00:28.6
Can you share it with our audience? Lalo na yung mga nakakapit sa mga bagay na wala naman talagang bearing.
00:34.1
Like, narealize mo yun when you had cancer, right?
00:37.1
Yeah, nalilias ko na the only thing that really matters are your family, your time with your family, your time with your daughter, your kids.
00:46.1
Those are really the most important things, right?
00:49.1
And sometimes we take for granted the smallest things, right?
00:53.1
Pero like when you experience it, you start to realize, oh my God, life is really so short.
00:58.9
Tapos yung mga boss natin inutusan tayo pa para magawa nila yung happiness nila.
01:03.9
Tapos tayo yung may problema at nasa-stress sa mga bagay na dapat sila nang…
01:10.9
God bless you, Jen.
01:13.9
Welcome to the Paco's Place Podcast.
01:17.9
Visit AbbaEServices.com for fast medical transcription service.
01:22.7
This podcast episode is brought to you by AB Music Creative.
01:25.7
And the podcast will begin in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
01:31.7
Ladies and gentlemen, live at Paco's Place, Ms. Jen Abrot.
01:37.7
Put the mic close to you.
01:39.7
Kasi yan, hindi ka… mas maganda pag ikaw ang kailangan mas malapit.
01:47.7
What brings you to Paco's Place? Anong meron sa November 3?
01:51.5
November 3 to 5, our inaugural Filam Creative Film Festival.
01:56.5
The first Filipino film festival at a large scale in Los Angeles.
02:01.5
Why now? Why only now?
02:05.5
I think because we are ready now for a big scale one.
02:12.5
Okay. Before the pandemic, bakit hindi natin ginawa ito?
02:15.5
I don't know actually.
02:18.3
Right now kasi representation is more accepted now in the film industry.
02:23.3
Tsaka like there's a big acceptance of I guess the Filipino community in the film industry.
02:31.3
So, I don't know. I really don't know. Pero I was asked to do it and I did it.
02:38.3
By whom? Filam Creative Executive Director Mark Labella.
02:43.3
Okay. So how did it go? What were you doing prior to this?
02:47.1
Prior to this, I own my own company, Jar Entertainment. I'm a manager and producer.
02:53.1
So Jar Entertainment does what?
02:56.1
Jar Entertainment produces and manages talent.
02:59.1
And who have you managed?
03:01.1
I manage up-and-coming talent.
03:05.1
His name is Ryder Rhythm and he is this very talented 7-year-old now kid, half Filipino.
03:16.9
He just did his first feature film and before that he…
03:21.9
Ano feature film ang ginawa niya?
03:23.9
Roses on the Vine.
03:25.9
Is this part of the film fest? Hindi?
03:28.9
Okay. So si Ryder is 7 years old. Sino pa ang manage mo as part of Jar Entertainment?
03:35.9
Alyssa Rafael. AJ Rafael's wife.
03:40.7
She's a very talented singer, actress and host.
03:46.7
She was in Forbes, I think Forbes 30, under 30.
03:53.7
She used to be a Disney exec but she just did a concert with AJ Rafael actually.
04:01.7
And then I also represent Katrina Kachola.
04:07.5
She's going to be starring in the film. One of the films that's going to be in the film.
04:11.5
So you're busy representing these artists, di ba?
04:14.5
Tapos si Mark reaches out to you and tells you to spearhead the Filam Creative Film Festival.
04:23.5
Where do you find the time to do it? And why did you even say yes to it?
04:28.5
Well at first, I didn't say yes.
04:31.3
Mark is the executive director of Filam Creative. Filam Creative has been around for a long time.
04:38.3
And this year he became executive director.
04:41.3
At first he asked me to be an advisor for Filam Creative.
04:45.3
And then I did a producer panel.
04:48.3
I had Pamela Reyes who's the producer of Wordshot come from the Philippines, flew from the Philippines here.
04:56.1
Also Edelmundo who's a good friend of mine.
