A film I acted in - NO REGRETS - is now on YouTube in its entirety. It was produced for the 2018 Los Angeles 48 Hour Film Project. And, it premiered as an Official Selection at the Asian World Film Festival in 2018.  

With the encouragement of her good friend Sam, Ashley travels back to the past to stop the engagement of her true love.

The film was written (with Michael Kuya) and directed by Rommel Andaya.  Executive produced by RAWMIXProductions.

Melissa Jane Rodriguez, Michael Kuya, Tony Garbanzos, Mary Grant, Danni Huang Gadigan, Jeff Gadigan, Lora Bofill and I round out the cast. 

These past two weeks, I had the pleasure co-presenting three films at 35th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.  

​But, first, my crew went to the World Premiere of Diana Paragas' "Yellow Rose" which opened the festival. It was the first time in festival history a Filipina American filmmaker's debut film opened the festival.  The feature film stars Eva Noblezada, Princess Punzalan, Dale Watson and Lea Salonga.   Later, it won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Film while its lead actress won the Breakthrough Performance Award.

The director could not make it as he was filming "Block Z" in the Philippines. "Eerie" producer Malou Santos was present to introduce the film.

I also co-presented (with Craig Obligacion Wilson) the shorts program that included "The Patients" by Tess Paras and the Academy Award nominated, "Weekends" by Trevor Jimenez.

Though Shiang An Chuang's "Mama Pingpong Social Club" was a bloody good time!

The last film I co-presented (with Annie Nepomuceno) was "Journey To Ifugao" documentary from Nicanor Evangelista Jr.

At the sold-out Closing Night, I went to the World Premiere of Andrea A. Walter's beautiful "Empty By Design" that starred Rhian Ramos (above), Osric Chau, Chris Pang and Dante Basco.

Thank you to Melanie Ramos and Janna Wang for guiding us along the way. And, much thanks to the Executive Director of Visual Communications Francis Cullado for another successful film festival!

Until next year -- for the Centennial Celebration of Philippine Cinema!

A short film I acted in, Rawmix Productions' NO REGRETS screens at the Asian World Film Festival tomorrow Saturday, October 27 at 3pm.

I will be signing autographs for Samurai Cop 2 at DragonFest this Saturday, August 25 in Burbank, CA.

It will be held at Burbank's Pickwick Gardens Convention Center.  I will be there tomorrow Saturday for autographs and pictures so, bring your "Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance" stuff. (I am the Producer and Actor in the film) Come by and say "Hi." I'll be at the Cinema Epoch booth from 10am - 5pm.

I will have a supply of Blu-rays, DVDs and official tees for me to sign.  If nothing to sign, come by and say "Hi," shoot the breeze and feel free to take a picture, if you want.  Hope to see you all there!

CREW
Director - Rommel Andaya 
Director of Photography - Homer Dulu
Grip - Brian Bascal 
Grip - Tony Garbanzos
Production Manager - Joya Camaisa
Productions Assistant - Elizabeth Yun
Production Assistant - Vince Cruz
Production Assistant - Sarnica Lim
Production Sound - Sam Yee
Jocelyn Aragon
Editor - Amy Fan

CAST
Future:
Jeff Gadigan as the Time Guardian Judge 
Mary Grant as Liz Bootley, Time Guardian
Tony Garbanzos as Time Guardian 2

Present:
Melissa Rodriguez as Ashley Cheevers 
Michael Kuya as Sam Joel (Best Friend)
Steve Lim as Ed Marlina, Fiancee
Danni Gadigan as Carly Fitzwater, Fiancee
Lora Bofill as Kim Wallace (Event Planner)
​
Party Guests:
Elizabeth Yun as Lorraine 
Sarnica Lim as Marlene 
Edwin Santos as George 
Vince Cruz as Marty

It is Asian August and the Summer of Asians continue into the first day of the eighth month of 2018. And, here are the feature length films opening up all over the world with lead talent of Filipino descent.

