Filipino director Pedring Lopez turned to foreign actors for his latest film, ‘Shadow Transit’, as part of his mission to expand the reach of Philippine cinema internationally.
He cites the industry’s lack of action stars trained in stunt work and the need for global co-productions that can break free from the country’s limited market.
Lopez, best known for the Netflix hit ‘Maria’, has long been vocal about wanting to push Philippine cinema beyond local borders. ‘Shadow Transit’, premiering under QCinema International Film Festival’s Selects roster from November 14–23, 2025, marks his first English-language feature. It stars Indonesian-American actor Yoshi Sudarso and UK-based singer-turned-actress Qymira—intentional choices that signal Lopez’s direction toward global storytelling.
For Lopez, casting foreign leads was both a practical and strategic move. He explained that many promising Filipino performers are tied to exclusive contracts with major studios like Viva and ABS-CBN, making them difficult to secure for international co-productions.
“The Philippines is such a small place. Why can’t we create our own actors and just go out? Like what Indonesia, Thailand, and Korea are doing,” Lopez said. His frustration centers on the industry’s insularity—despite having strong stories and capable actors, Filipino films often remain confined to the domestic market.
Another key factor was the shortage of local action stars with advanced stunt training. Lopez admitted that while he searched for talent in the Philippines, he found no one capable of executing the high-level fight choreography required for ‘Shadow Transit’. Yoshi Sudarso—who has worked with Hollywood stunt team 8711 and appeared in ‘Bullet Train’ alongside Brad Pitt—became the natural choice.
“There’s no one who can actually do actual stunts, actual fights,” Lopez noted. Sudarso’s experience provided the realism the film demanded, while also strengthening Lopez’s growing creative relationships in Indonesia, where he is developing another project.
Qymira, making her feature film debut, brings a different kind of international appeal. Born Leslie Lo, she adopted the screen name inspired by the mythological chimera, believing artists embody multiple identities at once. A classically trained soprano who transitioned to pop, Qymira reflects the hybrid, cross-cultural sensibility Lopez aims to bring to the film. Her casting reinforces his vision of Manila as a global city—one where locals and expats coexist in stories that resonate beyond national borders.
Lopez’s earlier success with ‘Maria’ demonstrated the viability of this approach. The film reached number four at the UK and Ireland box office for three weeks, opening doors for more international collaborations. ‘Shadow Transit’ builds on that momentum, produced across Manila and Hong Kong with Canadian partners. Set in Manila’s neon-lit underworld, the film transforms the city into a key character, enhancing its global appeal while maintaining authentic Filipino roots.
Ultimately, Lopez’s casting decisions reflect a larger mission: to position Philippine cinema as a serious contender in the global action genre. By bringing in foreign actors with stunt expertise and international visibility, he raises the film’s production value and challenges the local industry to think beyond its “backyard.”