04:58.1
She does a lot of films with Piolo Pascual.
05:01.1
And she was our Cannes representative in Cannes.
05:05.1
So they flew from the Philippines from here.
05:07.1
And Lea Dizon, Anthony Francisco was also in that panel.
05:10.1
Then after that panel, it became really successful.
05:13.1
And then at that time, I think they were looking for somebody to spearhead the festival.
05:20.1
And Mark, I remember, kept calling and I was like,
05:23.9
Don't sing to me, Mark!
05:27.9
But then I remembered when I first started working in the film industry.
05:32.9
I was a film development exec.
05:36.9
Year-wise? Long, long time ago.
05:39.9
I started as a film exec.
05:42.9
With what company?
05:45.9
Name is Eclectic Pictures.
05:46.9
Our films were financed by Millennium Films.
05:48.9
They did Expendables, Hitman's Radegard and stuff.
05:52.7
They financed all our films.
05:53.7
So I worked on films like Lovely starring Amanda Seyfried
05:57.7
and Solitaire Man with Michael Douglas.
06:02.7
So when I was a film exec,
06:06.7
my dream has always been to help Filipinos
06:10.7
because at that time, there weren't a lot of Filipino film execs.
06:14.7
And I thought that someday, I don't know when.
06:18.7
But Dean Devlin, he's Filipino.
06:21.5
But I didn't know them then.
06:23.5
I didn't know Dean Devlin.
06:25.5
Independence Day?
06:26.5
Yeah, Independence Day.
06:28.5
Were we still in the Philippines then?
06:30.5
Oh yeah, you know what? Maybe.
06:33.5
When did you migrate?
06:35.5
We were still in the Philippines.
06:41.5
Joking aside, I always wanted to help the community
06:46.5
and this was an opportunity for me to pay back.
06:52.3
It's a lot of work.
06:54.3
So that our audience can understand this,
06:57.3
Jen, when you say a lot of work,
06:59.3
because is it non-profit?
07:03.3
Which means you have an honorarium, maybe you have fees,
07:07.3
but you don't have a salary.
07:10.3
I don't have fees.
07:13.3
So no fees, no salary.
07:18.3
So we're both for the love.
07:21.1
It's beyond representation.
07:26.1
And it's a lot of work because
07:30.1
I'm already a mom,
07:31.1
and then I have my own clients.
07:35.1
Yes, you have your stable.
07:37.1
The stable of artists.
07:39.1
And they need your time because they gave you,
07:42.1
they entrusted you with their career.
07:46.9
the thing is that there's also that strike.
07:49.9
So that was an opportunity for…
07:52.9
So you don't have a job anymore.
07:56.9
So it's like that.
08:00.9
I wouldn't have said yes if I don't have a strike.
08:05.9
So now that you're spearheading this,
08:09.9
and I go back to my first question.
08:14.7
Sinabi mo na feeling mo hinug na, right?
08:18.7
Now is that it's ripe for the picking.
08:22.7
So my challenging question is,
08:24.7
is it really ripe for the picking?
08:28.7
I mean, if you look at Dali De Leon,
08:30.7
for instance, right?
08:32.7
Doing Triangle of Sadness.
08:34.7
And she's, you know,
08:35.7
she was nominated for a Golden Globe.
08:38.7
And then you have now, again,
08:40.7
you know, of course, Lea Salonga,
08:43.5
you have all these,
08:44.5
you have Shea Mitchell,
08:46.5
you know, you have all these actors,
08:48.5
Olivia Rodriguez,
08:50.5
who are, you know,
08:51.5
like stepping up as representing Filipinos
08:54.5
and more and more,
08:56.5
you know, the mainstream media is recognizing us.
09:00.5
So that is, you know,
09:03.5
that's inspiring to aspiring artists,
09:06.5
to every artist, right?
09:08.5
And inspiration is magical.
09:17.3
So that creates a platform
09:20.3
for other artists to say,
09:22.3
hey, it is possible, right?
