need to create more opportunities for filmmakers in the country.
According to her, the Filipino filmmakers deserve better support systems, stressing that a lot of creatives actually struggle with limited resources and opportunities despite the abundance of talent in the Philippines. She is hopeful that this bill would fill the gaps and address what’s lacking by providing more equitable conditions within the industry.
She wrote, “Honestly, I always get sad when I hear a Filipino put down a local film or review a local film harshly and compare our work to an international project that has a budget we can only dream of, because I see foreigners appreciate our work more than we do. And sadly, that lack of patriotism or pride in our work is apparent not only in the film industry but in every sector.”
According to her, after finishing filming in Seoul, she learned a lot and noted how much the entertainment industry helped their country. After realizing this, she is happy to see how the bill was made to address issues like fair equity for creatives and producers.
In addition, Padilla pointed out that making cinema more accessible to audiences is crucial in sustaining the industry. She cited her most recent film, A Special Memory, which sold out because the ticket price was made affordable for the moviegoers.
The actress expressed, “I wish I got to stay longer but I had to go back to set. But I obviously will always be here to help the industry I love most in any way I can.”
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