Surprising for this usually soft-spoken man who supplied the dialogue for some of the most thunderous Filipino movies of all time. Think Maynila… Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, ‘Merika, Mulanay, Aliwan Paradise, and Markova. Well, they all have "Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr." in their screenwriting credits.
Apart from the silverscreen, del Mundo’s passion for the medium is also evident in classrooms, television and non-government organizations. "Dr. Doy," as most of his students call him, has devoted his life to teaching. Presently, he is chairperson of the Department of Communication in De La Salle University-Manila, thus making him one of those rare people who also preach what they practice. He is also the current head of the Cinema Committee of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts and the president of the Society of Film Archivists, Philippines.
With all the responsibilities on his shoulders, it’s hard to imagine how del Mundo can manage to squeeze anything more into his schedule. Yet he has done just that.
As a screenwriter, del Mundo is no stranger to acclaim, having won awards from the Film Academy of the Philippines, FAMAS (Filipino Academy for Movie Arts and Sciences), Urian (Filipino Film Critics), Catholic Mass Media Awards, and the Manila Film Festival. But there was one achievement he has not been able to attain until now.
"Dati ko pang gustong magdirek," shares del Mundo. However, his strength as a scriptwriter also led to his being typecast as one. Over the years, he has been able to direct documentaries, short films, videos, and television programs, but never a full-length feature. Pepot Artista is his first feature film as a director.
The idea for Pepot Artista first lit up more than thirty years ago. In fact, it was del Mundo’s first screenplay. "I did Pepot Artista during my tutorial course under Nestor Torre," he shares. That was way back in 1971. He continues, "Pagkatapos, natabi lang siya. But it was one of the projects I really wanted to do."
Then, the Cinemalaya Project came along, and it provided the window of opportunity del Mundo needed.
Set in the 1970s, Pepot Artista is a comedy about a young boy dreaming of movie stardom. It explores the Pinoy penchant for entertainment in the midst of serious social problems. Del Mundo relates, "Even if it was written decades ago, I felt that it was still very relevant today." Certainly true in this day when instant stardom is served via star-search reality shows.
Unwittingly, the Cinemalaya Project would provide the crucial spark to get the Pepot project to take off. His younger counterparts also had a part to play in Del Mundo’s transformation into a feature film director. Del Mundo recalls, "Paminsan-minsan lang kami gumawa ng film kasi hindi kami aggressive. Naghihintay muna kami ng producer bago gumawa ng pelikula." Taking a cue from young and assertive indie filmmakers, del Mundo learned that today, knocking on doors has become necessary. He also shares, "Now with digital technology, it becomes easier and less expensive to do films. So there’s no excuse not to make films."
And finally, it was to be a leap of faith. Del Mundo recalls telling himself, "If I don’t do it, then I won’t be able to do it. So I took the risk."
The movie was a labor of love, if not proof of del Mundo’s good karma. Although his film resumé is enough to fill more than one filmmaker’s lifetime, Doy del Mundo is not one to rest on his laurels.
The film grant from Cinemalaya amounted to P500,000. This would be the entire budget for the movie, a pretty tight one, considering it was for a period flick. Nonetheless, del Mundo was able to produce it within budget, thanks to the support of former colleagues, students, alumni, and friends who compose his major production staff. They are Michael Kho Lim, line producer; Cesar Hernando, production design; Lorrie Ilustre, original music and score, Daniel Adapon, editing; and let’s not forget his brother Herky del Mundo who served as his director of photography. De La Salle University-Manila also lent a good hand by allowing del Mundo to shoot on campus and use the department’s equipment and post-production facilities.
Doy del Mundo smiles as he remembers the film’s making, "A good number of people did pro bono work. Yung iba, sa pakiusap lang. Others accepted cuts in their talent fees. They really believed in the project." Remarkably, people were glad to help. The likes of Rio Locsin, Cris Villanueva, Bituin Escalante, Jeffrey Quizon, Joy Soler-de Castro, and Tado lent their talents to the project. Even Tirso Cruz III has a crucially funny cameo appearance. Also adding color to the production are Lou Veloso, Yoyoy Villame, Boots Anson Roa, Butch Francisco, Ricky Davao, and Jose Javier Reyes.
Much like his lead character Pepot who wished to be an actor, Doy del Mundo has also attained his dream of being a director.
At 57, he is still brimming with youthful enthusiasm. Del Mundo does not see age as a deterrent. He wisely says, "Lamberto Avellana and Gerry de Leon made their greatest films in their 50s. Imagine what more they could have done if they continued directing up to their 70s."
Truly, Doy del Mundo has gone full circle. Although his directorial debut comes 30 years after his first screenwriting job, del Mundo is anything but exhausted. The boy who would watch 16mm films from the French Embassy during his late college years is now a standard in Philippine cinema. Even more so now, when he’s the one shouting, "Action!"
Pepot Artista will be screened during the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival on July 12-17, 2005 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. For inquiries, please call 524-4611 loc. 322.