09:24.3
Because, you know,
09:26.3
we see our own people doing it.
09:29.3
So I think that's why,
09:32.3
we have a lot more now,
09:34.3
Filipinos representing us.
09:36.3
We have a lot of great filmmakers
09:38.3
and our goal is to
09:41.1
give them a platform to rise
09:43.1
and for them to recognize.
09:45.1
Our slate and programming
09:47.1
is really amazing.
09:48.1
We have amazing jurors
09:50.1
and we really did watch
09:52.1
every film that were submitted.
09:54.1
So they were really chosen.
09:55.1
How many entries?
09:56.1
We can't say that,
09:57.1
but there were a lot.
09:58.1
There were a lot of entries.
10:00.1
But here at FilmFest,
10:01.1
how many entered?
10:03.1
Or there were some
10:04.1
that were screened?
10:08.1
No, sorry, only 18 entered.
10:16.9
Is there an Anna Barredo there?
10:19.9
Is there an Anna Barredo movie there?
10:23.9
she's a director.
10:24.9
Oh, I don't know.
10:27.9
She's not part of it yet?
10:28.9
She's not part of it yet.
10:29.9
Speaking of that,
10:33.9
are they local directors?
10:35.9
What qualifies as an entry?
10:37.9
So what qualifies as an entry
10:42.7
not just Filipino,
10:45.7
we really did open it up to everyone,
10:51.7
to raise the Filipino,
10:54.7
and AAPI community.
10:59.7
Asian American Pacific Islander.
11:02.7
So if you have a cast,
11:04.7
or if you have a filmmaker
11:06.7
that's involved in the film,
11:09.5
like an Indonesian
11:11.5
as a Pacific Islander.
11:13.5
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:15.5
We actually even had,
11:17.5
we had submissions from Italy
11:22.5
so from all over the world,
11:24.5
One of our official nominees
11:30.5
Filipino-Canadian,
11:32.5
who's flying here from Canada.
11:40.5
just really happy
11:49.5
So now that this is happening
11:54.5
what is to be expected?
11:56.5
is this open to the public?
11:57.5
It is open to the public.
11:58.5
We were sponsored by
12:00.5
Occidental College Media Arts and Culture.
12:06.5
because I went to Occi,
12:07.5
Occidental, yeah.
12:08.5
That's why they named you Barack Obama.
12:10.5
they gave us the beautiful theater,
12:12.5
the 800-seater theater.
12:14.5
So that's where we'll do it.
12:16.5
that's the opening night.
12:17.5
On top of the mountain.
12:18.5
Yeah, the opening night,
12:19.5
the beautiful Thorne Hall,
12:20.5
and then the second day,
12:21.5
we have the Occi Arts Building,
12:23.5
and then we also have the Choi Auditorium.
12:26.5
So they gave us three beautiful buildings.
12:29.5
Occidental College has been amazing.
12:34.5
They've been great.
12:36.5
they've been with us from the,
12:39.5
and it's gonna be beautiful.
12:41.5
We have Michaela Holland.
12:43.5
She's the director,
12:46.5
the Reimagined Series Mahal.
12:50.5
it's an animated, immersive,
12:52.5
virtual animated experience,
12:55.5
and she premiered at Tribeca,
12:57.5
so she chose our festival
12:59.5
to premiere in the West Coast.
13:01.5
She was featured in Forbes,
13:04.5
and she partnered with Meta
13:06.5
with that project,
13:09.5
you have that virtual reality.
13:10.5
The Oculus, yeah.
13:12.5
so we're gonna have that,
13:13.5
and then we also have a panel,
13:16.5
Bobby Pantellas of Sesame Street,
13:19.5
Carlton Patton from Simpsons,
13:26.5
who did Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph.
13:32.5
this whole panel,
13:33.5
this is just for the
13:34.5
November 3 to 5 event, right?
13:39.5
I'm very excited.
13:40.5
Variante Mondosa is also gonna be there.
13:43.5
You're getting me excited.
