DOT invites Hollywood execs to film in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — With its beaches, hinterlands and cityscapes, the Philippines is a perfect setting for international films, especially those from Hollywood, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said at a meeting with US film executives and Filipino-American actors in California last week.

She said the Philippines provides a “perfect canvas for filmmaking… because of the diversity of our destinations.”

“From our pristine beaches of Boracay, Palawan, Siquijor, Cebu, Camiguin and so many more, to our lush landscapes in the northernmost part of the Philippines, Batanes, to the hinterlands of the country in Bukidnon in Mindanao, to our urbane cityscapes – from the historic walls of Intramuros in Metro Manila to the bustling city of Cebu – there’s a wealth of destinations at which you can make your films,” Frasco said.

She also cited the country’s “wealth of creative talent,” including Filipinos’ proficiency in English “as well as a robust ecosystem of filmmakers that is now invigorated because of the efforts of our First Lady” Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Furthermore, Hollywood filmmakers may take advantage of tax breaks and “the competitive advantage of a relatively lower cost of filming, from cost of goods, cost of labor and the like,” she said.

Under the CREATE More law or Republic Act 12066, foreign film production companies that would collaborate with local counterparts “can be registered as a tourism enterprise, can avail of incentives that include an income tax holiday of four to six years, depending on the location of the filming, lower corporate income tax, exemptions from importation taxes related to the filming itself, as well as a host of other very attractive incentives for filming in the country,” she explained.

In a statement yesterday, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said professional film production and equipment provider Birns & Sawyer Inc. is investing $50 million for the construction of state-of-the-art soundstages in the Philippines.

She met with the firm’s executive last week in the US to discuss its investment plans.

At the meeting, Birns & Sawyer CEO Mari Acevedo said they plan to initially invest $15 million to $17 million for the construction of a soundstage within the Filinvest property in New Clark City.

They hope to develop two additional soundstages in other key cities in the country.

Apart from investments in soundstages, the company plans to work with local schools and universities for training fresh graduates to enable them to meet world-class industry standards.

Acevedo said the other engagements of Birns & Sawyer in the Philippines are cinematography workshops, co-production grants, as well as involvement in the FilAm Creative Film Festival in support of emerging Filipino-American filmmakers.

At the meeting, Roque and Acevedo also explored co-production opportunities between Filipino and Hollywood producers, as well as the possibility of providing grants and equipment support to local filmmakers.

Birns & Sawyer has an office in Quezon City and offers sales, rentals and system integration services.

“With Birns & Sawyer’s legacy in Hollywood and its existing presence in the Philippines, we see great opportunities to expand our collaboration to benefit Filipino filmmakers, create jobs and grow our creative economy,” Roque said.

“The Philippines is home to some of the most passionate and talented filmmakers in the world. By fostering stronger partnerships with industry leaders like Birns & Sawyer, we can provide them with the tools and opportunities they need to compete on a global scale,” she added.

The First Lady, meanwhile, called on Hollywood executives to consider filming in the Philippines.

“We travel a lot and people say ‘oh the Philippines is so beautiful’, like this and that, and why not we open the doors and let people film, right? For all of you who have been to Manila, it really is beautiful, right? And they don’t want to go back home after go[1]ing to the Philippines,” she said.