GB Sampedro is a known concert, music video and TV commercial director. But it was only in 2009 when he fulfilled a life-long dream when he directed his first film. That movie, Astig (Mga Batang Kalye), an episodic tale of four young men trying to survive in the tough streets of Manila, was entered in the Cinemalaya Film Festival that year, and earned GB a Best Director award. The film was penned by the multi-awarded Jerry Gracio and starred Dennis Trillo, Edgar Allan Guzman, Arnold Reyes and Sid Lucero in the lead roles. Notably, Astig also became Cinemalaya’s top-grossing film that year and sold the most number of tickets among all the entries.
But that film, important as it was in helping give GB a push as a filmmaker, also became a sort of creative stumbling block for him. He had problems coming up with a second movie because he found himself always looking to duplicate the success he had with Astig. He felt that if he was going to come up with another one, it had to be better than Astig or if not, at least be as successful as its predecessor. It became a tough act for him to follow.
While waiting for the right opportunity to make another movie, GB returned to his first love, which was directing concerts, music videos and TV commercials. Among the concerts that he directed were the back-to-back show of Side A and Martin Nievera, Erik Santos’ Araneta Coliseum show and the MOA Arena concert of Korean singing sensation Psy.
It wasn’t because he wasn’t getting any offers. On the contrary, people were after him to try for Cinemalaya again.
“The following year (2010), I was asked to submit (an entry) to the Cinemalaya, that I try again. But I didn’t want to because I felt pressured. After another year, they asked again. My answer was the same. I was pressured by the idea that on my first attempt, I won Best Director and we were able to tour (in international film festivals), lalo ‘yung sa Busan International Film Festival (held annually in Busan, South Korea, the Busan International Film Festival is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia). So at that time, I felt pressured na kapag gumawa ako (another film), dapat manalo ako ng award.”
But try as he might, he never really forgot about making another movie. In fact, he already had a concept in mind: A story of separation, but told from a man’s point of view. It was, he now confesses, based largely on personal experience (his own, as well as that of his friends). It is a concept that he began forming in 2006, a year after he separated from his previous partner. In 2011, he was again separated. All of that — and all that he knew about separation from hearing his friends’ stories — he put down on paper, waiting for the right time and opportunity to bring it to the screen.
“Lagi kong iniisip ang paggawa ng pelikula, kaso ‘yun nga, ‘yung pressure sa akin na dapat award-winning until 2013 came,” says GB. “Yung Separados, may initial na akong sinusulat sa konsepto n’yan kaso tinitigil ko dahil bukod nga dun sa pressure, feeling ko hindi siya bagay for commercial release because it’s the point of view of a guy and hindi naman karaniwang ginagawa sa atin. Usually, it’s the point of view of the girl kapag mga kuwento tungkol sa separation, so never kong natapos siya. But every year, I’d revisit it, add characters and stories.”
The time has finally come. This year, GB returns to the Cinemalaya Festival with Separados, which gathers the stories of six men, separated for various reasons. One is a battered husband, another is a closet queen, another is an alcoholic, and so on. It gathers a star-studded cast that includes Erik Santos (who is making his movie debut here), Alfred Vargas, Anjo Yllana, Jason Abalos, Ricky Davao and Victor Neri. Separados, penned by Eric Ramos and directed by GB, will be screened as part of the ongoing festival’s New Breed Category.
GB has high hopes for the movie. He wants people to know that men also suffer when a marriage or relationship ends. “You’ll see a different perspective in the film,” he says. “Sana ma-realize din ng mga manonood na may ganito din na nangyayari sa society ngayon.”
Separados is screening until today at the CCP, Trinoma, Greenbelt Cinema, Alabang Town Center Cinema and Fairview Terraces Cinema. GB also composed a soundtrack for the film that is included in the special Separados music DVD. Other tracks are Isang Araw by Jaya and Pangarap Ko Ikaw sang by Erik Santos.