13:46.5
How long are you going to be sitting down
13:49.5
as the person spearheading this?
13:53.5
Is this a one-year thing?
13:54.5
Are you gonna switch next year?
13:58.5
I think after this—
13:59.5
Because you know the feeling
14:00.5
that our story is beautiful now.
14:03.5
I hope next year, guys,
14:07.5
we're talking about this like this.
14:11.5
when October comes,
14:12.5
why is there still no
14:13.5
Film Creatives Film Festival
14:15.5
representative in Paco's place?
14:18.5
So, what's the long-term goal?
14:20.5
Our long-term goal is to keep going, right?
14:22.5
This is the first.
14:25.5
It's still Film Creative, right?
14:27.5
So it's not just us,
14:30.5
I mean, I would—
14:31.5
You know, it's—
14:35.5
It's the first one, right?
14:37.5
It's the first one.
14:39.5
are you gonna do the second one?
14:41.5
You know, if they choose me to—
14:45.5
The first time around,
14:46.5
it took a while before you said yes.
14:48.5
Because, you know,
14:49.5
I think I have to do a little vacation.
14:52.5
Hopefully, there won't be a strike next year.
15:00.5
But yeah, it's really nice.
15:02.5
We really put our heart and soul.
15:04.5
And we have very little time.
15:06.5
I started doing this three months.
15:08.5
I had three months to put this together.
15:10.5
I called Occidental right away.
15:12.5
And then Mikela came,
15:14.5
and you know, it just—
15:15.5
You harassed me just last week, dude.
15:26.5
how many artists are you handling?
15:32.5
Matthew was just on a billboard.
15:34.5
He's also Filipino.
15:39.5
So you're handling a lot of jars.
15:43.5
Probably like seven, eight.
15:47.5
How many kids do you have?
15:52.5
That's a handful, right?
15:56.5
this film, Creative Film Festival,
15:59.5
When I hear you talk about it,
16:01.5
it's like you have a new—
16:05.5
I can hear the passion in your voice.
16:10.5
And then there's Jar Entertainment.
16:14.5
that's gonna come head-to-head with you.
16:18.5
Because it's still your project.
16:21.5
Have you thought about
16:24.5
Or are you just gonna deal with it
16:26.5
when that time comes?
16:28.5
Because I'm sure you're not
16:29.5
doing this to just do it.
16:31.5
You're doing this to win it.
16:34.5
I think we all—
16:36.5
I think both goals are the same.
16:41.5
the film, Creative Film Festival,
16:45.5
I think it's an all-year thing.
16:47.5
The event is only three days,
16:49.5
but now you're saying it's only three months.
16:52.5
Oh, I can't believe it.
16:54.5
After that, you're already planning—
16:57.5
Before Christmas,
16:58.5
you're already planning for next year.
16:59.5
We do have a lot of exciting announcements
17:01.5
on the days, you know.
17:03.5
But does that benefit the artist,
17:06.5
Because of course,
17:07.5
Jar is already there, right?
17:08.5
So the artists can already
17:12.5
Let's say, opening night,
17:13.5
Alyssa Rafael will sing.
17:16.5
Is that possible?
17:18.5
Yeah, I try not to, you know,
17:20.5
I try to not have—
17:22.5
You know, it's not like a personal thing.
17:26.5
That's a Filipino thing,
17:28.5
in my humble opinion.
17:30.5
Why wouldn't you?
17:31.5
Because if you were my manager,
17:34.5
and you're the president,
17:37.5
or whatever you want to call it,
17:40.5
which is high-profile,
17:42.5
or potentially high-profile,
17:44.5
I'll get mad at you
17:45.5
if you don't get me to perform there.
17:49.5
So, why would you want
17:52.5
to put your artists on the back burner
17:55.5
if they deserve to be
17:57.5
part of the event as performers?
18:00.5
I think it's, you know,
18:02.5
it's not just me, you know,
18:04.5
even though I'm the head
18:05.5
of the Philippine Creative Film Festival,
18:07.5
it's a collaborative.
