THE LOCAL entertainment industry has always been ruled by star power. Movies are made according to the whims and wishes of their stars. Formula acts as a gauge to a local film's success, and "success" is measured according to how much money a movie makes at the box-office.

In recent years, the local movie industry has experienced a slump in audience attendance owing to excessive competition from foreign films, which offer better technical quality and more original storylines. Have the movie buffs in us become more intelligent, or have we just gotten tired of the formulaic fan-oriented fluff that is recycled ad nauseum in our movies?

The past year has seen an improvement in the box-office performance of our local movies. But it has also led to a rise in the number of independent films that topbill character actors who get just a fraction of what our superstars make per film.

Of course, the star system hasn't completely died down yet, and we seriously doubt if it ever will. After all, this is still show business.

But these days, more and more movies are made even without a Sharon, a Vilma, a Fernando or a Dolphy. These independent films may not break records at the box-office but they make enough profit to ensure a repeat business.

But if our superstars don't make as many pictures as they used to, who should fill their shoes? Our TV and movie industry has started experimenting with different storylines but these require a wider range of thespic ability from our actors.

Quite a number of these features need versatile actors who are not afraid to take risks and don't mind tampering with their time-tested, fan-approved screen persona and public image.

Last week, we asked film buffs which actor or actress, though under-appreciated or under-utilized, deserves to play lead roles in movies on the big and small screen.

Their varied answers include some interesting observations on the state of our local industry. The diversity of choices is a virtual wishlist, consisting of tried and tested, albeit underrated, performers as well as pretty young things who show great potential early on in their budding careers.

The respondents' observations also affirm how the late filmmakers Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal continue to influence our actors, and how much they are still sorely missed by the industry they helped shape.

It's noteworthy that quite a number of our bold stars, male or female, past and present, have evolved into highly-regarded performers. That sexy stars often make effective comediennes. That Brocka is widely-considered an actor's director. That there are more performers now who can both sing and act. That we lack leading men, and need to develop more from our younger crop of actors. That fair-skinned actors are still preferred over darker-skinned ones, etc.

Ching Arguelles, executive assistant to the president, Alaska: Amy Austria is one actress who can do drama or comedy. She can be effective at both, but it's a pity she always plays second fiddle to our top actresses, despite her immense capacity as performer. She can convey a specific emotion using her eyes and facial expression.

She can play protagonist or antagonist. But she never quite reached the zenith of the show biz ladder because, at some point in her career, she was blissfully playing housewife to Jay Ilagan, himself an underrated actor, and chose the domestic life over a promising career.

She would have been a top dramatic actress like Lorna Tolentino by now.

Cherie Gil is also a superb actress but she does well as a movie villainess because of her strong mestiza features, which limit the kind of roles that she can do. But when she acts, you really remember her. That's how good she is, bida or kontrabida.

Christina Lumay, bank teller: I've always found MTV VJ Donita Rose to be an effective actress. Even when she was just starting out as a teenager, she had this sensitivity that you couldn't find among actresses her age. Kahit sa mga trashy comedies noon, you could still see her potential. And she had to hurdle a language problem, which most balikbayans fail at.

I'm glad that she is now a certified Asian celebrity, and I'm doubly pleased that she's proud of her Filipino roots. I hope she will eventually come back to the movies and explore her acting potential. She doesn't merely make you feel proud that you are a Filipino, she is also a role model our country's youth can look up to.

Meg Plaza, incoming freshman, La Salle: I'm not very familiar with the more senior actors that we have around, but among the younger ones, it's Jericho Rosales who should be given not just supporting roles but lead roles as well. So far, his roles have been mostly decorative but he manages to shine in them.

He doesn't just look good, he also has talent, and his effort to give justice to his roles really shows.

The break-up of his team-up with Angelika dela Cruz may have been a blessing in disguise. There may have been a slump in the public's interest in him as a result of this, but you can still see him in a number of ABS-CBN dramas where he pits his acting mettle with seasoned veterans.

This time, he doesn't have to resort to pa-cute roles, and is able to show a different side to his acting persona. Let's hope he doesn't just "fade away into the sunset" like many other teenage stars discovered by his mother studio's talent center.

