Sine Pinoy

CEBU, Philippines - D'ream Arts Production national coordinator Sunshine Teodoro believes so much that the Philippines is rife with creative energy buzzing all over the country.

"The Philippines is definitely a hotbed of creative talent and activity, and that our group D'ream Arts Prod definitely recognizes this. You don't have to go to Manila to excel or to be known in this field. Masyado nang stressful ang life do'n, so we will bring the focus right here where talents abound and where we can bring the arts closer to the public's minds and hearts," she said during a presscon on the first-ever Sine Pinoy National Summer Workshop.

Teodoro's passion for the culture and the arts bloomed in college as a member of the Little Theatre, in 2001, of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, her hometown. Driven by the experience, she auditioned and eventually landed a supporting role in the 2009 indie film "Wanted Boarder," starring silver screen siren Rosanna Roces, shot in Iloilo.

As a BS Biology graduate, she did proceed to medical school but later on dropped the idea of becoming a physician to pursue her one love – acting!

"It was hard chasing after your dreams in Manila because you really have to start from scratch. As a production assistant, nandiyan yung mga times na nasisigawan ka. Nakakababa ng moral talaga!" she shared.

But then her success in show business is attributed to that classic but time-tested meme that happiness is achieved only when you follow where your heart directs you.

"Sino nga bang mag-aakala na artista ako sa taba 'kong 'to? There were even those people in the past who told me to my face that I will never make it. Pero I tried everything possible like production works exposure before I became a movie actor. Nandiyan ang nag-wardrobe coordinator ako. We have to wake up like at 2 a.m. to dress up 400 characters until 6 a.m. since call time is 8 a.m."

Once she traded barbs with a prima donna actor who complained of a loose wardrobe. "Nasabi ko tuloy sa kanya: Tahi ko na lang kaya sa balat mo yan," she recalled.

Later on, through various auditions, she was already cast for supporting roles in films like the Martin Escudero-starrer "Zoombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington" (2011), and lately as "mama san" in George Estregan Jr.'s rehash of the Asiong Salonga character, set in the '50s – an entry in last year's filmfest.

"Good thing lang din na I have this right group of friends like Carlo Mendoza (cinematographer of Asiong Salonga) in Manila. I recently appeared in the Hulog ng Langit episode of ABS-CBN's kiddie telefantaserye "Wansapanatym" with Denise Laurel and Jason Abalos. Sobrang bait ng crew; they really treated me as a guest," she went on.

The hardship she went through served as her inspiration to enrich Filipino potential in filmmaking (acting and production) through various workshops.

"I want to promote talents from the provinces. Di naman talaga kelangan magpunta ng Manila. The movie industry in Cebu used to be so vibrant, so it's just a matter of reviving it, making projects consistently lalo na you have award-winning directors here (mentioning Bigfoot alumnus Vic Villanueva of the highly successful "My Paranormal Romance" indie film)," she said.

She shared further that the production company was established with a firm belief that "film and the arts are effective vehicles for peace," and that it is through creative expression and world-class performances that Filipinos may soar to even greater cultural heights.

"D'ream Arts constantly strives to promote its vision of a Philippines that is known as an art-literate country where artists and the arts are nurtured, recognized, and appreciated," she enthused.

"By providing more Filipinos with greater access to creative opportunities to discover and enhance their own talents, D'ream Arts hopes to inspire artistic growth and the development of world-class talent that remains imbued with distinctly Filipino cultural values."

Beginning May 1, participants to the Sine Pinoy National Summer Workshop will get the chance to be mentored in singing, dancing and acting; as well as television and film production by renowned thespians Fernando "Nanding" Josef, Joan Bugcat, Jonathan Tadiaoan, Joseph Keith Anicoche, Tanya Cordero Sayajon, Abner Delina Jr.; and Bernah Bernardo.

In brief, Josef has almost 40 years of experience in the local performing arts scene. He is currently the artistic director of the Tanghalang Pilipino – one of the country's most established and prestigious theatre companies. Actor and singer Bugcat received her bachelor's degree from Centro Escolar University where she has facilitated Basic Acting and Character Study workshops for the university's dramatic guild.

Tadiaoan joins Sine Pinoy as a resource speaker at the kids' acting workshops. Anicoche, a theater arts graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts and Film and Audiovisual Communications graduate from the University of the Philippines, is an active arts practitioner.

As for Sayajon, she is an actor and educator very active in theater, having graduated with a degree in Theater Arts from UP-Diliman and received her Masteral Degree in Applied Drama from the prestigious Goldsmiths College in London as a Ford Foundation scholar in 2009.

Television/film/stage actor Delina has been actively involved in theater productions for the last few years. He has appeared in numerous TV shows and commercials and has acted in films by award-winning directors Raya Martin, Dennis Marasigan, and Mario O'Hara. Meanwhile, actor/acting trainer Bernah Bernardo facilitates numerous acting workshops for children and teens for the GMA Artists Center and PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association).

Hand in hand with Eleda Marketing, Management and Production, D'ream Arts conducted an audition at Koa Tree House last April 21 and 22 to discover these emerging creative talents and give them a chance to enhance and showcase their artistic skills through producing the country's first-ever Sine Pinoy National Summer Workshop and the Sine Pinoy Festival: Selebrasyon ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

The workshop was launched simultaneously in the Cities of Manila, Baguio, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, and General Santos - recognizing and showcasing the creative budding talents nationwide from the grassroots level. Workshop wraps up on May 11.

"The film industry is so small. So let's help each other grow," was her parting words. (FREEMAN)