18:09.5
You know, we've got an amazing team.
18:10.5
How many managers?
18:12.5
I think we have—
18:13.5
Artist managers, right?
18:16.5
I meant, film creative members.
18:18.5
How many artist managers?
18:21.5
Oh, artist managers.
18:23.5
I think we have, I think,
18:25.5
three or four artist managers?
18:27.5
Yeah, three or four artist managers.
18:29.5
But, you know, it's a collaborative
18:33.5
decision-making, right?
18:34.5
Our performer is Garth Garcia.
18:37.5
He's going to be performing
18:38.5
Filipino pop star.
18:40.5
Do you have any—
18:41.5
Garth has been here.
18:42.5
Shout out to Garth.
18:44.5
Do you have any—
18:45.5
He's a film creative, too.
18:46.5
But do you have any artists performing?
18:50.5
Do I have any artists performing?
18:57.5
Hey, this is our podcast.
18:59.5
I know, because when I, you know,
19:01.5
when I looked at the programming,
19:04.5
I wanted Garth to do it.
19:06.5
He's film creative.
19:10.5
And he, you know,
19:11.5
he just had a number one,
19:13.5
one of the top in Spotify for—
19:17.5
Number two, yeah, exactly.
19:18.5
So, electronica music.
19:20.5
Yeah, and Garth has been an amazing,
19:22.5
I mean, he's an amazing artist.
19:24.5
He's an amazing community leader as well.
19:28.5
But also, he's film creative.
19:30.5
And so, I wanted to, you know,
19:32.5
make sure that, you know, we highlight,
19:34.5
we'll highlight him, too.
19:36.5
And he's got a lot of fans.
19:37.5
With regard to that, don't you feel,
19:39.5
I'm threading sensitive questions now.
19:42.5
Oh, no, it's okay.
19:43.5
Tapos na tayo sa honeymoon period.
19:46.5
And may hard stop tayo.
19:47.5
So, don't you feel na may bias?
19:51.5
Because yan ang peril ng Filipino community eh.
19:57.5
Ito, at saka dalawang organization,
20:00.5
imbesa nagkakrossover,
20:02.5
they'll get from their own pool,
20:04.5
and then ito na-alienate.
20:06.5
And again, I go back to saying,
20:08.5
not to put you on the spot,
20:09.5
but if you were my manager
20:11.5
and I was your artist,
20:12.5
nakataas yung kilay ko na parang
20:14.5
no right of refusal at all.
20:17.5
Me not getting a phone call from you
20:20.5
saying, oh, I have this event.
20:22.5
Do you want to perform?
20:25.5
You know, luckily,
20:27.5
my clients are not like that.
20:30.5
They don't have a crab mentality.
20:31.5
That's not crab mentality.
20:32.5
That's an opportunity missed.
20:35.5
Because you're telling me,
20:37.5
you're presenting to me something
20:42.5
I might just ask you,
20:44.5
hey, I want my band to perform there.
20:46.5
It sounds so nice.
20:48.5
And you're not even my manager,
20:52.5
Because this is an opportunity
20:56.5
to bring artists together.
21:01.5
And you mentioned Garth.
21:04.5
And yun ang nagustuhan ko kay Garth.
21:06.5
Because I remember when Garth was starting,
21:08.5
lumapit siya sa amin in a JJ.
21:10.5
Gusto niya mag-front act for Intro Voice,
21:14.5
And hindi ko siya nireject,
21:17.5
bakit ka mag-front act
21:19.5
when you can build your own company
21:21.5
and actually help other people.
21:25.5
And that's what he did.
21:27.5
He started Starlink.
21:28.5
Yeah, that's amazing.
21:31.5
So I did really turn him down.
21:33.5
And Garth can come in and out of Paco's place
21:37.5
and do the promotion.
21:38.5
Pero when I throw the question to you,
21:43.5
wow, what can we do to...
