Director GB Sampedro.
Giussepe Bede Sampedro, or simply GB, was an independent screenwriter and TV director who first gained prominence in 2009 when “Astig”, his full-length feature film debut, won four awards in the 5th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, including Best Director.
An episodic tale of four young men whose stories parallel and contrast with the landmarks and various images of Manila, “Astig” won six more awards in the 2010 Star Awards for Movies and clinched a Special Mention recognition in the New Currents category at the Pusan International Film Festival also that year.
With all such accolades, one would wonder why it took Direk GB five years to come up with his second film and he concentrated on directing TV shows instead. Sampedro said it wasn’t for lack of offers.
“The truth is after ‘Astig’ in 2009, natakot akong mag-pelikula ulit kasi medyo na-pressure ako as a result of the awards. Hindi ako tumanggap ng offer to make a film kasi kung gumawa ako ng pelikula two or three years ago, iisipin ko na naman ang awards,” he told InterAksyon during the recent press conference for his new film, “S6parados”, an entry in the New Breed section for Cinemalaya’s 10th year.
But even before he started making films, the idea for “S6parados” had begun taking shape as early as 2006.
“I got separated from my wife in December, 2005. The following year, I began writing the concept for the film. Kaya lang hindi ko siya matuloy-tuloy kasi feeling ko kulang yung istorya. Kulang sa highlights, hindi ko siya matapos-tapos over the years,” he confessed.
That was until last year when GB decided he was confident enough to finally get it done. Enlisting the assistance of award-winning screenwriter (“Two Funerals”) and InterAksyon entertainment editor Enrique V. Ramos, Sampedro thought he finally found the right ingredients for his latest big screen offering.
“Feeling ko, okay na okay na yung timpla ng story. At napag-isipan ko rin na it’s about time to make a movie without thinking of awards. Para sa akin, hindi makakatulong yun sa paggawa ng isang magandang pelikula,” he added.
Inspired by the lessons from the failure of his own marriage, GB said “S6parados” is the story of six men separated from their wives, which explains the number 6 in the title.
“The film is seen from a man’s point of view when it comes to separation. Normally, we only hear the side of the women who are also in this situation. We usually don’t see that men also get hurt in these circumstances. This time, the movie presents the other side of the story,” he pointed out.
Like “Astig”, it also has a multi-story arc which has become a trademark of sorts for the filmmaker. “I always liked fast-paced stories and I’m always intrigued by the challenge of telling stories that focus on several characters. That’s probably why it has become my style.”
GB Sampedro (rightmost) with the cast of 'S6parados', namely (from left) Patricia Javier, Jason Abalos, Ricky Davao, Melissa Mendez, Ritz Azul (seated), Erik Santos, Anjo Yllana, and Victor Neri.
“The first character played by Victor Neri suffers from sexual incompatibility with his partner which led him to become a workaholic, which eventually resulted in their separation. He gets a second chance when he is remarried to the character of Ritz Azul, who happens to be the daughter of Ricky Davao, another separado who happens to be a closet queen. Ricky harbors feelings for another man, a car salesman and another separado played by Jason Abalos and so on. Tuhog-tuhog ang mga istorya nila,” he elaborates.
Sampedro says although he did not particularly identify with the characters of “Astig”, it was still a personal film for him in the sense that he grew up in the streets of Manila where the film was shot. The characters of “S6parados”, however, are closer to who he is in real life.
“Victor Neri’s character is probably the closest to me but there are bits and pieces of me in the characters of Jason Abalos, Erik Santos, Alfred Vargas and Anjo Yllana. Nakita ko rin ang sarili ko sa characters nila, in a different perspective nga lang. Perhaps the least closest to who I am is the character of Ricky Davao, which is based on the story of some of my friends.”
Cast member Alfred Vargas, now a congressman representing the 5th district of Quezon City, is also one of the film’s producers and said he is very proud to be part of this project.
“People can expect to see themselves instantly in the shoes of one or more of the separados,” he told InterAksyon during the launch of Cinemalaya X earlier this month. “‘S6parados’ is a narrative about love, life, relationships, failures and hope. It’s everybody’s story.”
“S6parados” boasts a loaded stellar cast that includes Angel Jacob, Melissa Mendez, Althea Vega, Sharmaine Arnaiz, Iwa Moto, Diana Zubiri, Sue Prado, Menggie Cobarrubias, Cris Pastor, K-La Rivera, Rhea Lim, Jace Flores, Patricia Javier, Katrina Halili, Joel Lamangan and Ritz Azul in her first feature film.
Like all other entries in the festival, the film will be screened from August 2 to 10 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt Makati, Alabang Town Center, Trinoma and Fairview Terraces.
“S6parados” will have its gala premiere on Sunday, August 3, 9PM at the CCP Main Theater.
GB Sampedro returns to Cinemalaya with personal film about marital split
Source: InterAksyon.com (July 30, 2014 at 04:28PM)
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