Spend Lent this year at "Asian AF Presents: Filipino AF" this Friday, March 2, 2018 at 9:30pm at the Upright Citizens Brigade's Inner Sanctum Stage at UCB Sunset in Los Angeles.  FREE Admission!  

"Asian AF Presents: Filipino AF" is a comedy variety show featuring the best Filipino American talent in Los Angeles. Improv, sketch, standup, and maybe even some music and dance.

STAND UP by Nico Santos (Superstore)

CHARACTER by Marques Ray

SKETCH by Jason Palmer 
Featuring Jason Palmer, Gilbert Galon, Tony Garbanzos, Daryl Jim Diaz, and Vince Yap 
Directed by Allyn Pintal

MUSICAL COMEDY by Alfred Aquino II

COMEDIC SPOKEN WORD by Laurie Len Magers

CHARACTER by Mark Bertuldo, Madonna Refugia, and Angelie Meehan

VIDEO by Alfred Aquino II & Gilbert Galon

HIP HOP DANCE SKETCH written by Joy Regullano
Choreographed by Ally Vega
Featuring John Bacolores, Melanie Anne Padernal, Joy Regullano, Jeffrey Sabino, and Ally Vega

IMPROV with Sini-Gang, a UCB Fil-Am mashup team
with guest monologist Tess Paras (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
guest improviser Rene Gube (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
guest accompanist AJ Rafael
and improvisers Albert Andrade, Kay Kaanapu, PJ McCormick, Allyn Pintal, Joy Regullano, Christopher Renfro, and Erich Tamola

ACHARA the food truck will be providing a special seafood option for those observing Lent.

Hosted/Produced by Allyn Pintal, Joy Regullano, & Erich Rheinhart Tamola
Executive Produced by Will Choi & Asian AF

Asian AF Presents: Filipino AF
Friday, March 2nd at 9:30pm
UCB Sunset Inner Sanctum - 5419 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 (entrance through the cafe)

FREE ADMISSION - seating first come, first served. The space will be able to fit everyone!
Parking: RIDE-SHARING RECOMMENDED. Valet for $5 (may fill up quickly) or street parking available. 

I just realized that after originally writing these memories back in February 13, 2018 - when it was announced that iO West was closing - that I never took a class in improv or sketch writing there... 

I knew of Improv Olympic's existence since its Complex Theater years and while I was with Monkey Butler Comedy (the latter closed in 2014). After studying improv at Upright Citizens Brigade in 2012, I was indecisive on which sketch classes I'd take... iO West or the Pack Theater?  

During that time, I joined the sketch comedy team, Oi! Oi! Oi! (Elizabeth Ebeling, Javier Ortiz, Kate Rodman and Corey Slater) and we performed live at iO's Mainstage in the last three consecutive Saturday nights of 2013 -- performed a Christmas sketch called Twas The Night Before Drunk at the Sketch Holiday Theme Party Show hosted by Animal Style...

...performed a musical sketch at the Comedy Music Circus! show hosted by Keith Saltojanes...

...and performed a sketch I originally wrote for Go Sketch Yourself hosted by CLIVE RICE! -- in front of Saturday night audiences (except for the one drunk guy in the back who was booted out of the club).

Recorded the 13th 'Super Awkward Funcast' episode with Elle Latham and Linnea Snyder at iO during the SNL 40th anniversary year...

...help in making the documentary short for the host about improvisor, actor and teacher Craig Cackowski about improv at iO...

Our team "The Olympian Beers" from the last two games became "Brainiac 3" and won the Pub Quiz hosted by Suzi Barrett.  Also, I joined the three-persons team at the "Win, Lose, Draw, or Drink...The Booty Call" drawing competition at iO WEST Main Stage (April 27, 2012). We were tied from the get-go against the other team but, sadly we lost. But, I did learn how to draw simpler illustrations to get my team to guess the right answers quicker. 

Received words of wisdom and practical applications from casting director Dorian Frankel, Jessica Makinson, actress Janet Varney, comedian Jason Horton and Joshua Mattingly at iO's 10th LA Improv Comedy Festival. And, supported my friends' (Nick Rasmussen, Moses Storm, etc.) shows by seeing their shows at iO. Lastly, assembled and edited a video tribute about my late friend, Billy Spindler. It was screened at his memorial hosted by Joanna Ke and Ai Yoshihara held at iO West in 2014

Participated in afternoon trivia games with other improvisors and comedians while I wondered if that one comedienne/actress who hosts a popular podcast stared at me or stared out the window from the bar, attended live WWE Viewing Parties hosted by Joshua Lassman and Steve Kaufmann along with other improvisors and comedians who happen to be wrestling fans (thank you!).