Erik Matti’s new crime thriller, BUYBUST is setting a new benchmark for Filipino action films — and Pinoy Cinema overall.  His last feature was Seklusyon (screened in competition at the Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival in 2017) and he is developing the feature film version of Darna for the same studio, Viva Films.

A Hollywood veteran of the last twenty-five years both as a stunt coordinator and a fight choreographer, Sonny Sison has worked on such projects as 2014’s Godzilla starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 2003’s The Rundown starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ernie Reyes, Jr., 2018’s Showdown In Manila starring Alexander Nevsky and Casper Van Dien and the 2012 viral short film, The Punisher: Dirty Laundry starring Thomas Jane, just to name a few, has led him to reinvigorate the action genre in Southeast Asia as an action director and producer with a focus of bringing international productions to the Philippines.

The action escape film stars Anne Curtis (2014’s Blood Ransom), UFC Fighter Brandon Vera (2006’s The Black Eyed Peas: Bebot, Version 1 directed by Patricio Ginelsa Jr.) and Victor Neri (2018’s Citizen Jake, 1999’s Brokedown Palace). The film opened in the Philippines on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 and opens at select U.S. and Canadian cities on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Based on the best selling novel,  CRAZY RICH ASIANS starring Nico Santos (of NBC’s Superstore) and Pinay personality, Kris Aquino arrives in theaters on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in the USA and Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in the Philippines.

And, MILE 22 opens in theaters on Friday, August 17, 2018 co-starring Ariel Felix.

It is directed by Randal Kamradt and starring Jessica Neistadt (formerly Jessica MacCleary) and Jake Macapagal.  Produced by Soliloquy Films.

Synopsis:  When a terrifying ancient Yablo called Nameless arrives with a plan to forcibly return his kind to their home dimension, only the members of P.H.A.S.E. resolve to stop him. Their leader is Setsuko, a Japanese-Korean woman who has clawed her way to the top of her field, only to request a P.H.A.S.E. assignment. Her fiance, Rommel Romero (Jake Macapagal), is an ex-police detective and the second in command. Two Americans, April and Richard, specialize in security and technology, respectively. Rommel's sister Wonder has a unique connection with the Yablo and serves as team biologist. The new intern Benito still has trouble believing everything he sees with P.H.A.S.E. And the newest recruit, Miranda (Jessica Neistadt), holds a stunning secret that will change everything. Though Nameless is nearly invincible, these lonely, conflicted, difficult, loving, and altogether human men, women, and monsters of P.H.A.S.E. must band together to save the world.

Coming soon.

 Last week, I had the pleasure co-presenting three films at 34th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.  The first film was the documentary, THE CLEANERS which premiered on May 7th.  

​The filmmakers of this fascinating documentary were unable to attend, but the people featured in this fascinating doc, United Nations Special Rapporteur/University of California, Irvine Law Professor David A. Kaye and Artist Illma Gore (pictured below) were present for audience Q&A after the screening held at the Regal L.A. Live Cinemas in Downtown Los Angeles.

Two nights later, myself along with filmmaker Craig Obligacion-Wilson (Lolo Pepe) co-presented both THE FRET AND THE FEVER and NEOMANILA, each one having premieres as well on May 9th.

All three films won awards from each of their respective categories.  ​Thanks to Janna Wang, Lailanie Gadia and Melanie Ramos for guiding us along the way. And, much thanks to the Executive Director of Visual Communications Francis Cullado for another successful film festival! Until next year!

A film I acted in - WHAT YOU DON'T SAY - is now on YouTube in its entirety.  It made its premiere at the 33rd Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in 2017.  

The film was written (with Bernard Badion) and directed by Rommel Andaya. Carlin James, Mari Lauren, Dante Basco, Erica Juliet, Michael Kuya, Joy Regullano, Sheila Tejada, Junot Lee, Jaclyn Aimee, Dante Swain, Melanie Padernal, Lianne Lin and I round out the cast.  With songs from AJ Rafael.  

And, check out the outtakes and bloopers afterwards.  Enjoy!