MANILA, Philippines?APT Entertainment producer Tony Tuviera believes the US economic recession can spell good news for the local film industry.

?Next year, there will be a slow-down in the production of Hollywood movies,? he explains. ?Reports say it will take at least 18 months for the US to recover.?

In the first part of the year, Tuviera says, Hollywood may churn out films already finished before the crisis. Once it runs out of new movies, he notes, it will be the perfect opportunity for Filipino films to make headway in the local market.

Surviving adversity

Regal Films producer Roselle Monteverde-Teo agrees. ?Most Hollywood productions rely on credit,? she says. ?If US lending institutions can no longer provide them with money, where will the producers go??

Tuviera adds: ?Money will be so tight, they will think twice before launching a project.? In fact, he says, entertainment may be pushed to the back burner.

He firmly believes local producers can ?survive this adversity... they should make it work to their advantage.?

In times of crisis, comedy is just what the doctor would order, Tuviera insists. ?People want to laugh and forget their worries.?

Thus, APT?s next two projects ?Scaregivers? (co-produced with M-Zet) and ?Iskul Bukol ? 20 Years After? (co-produced with M-Zet and Octo Arts) are both comedies. ?The three movies in our lineup next year are also comedies,? Tuviera reveals.

In Uro de la Cruz?s ?Scaregivers,? APT combines comedy and horror. In Tony Y. Reyes? ?Iskul Bukol Reunion,? comedy is mixed with adventure.

Tuviera says the time is ripe for comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola to take centerstage. ?They are talented. All they need is strong support.?