...and took a date to see a show at iO only to be abandoned when she went to Second City to get her friends yet never returned. Still wondering if that was a bit? In any case, iO West will surely be missed especially all my favorite improv teams. Most importantly, the trio of Dasariski.  Because with them, it is okay to perform improv slowly...and not always quick and fast all the time.  The trio consists of Bob Dassie, Rich Talarico, and Craig Cackowski. And, Dasariski is known for their “slow play” style of longform improvisation, creating an hour-long piece of theater with a focus on believable characters and relationships inspired from a single audience suggestion.  Love them!  iO, thanks for the crazy and humble memories -- like this February 23, 2013 (4 years ago today) Harlem Shake video we did at iO.

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!

This is off my bucket list -- to record and perform on a radio play...or, in this case, a podcast play at Super Awkward Funcast!  Been wanting to this sort of performance ever since I was a little boy listening to mystery detective thrillers presented as radio plays on the AM dial.  

This staged reading (recorded earlier this month) is of the modern classic cult hit "so bad it's almost good" film titled "The Room" by misunderstood genius Tommy P. Wiseau ("The Disaster Artist"). 

I was sent the screenplay in late November and were given the characters I would be playing.  Not having seen the film, I read the script and broke it down.  The not proper screenplay format and its run on lines were almost easy to catch on and the description of the characters (based on their dialogue) I didn't take offense since it took place a decade ago when unlike my peers are deemed blasphemous.  As much mockery and insults the film receives, I planned on performing the characters of 'Mark,' 'Billy,' 'Neighbor #2' and other characters as straight and serious as possible.

If you're not familiar with the film, you don't have to watch it before listening in order to properly appreciate this original version but it helps. This reading is as serious an interpretation as we could manage and we hope you enjoy our work. Bloopers will soon follow, I assure you.  

I had a lot of fun and I would love to do more of these staged readings / radio plays!

CAST OF CHARACTERS
 
Brandon Burkhart (The Pack Theater) as Lisa, Bran, Crowd, Other Guys and Neighbor #1
 
Steven Robles (World Domination Designs) as Narrator, Johnny, Michelle and Crowd
 
Edwin A. Santos (Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance) as Mark, Billy, Crowd, Other Guys and Neighbor #2
 
Elle Latham (SciFi4Me) as Claudette, Jimmy, Peter, Susan and Crowd

BUY TICKETS NOW: https://lapiff.chillhound.pro/event/5b3ca4d7-e2ca-4204-92c7-a64f8ba35316 to see my three new films as:  Principal Actor in LOLO PEPE, Supporting Actor in WHAT YOU DON'T SAY and a cameo in UNCLE EDDY.

The 1st Wave of FilAm Creations short films are: 
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- The Last Straw -- dir. Vince Cruz & Stanley Wong 
- What You Don't Say | Uncle Eddy -- dir. Rommel Andaya
- Plaza Blvd -- dir. Cassandra Pimental
- I Don't Love You -- dir. Mara De La Rosa
- The Legend of the Basketball Ghost | Miss Understanding -- dir. Gabe Pagtama
- Madeira -- dir. Kaitlyn Fae
- Man Of My Dreams -- dir. John Cruz & Mark Dormitorio
- Finding Ronwe -- dir. Angela Paviera
- Lolo Pepe -- dir. Craig Obligacion-Wilson
- Pictures of Perla -- dir. Lynn Harrod 

The 2nd Annual Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival presents a Special Screening of "Fil-Am Creations: A Filmmaker Movement 1" with Q&A on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 10:00am.

Cinemark Carson and XD Theaters
inside the South Bay Pavilion Mall
20700 South Avalon Blvd #285 
Carson, CA 90746

In an effort to inspire, motivate and mobilize the Filipino American and Filipino filmmaking community, FilAm Creative started a movement called "Fil-Am Creations" to challenge up-and-coming FilAm filmmakers to create new & original short films. Of these 1st Wave of short films, they made their World Premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on May 3, 2017 to a sold out house in just one hour!

Tickets: $10.00

Free parking lot available! 

LOLO PEPE is a finalist at FACINE's 24th Annual Filipino International Cine Festival.  The film screens at the Opening Reception & Short Films Competition on Thursday, October 19 at 6:00pm at the Philippine Consulate General located at 447 Sutter Street, Social Hall, 5th floor in San Francisco, CA.

Directed by Craig Obligacion Wilson and starring Jaime Barcelon, Jay Costelo Abe Pagtama, Virgil Apostol, Edwin A. Santos, Junot Lee, Sarnica May, Che Landon, Kathleen Neubauer and Niloo Khodadedh.  

FACINE 24 formally opens with screenings of short films selected by a three-member jury for competition for Best Film and Special Awards. Filmmakers from the Philippines and across the United States will be on hand to welcome San Francisco audience. Winners will be announced at the Awarding Ceremonies on October 22 at 9:00pm at the Roxie Theater located at 3117 16th Street, San Francisco, California.  

Purchase your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/facine-24-opening-reception-short-films-competition-tickets-38569943740