Gloria Geverola, professor, Cor Jesu College: We have so many under-appreciated actors and actresses in show business that it would be unfair to mention just one.

Susan Africa should do more films, not just mother roles. Her performances are always heartfelt and affecting.

Although often relegated to mother roles or older sister roles, Cherry Pie Picache consistently puts substance into any role that's given her.

Sylvia Sanchez may have started out as a bold star but she has blossomed into an interesting performer. She was particularly good in "Esperanza," playing a not-too-intelligent wife who later lost her mind.

Jaclyn Jose deserves all the accolades that she's getting. She is not underrated but she is definitely under-used!

Among our actors, Allan Paule and Daniel Fernando deserve bigger roles. These actors may not be that popular but they always come up with gutsy, memorable performances. And they don't mind taking risks in the roles that they choose to play.

Among the younger ones, Piolo Pascual is definitely someone we should all watch out for. He displays uncommon intensity and focus in his performances. Dominic Ochoa has good comic timing.

Truly Atendido, video shop clerk: Alam ko na mas sikat si Jessa Zaragoza bilang singer, pero magaling din siyang aktres. Napanood mo ba ang "Bakit Pa?" nila nina Troy Montero at Diether Ocampo? Nakakatuwa siya doon.

Nagulat ako sa kanya kasi marunong din pala siyang mag-comedy. E, di ba sabi nila mas mahirap magpatawa kaysa magpa-iyak?

Okey din siya sa "Masamang Damo" nila ni Joko Diaz kahit medyo pang-Rated R ang papel niya doon.

Uso talaga sa mga artista ngayon ang marunong kumanta at umarte. Dati, sina Sharon at Nora lang ang nakakagawa nun. Ngayon, nandiyan na sina Donna Cruz, Zsa Zsa Padilla at iba pa. Sana mabigyan pa si Jessa ng maraming pelikula para maipakita din niya na kaya rin niyang mag-drama.

Paul John Martinez, drug agent/self-proclaimed film buff: I have always admired Joel Torre's vulnerability and honesty as an actor. His Ilonggo accent may have cost him a lot of roles but his dedication to his craft gave him the respectability that he now enjoys as an actor. He deserves to play bigger roles.

It's sad he wasn't able to keep the initial momentum of his breakthrough performance in Peque Gallaga's "Oro, Plata, Mata." He would have been a welcome additional option for roles turned down by Christopher de Leon.

Among the actresses, Rita Avila's versatility should give her an edge over other less-talented but more in-demand stars, but apparently, casting directors haven't noticed this. I hope they will, eventually.

Dr. Girlie Mangadap, Family Medicine resident, PGH. Among the younger batch of actors, Bojo Molina comes to mind. The guy is talented. He has the looks, yet his performances prove that he's not just another pretty face.

He can shift from heavy drama (like his performances in "Maalaala Mo Kaya") to light teeny-bopper stuff ("G-Mik"). I remember seeing him sing in "ASAP." He can sing pala. I hope he gets the break he deserves.

It's about time we develop a new batch of leading men because at the moment, our choices are limited to Christopher de Leon, Aga Muhlach and Richard Gomez.

Gabby Concepcion used to belong to this category but his very controversial private affairs and the unfortunate scandals he got himself embroiled into got the better of him and sent him packing his bags to the States. Whether he can stage a comeback or not remains to be seen.

Kay Concepcion, sales representative, Globe: Sino nga ba? I think Rufa Mae Quinto is underrated. She was very effective playing a kookie character in "Dahil May Isang Ikaw." She made me laugh so hard!

Her role in that movie reminded me of Carmi Martin's similar part in Ishmael Bernal's classy comedy "Working Girls" in the '80s.

(Trust Bernal to come up with a comedy that's decades more advanced and notches more intelligent than most of what our other comedy directors come up with! He is such a loss to the industry; the same goes for Lino Brocka.)

Rufa Mae may not have the range and popularity of Vilma Santos and Sharon Cuneta but she can do different roles in both drama and comedy.

