Award-winning and internationally acclaimed Filipino actress Dolly de Leon pleads to the government to support the local film industry. In an interview with the members of the press during the launch of the 19th edition of Cinemalaya Film Festival last Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the new Filipino member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (popularly known as the Oscars) shared her message to the government.
“There are many many ways to support filmmakers. This is not by banning other films from being watched here. It is not by limiting their resources,” she says. “It is by fully supporting them.”
It can be recalled that last February 2023, Gerard Butler’s “Plane” was voluntarily pulled out from Philippine cinemas because of its negative portrayal of Jolo, Sulu. And it seems like Margo Robbie’s “Barbie” will also face hiccups because of the controversial South China Sea map seen in the aforementioned film.
Dolly also shared her experience working with foreign artists while shooting the hit movie "Triangle of Sadness." “In any country talagang may funding ng gobyerno ‘yan [the movies],” she says. “In fact nung nag-shoot ako ng 'Triangle of Sadness' sa Sweden pinag-usapan namin ng mga tao dun kung paano ginagawa ang film dito, sinasabi ko lagi na private companies ang nagpa-fund. Shock na shock sila dahil lahat ng pelikula nila doon may funding ng government.”
Shen then acknowledged that there should be a return in every investment, but for her, it can only be achieved if the funding and support are proper. “I know that the government should have a return of investment,” Dolly says. “It will be returned if they give the ample amount of funding to the films because that’s the only way para mapansin tayo.”
She also pushed for the passing of the Eddie Garcia Bill or the House Bill (HB) 1270 which aims to protect people working in the entertainment sector against abuse, harassment, and other forms of exploitation.
“And of course sana mapasa na yung Eddie Garcia Bill dahil kailangang-kailangang naming mga actors and filmmakers yun so that our working environment will be healthy,” she says.
Dolly is part of the star-studded cast of Cinemalaya entry “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” along with Bituin Escalante, Agot Isidro, Miggy Jimenez, Jojit Lorenzo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Paolo O'Hara, Joel Saracho, and Dylan Ray Talon. Written and directed by Dustin Celestino, it follows the interwoven stories about life and violence in the Philippines, from a college professor, a university chancellor, a social worker, a police chief, two students, two mothers, to a lawyer.