SineBuano.com

Two influential and recognized personalities in Philippine contemporary film, award-winning actress/director Gina Alajar and acclaimed director/filmmaker Joey Reyes, were asked which issues in the local Filipino film industry need to addressed in order for it to be lift up to a level of renown that’s enjoyed by its Asian counterparts in South Korea, China and most recently, Thailand.

Here are their answers.

GINA ALAJAR, Lower taxes. Daig pa natin ang ibang First World countries sa taas ng taxes in making films. In other countries, there’s subsidy from the government. Dito the industry gives to the presidential social fund.

(Lower taxes. We’re beating First World countries when it comes to the high taxes we pay in making films. In other countries, there’s subsidy from the government. Here, the [film] industry gives to the presidential social fund.}

JOEY REYES, Long-term planning and solid incentives:

1) Tax holidays and cuts for producers, to survive an industry extensively dependent on imported materials.

2) Strict labor laws involving hours, conditions and compensation for actors and production staff in network television. [Plus] adequate insurance and clear-cut compensation contracts for production staff and below-the-line performers.

3) Greater sense of responsibility on the part of film producers and network executives in the kind and level of entertainment delivered to the people, taking into consideration the significance of media in shaping the minds and hearts of the population.

Source: Carvajal, Dolly. “Dollywood: State of Showbiz address.” 30 July 2008. The Philippine Daily Inquirer.