We have quite a number of bold actresses who manage to demonstrate their capacity as effective performers. There's Izza Ignacio, who also exhibits a unique comic flair, and Ynez Veneracion, who has shown recently that she too has depth as an actress.

Gary Valenciano is fun to watch in light comedy musicals, but let's hope he doesn't do more dramas in the future.

Bobbit Simeon, office worker: I know that Romnick Sarmenta has been given good roles in the past but they are usually for movies that weren't so good, except probably for last year's "Miguel/Michelle."

Pero ang galing niyang aktor, ang bilis umiyak. Kahit hindi kumukusot ang mukha, tumutulo ang luha. Ang iba, guwapo pag tumatawa pero pumapangit pag umiiyak.

Kaya lang, he's not doing much these days, is he? Kahit hindi siya ganoon kasikat, our industry needs actos like him. Sayang ang talent niya if we don't use him.

Isa pang underrated ay si Allan Paule. Guwapo din naman siya, Pinoy na Pinoy ang dating, and he's not afraid to take on roles like the one that he portrayed in that movie with Rosanna Roces ("Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya") where he played a gay character. Bakit ba tayong mga Pinoy, ang hilig-hilig sa mga tisoy kahit hindi marunong umarte?

Manman Angsico, musician/stage actor: Underrated actors? We don't have a lot of them. Baka you mean overrated actors or over-acting actors? We have so many of them in the business! (laughs)

For me, Carmi Martin is underrated and certainly unappreciated. She is typecast in dumb, sexy-bombshell roles because of her obvious physical attributes.

People are distracted by her outward appearance kaya palagi na lang siyang nakabaon sa mga ginagampanan niyang characters. If she doesn't play a tanga, she portrays a sex nymphet.

But I once saw her in a dramatic film directed by Lino Brocka where she proved that she could play a real person, hindi caricature lang. I realized puwede rin pala siya in both comedy and dramatic films.

She's capable of turning in rich charactertizations when handled by able directors--and who could be more able than Lino Brocka? In Carmi's case, naipit siya sa sexy comedies.

Bakit takot na takot ang ating mga casting directors to cast against type? Kaya hindi sumusulong ang ating industriya kasi takot tayong mag-experiment. We always go for the safer, more conventional but not necessarily better route.

While it's true that Monique Wilson is a top theater actress, I think she is under-utilized in our films. It's probably because there are not much good scripts around.

Leda Jacinto, production coordinator, executive secretary: An actor really has an edge if he is a Brocka protégé because the legendary director was an actor's director.

Bembol Roco may have starred in some Filipino film classics in his younger days but it's sad to note that his career never really took off. There were long gaps in his movie assignments, we don't know it was by choice.

Oftentimes, his capacity as an actor is just too big for the roles that he gets. Pero kahit maliliit ang roles, he makes full use of his talent and through these performances, you see how intelligent he is.

Kitang-kita ang intensity, and he never overacts like a lot of our actors these days, whose definition of "intensity" translates to overacting.

But who would have though Bembol could be as effective in comedy as he is in drama? People look forward to watching "Labs Ko Si Babe" partly because of his comic scenes.

Julio Diaz is also one of our respected but underrated actors. I hope he'll be given more roles in the future. He may have been sidetracked by the bold trend in the '80s but he definitely has proven that he deserves our attention on a more regular basis.

Kat Legarde, production staff, Trumpets: Have you seen Kaye Abad? This girl has potential. I saw her on "Tabing-Ilog" and she was real good in it. She is a young version of Nora Aunor--she shines even during silent moments. She can cry easily, and has instinct and sensitivity that are rare among young actresses.

Actors in the Philippines usually get by with raw talent and instinct because they seldom undergo training like our actors from the theater. Sana maging habit din among our production outfits to give these young talents the proper training before they plunge into a full-time professional acting career.

Eugenio Romeo Reyes, high school teacher: My bet is Antoinette Taus. Despite her small frame, her potential to become an important actress in the future is obvious.

She is pretty, classy, can sing, has theater roots, hindi maarte, and looks like Lorna Tolentino. So perhaps, she can follow in Lorna's footsteps?