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It is still a hot topic online on how to help the Filipino movie industry, which is facing headwinds that threaten its very survival.

READ: Director Chris Martinez, humihiling ng milagro para maisalba ang local movie industry

Last February, award-winning director Erik Matti made headlines after his Facebook post went viral. He shared his concern about the dire situation of the film industry in the country.

He wrote, “Is it the online platforms killing us? Is it support of cinemas? Is it Hollywood? Is it bad marketing? Is it esoteric, irrelevant, tired or uninteresting stories? Is it traffic? Is it downloads? Is it poverty? Has our audience outgrown our films? I really don't know at this point.

“All I know is, we cannot go on making movies where no one sees them. We cannot blindly just trudge along busily working on our films without thinking about whether all this passion is really worth it. We cannot keep on spending millions for movies that no one gets to see. This is alarming. SOMEONE SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.”

Some suggest that regulating foreign films is the best way to save the local movie industry.

In our exclusive chat with Kapuso leading man Derek Ramsay, we ask him about his thoughts on the proposal of limiting international movies in the Philippines.

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According to Derek, who was part of several box-office movies like 'English, Only Please' and 'No Other Woman,' said that he is not in favor of any move to curb the numbers of foreign films.

He explained, “Ako kasi proud akong Filipino. If the Americans or international movies can produce movies like that, I think Filipinos can do it as well.”

He also stressed that competition is “good” for Pinoy filmmakers.

“But parang pinipilit mo na lang 'yung tao na manonood 'di ba. Ako ayoko nun,

“Again I like to take risks, hindi yabang. But I want to go up against the competition...Competition is great!”

Instead of zeroing in regulating foreign films, Derek firmly believes that raising the “quality” is the key that will convince people to watch locally made films again.

“Why? Mapipilitan tayo to come up with better stuff and new stuff. We have to take risks. We have to bring something new.

“There isn't a formula na susundan mo and papalitan mo lang 'yung artista, papalitan mo lang 'yung lines ng konti. Hindi!

“I think we just have to come up with better quality films and the viewers would go out to watch it.”