GB Sampedro is one of the coolest directors among the new batch of promising filmmakers.
In the set of Astig, his directorial movie debut that won several awards in the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, everything ran smoothly almost as if the film weren’t up for competition.
“I’m not a temperamental director,” he said in a recent interview. “I don’t believe in shouting or ordering people about as if they are my lackeys. If there’s a problem, I talk it out with all concerned until the matter is resolved. Kailangan kasi masaya ang lahat sa set para maging maganda ang resulta.”
GB delivered on that promise in Astig; putting his heart and soul in coming up with one of the best films in the festival.
He added that there’s actually a lot of effort involved in coming up with a product that comes across effortlessly.
“I came to the set, prepared. The night before every shoot, I planned my angles, studied the lines, thought of alternatives. I scribbled my notes on my script so I would not forget. I did my assignment. I didn’t come to my set unprepared because I believe more in preparation than inspiration.”
Astig won for Best Editing, Best Sound Recording, Best Supporting Actor (in Arnold Reyes) and Best Director. It was also the top-grosser of the festival.
Yet even when people said that Astig was a shoo-in for Best Film, GB was unfazed when it eventually lost to Last Supper No. 3.
“Maganda ang Last Supper No. 3 so I think it won the award fair and square. Depende lang naman lahat yan sa taste ng jury. It may be that they were looking for something else na hindi na-meet ng Astig at tanggap ko yan ng maluwag,” he said.
GB must be right as far as that goes. Right after the festival, Astig was invited to compete in the prestigious Pusan International Film Festival in Korea this October.
Astig is the only film finalist in this year’s Cinemalaya to have been invited to compete in the festival’s New Currents section.
“Do I see our selection in Pusan as vindication? No, I don’t think that way. What I see is a chance for us to represent the Philippines. It’s a big honor and we hope to deliver,” he said.
GB is as cool as ever when talking about his ladylove, actress-comedienne Candy Pangilinan.
Unlike other celebrities who give vague answers when asked about their love lives, GB nonchalantly confirmed and disclosed their plans.
“Candy and I have known each other for a long time but we only became close early this year. It’s too early for us to be talking marriage although, of course, we are thinking about it,” he said.
When some entertainment journalists tried to insinuate that GB had won Best Director unfairly, GB took it with a grain of salt and simply laid down the facts.
“Anim na taon na nga ako sa pag-di-direct pero panay concerts at music videos lang ang mga nagawa ko until Astig. Kung tutuusin, yung ibang mga directors sa Cinemalaya ang mas may advantage sa akin kasi sila, matagal ng naka-direct ng pelikula.”
Here’s another “cool” fact: GB would have debuted in Cinemalaya earlier except that the film he was working on then didn’t push through.
Did this discourage GB? No.
“Looking back, siguro hindi ko pa panahon noon na magkaroon ng sarili kong pelikula. Maybe Astig was really meant to be my first film. I was disappointed when that indie film didn’t happen but I wasn’t discouraged. It takes a lot to discourage me because I believe that if you just keep on giving your best, it will eventually bear fruit.”
Then again, maybe I don’t even have to do a hard sell of GB as a cool director.
One look at his hip fashion style of beads, folded up jeans and red sneakers should be enough.
An in-demand director, GB will soon be working on several music videos, commercials, concerts and TV shows.
(Astig has been pre-selected for the 10th edition of ASIATICAFILMMEDIALE Film Festival to be held in Rome, Italy from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.)