Our film, "To Be With You" won Best Drama Short Film at Sunday's New York CineFest Awards held at the Look Dine-In Cinemas on W57th in New York City! 

Jennifer Aquino and Jaia Lyne accepted the award. Congratulations to the Cast & Crew! Thank you New York CineFest! 

​TO BE WITH YOU 
A woman returns home seeking reconciliation with her daughter after missing a crucial game, but a shocking discovery forces her to find a new path toward healing for her family.  

Directed by Dale Fabrigar 
Written by Erin Aster 
Cinematography by Joe Gunawan 
Cast: Jennifer Aquino, Jaia Lyne, Edwin A. Santos, Magnum Nadal.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33379060/

I am excited to announce that our film, "To Be With You" is nominated for Best Short Drama at New York CineFest! 

If you're in New York tomorrow afternoon, get your tickets now to watch "To Be With You" (Block 17) at Look Dine-In Cinemas on W57th (New York) this Saturday, April 26 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm in Auditorium 5. Q&A to follow.  RSVP: https://newyorkcinefest.ticketbud.com/block-17-shorts .  

TO BE WITH YOU
A woman returns home seeking reconciliation with her daughter after missing a crucial game, but a shocking discovery forces her to find a new path toward healing for her family.  

Directed by Dale Fabrigar
Written by Erin Aster
Cinematography by Joe Gunawan
Cast: Jennifer Aquino, Jaia Lyne, Edwin A. Santos, Magnum Nadal.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33379060/

I am happy to announce that our film, "To Be With You" is an Official Selection at New York CineFest from April 24 to 27, 2025 in New York City!

It will screen-in-competition Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm at the Look Dine-In Cinemas' Auditorium #5 located on West 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York.

Unfortunately, I am unable to make it but, two of my co-stars Jennifer Aquino and Jaia Lyne will be in attendance for the entire film festival. 

​If you live or happen to be in New York, and interested in seeing and supporting our film, go here: https://newyorkcinefest.ticketbud.com/block-17-shorts 

TO BE WITH YOU
A woman returns home seeking reconciliation with her daughter after missing a crucial game, but a shocking discovery forces her to find a new path toward healing for her family.  

Directed by Dale Fabrigar  
Written by Erin Aster
Cinematography by Joe Gunawan
Cast: Jennifer Aquino, Jaia Lyne, Edwin A. Santos, Magnum Nadal.

The next day on Friday, November 8, we attended the film festival's informative panels, more short film screenings, networking, etc. 

Represented our film, "To Be With You," Jennifer and her friends and family including the cast & crew and I attended the third and final day of the 2nd FilAm Creative Film Festival (November 9, 2024) for our premiere. 

Later that night, the Awards Gala at Harbor House in DTLA. 

Congratulations to the winners, nominees and everyone whose films I watched in 2024.

What did you do on Labor Day weekend?

I laboriously worked on a new short film for a film challenge. The non-profit organization FilAm Creative brought back FilAm Creations established in 2017. This year, the challenge outlined three priorities that must be included in all FilAm Creations' shorts.  

Interested participants all met up at the Paper Tiger Bar in East Hollywood in August. My producing partner Jennifer Aquino (last participated as a special guest panelist for my 11th Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel: Voice Actors event back in June 2024) and I attended. We locked in three people; two who I've known for almost a decade but never worked on something together until now. Two people who I really wanted to work with based on one 2017 short film that competed in the first film challenge... Lullaby. 

We also met actress and model Jaia Lyne. For me, it was a reunion. She volunteered to help out at an event presented by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Hollywood's Up Close With...Mark Dacascos event held at Tiato in Santa Monica, CA in February 2020. I was one of the organization's board of directors at the time.

DEVELOPMENT & PRE-PRODUCTION: 
We were introduced to Erin Aster to write a script based on various ideas we had. Kudos to her in such a short time to come up with a grounded story we, in unison love. Next was a table read, rehearsals and assembling crew and locations, it's off to the races!

​PRODUCTION & FILMING: 
One day of filming and a second day for a couple of pickups on-location at a quiet neighborhood in Los Angeles under a SAG-AFTRA contract in early September. A majority of the scenes took place at night with three actors and a small crew during Labor Day weekend below.

POST-PRODUCTION & RELEASE:
Post-production began immediately after filming. Our film was submitted to the 2nd annual FilAm Creative Film Festival on time.

We are proud to announce at long last, "The Monsters Without" is opening theatrically this month of April. Come out and see me in my biggest role to date at Opening Night on Friday, April 28, 2023 (7:30pm PST) at the Arena Cinelounge Sunset in Hollywood. 

Distributed by Indican Pictures.

Get your tickets here: https://ticketing.uswest.veezi.com/purchase/12068?siteToken=kg8371mdgntr6a2b24256dpjaw

​The film screens from April 28 to May 4 - all 7:30pm (PST) shows.