Actress Bela Padilla spoke candidly about the stark difference between local film budgets and international productions during the talkback session for her upcoming film Life After You, while urging Filipinos to show greater support for Philippine cinema.

Joined by Maricel Soriano, Padilla highlighted how Filipino filmmakers create meaningful stories despite operating with limited resources. She compared Life After You’s ₱15 million budget with Hollywood blockbusters such as The Odyssey that can cost as much as $250 million, as well as high-budget Korean film Hope that reportedly reach $46 million.

Padilla lightened the discussion with humor, joking that if they had a $250 million budget, she and Soriano would be “flying without harnesses,” hiding inside a Trojan horse with Matt Damon, or pulling off impossible cinematic stunts.

Behind the jokes, however, was a serious message about the future of the local film industry.

She pointed to Japan and South Korea as examples of countries where audiences consistently support homegrown films, even when Hollywood releases are playing in theaters. Padilla said she hopes Filipinos develop the same sense of pride in local storytelling.

According to the actress, while Philippine productions may have smaller budgets, local cast and crew members make up for it through their dedication, hard work, and passion for telling stories that resonate with Filipino audiences.

Padilla also addressed the issue of fair compensation in the entertainment industry, questioning why increasing wages for veteran talents and crew members is often met with resistance over concerns that it would “set a precedent.”

“Why is it so wrong to give a person what they deserve, and why is it so wrong to set a precedent when it will benefit everybody else?” Padilla said. “It’s not just a Philippine cinema problem—it’s a country problem. So unless we help each other, nothing’s gonna happen.”

Life After You, starring Bela Padilla and Maricel Soriano, opens in cinemas nationwide on September 9.