21:47.5
Okay, let me rephrase my question.
21:50.5
And this is not just to you,
21:53.5
but to people in your position.
21:55.5
Why do we shy away
21:58.5
from presenting our stable of artists?
22:03.5
Is it because naihiya tayo?
22:05.5
Because we're in a position
22:06.5
parang ayaw natin gamitin yon
22:08.5
to push our agenda?
22:10.5
Actually, two of my clients,
22:11.5
their film is in there.
22:15.5
Matthew Marza and Katharina Cachola.
22:22.5
But Alyssa's a singer.
22:24.5
Yeah, she's a singer.
22:27.5
Actually, I'm gonna see her tomorrow.
22:30.5
Can you edit that out?
22:33.5
We can talk about it.
22:38.5
Kasi they just toured.
22:41.5
Yeah, and they might be too tired.
22:44.5
At least ask them.
22:45.5
Give them the right to see you.
22:47.5
I'm gonna see them tomorrow, actually.
22:49.5
Iye-air natin to tonight.
22:53.5
You're gonna get me in trouble.
22:56.5
I haven't asked them.
23:00.5
But it's nice, diba?
23:01.5
Parang ang aspiration ko sa mga talent managers na katulad mo,
23:08.5
unahin nyo talaga yung mga artists.
23:11.5
Because ano yun eh, how do I say it?
23:15.5
Kayo ang inaasahan namin.
23:22.5
Yun ang kailangan natin.
23:23.5
We need more of people like you.
23:26.5
And then more of people like you who are in position of power
23:29.5
because it brings the whole...
23:31.5
Are you following where I'm going with it?
23:33.5
Trust me, I do, yeah.
23:35.5
I mean, with my clients, I finance their short films too.
23:44.5
Last year, we financed a couple of short films just to highlight our clients.
23:53.5
And again, in this film called Malaya,
23:57.5
and that's Katrina Cachola and Matthew Marzo.
24:00.5
They're amazing, amazing, amazing actors.
24:03.5
And it wasn't just me who wanted the film there.
24:06.5
A couple of people saw it because I didn't want to just put it...
24:13.5
But they were like, no, it's really good.
24:15.5
Put it in there because it does have a message
24:19.5
about our culture and also being a film.
24:22.5
And their performance is just brilliant.
24:29.5
in 1994, you came to the States.
24:30.5
What brought you to the States?
24:38.5
and he had an opportunity to bring his whole family with a green card.
24:46.5
It was like all of a sudden.
24:49.5
My mom was just like, we're going to the US.
24:52.5
And we thought it was a joke because we were in the same school.
24:58.5
Yeah, we were Novaliches.
25:00.5
We were there for...
25:01.5
We had the same school the whole time.
25:04.5
And all of a sudden...
25:05.5
And we thought it was a dream.
25:07.5
We lived in Redondo Beach when we first came.
25:11.5
And then we moved to...
25:13.5
My dad got a job in downtown LA.
25:15.5
One of the big buildings.
25:17.5
It was a culture shock
25:18.5
because it was like Redondo.
25:23.5
And at that time, there were a lot of gangsters.
25:25.5
And it was just like a culture shock.
25:27.5
And then we ended up living in the Wilshire, Henco Park area.
25:35.5
And it's hard to park if you have visitors.
25:38.5
And then every summer, we lived with our aunt in Catalina Island.
25:42.5
So that was different.
25:44.5
But it's claustrophobic in Catalina Island.
25:47.5
At that time, we were the only Filipinos.
25:50.5
There are no cars, by the way, in Catalina Island.
25:55.5
A lot of memories there.
25:56.5
Where do they park their cars?
26:02.5
They used to have cars in their place in Catalina.
26:06.5
Cars in Catalina?
26:13.5
But usually golf carts.
26:14.5
Alam ko, yung mga ibang residents would park their cars sa Long Beach.
26:17.5
Long Beach, if they have to go...
26:20.5
And then go home using the ferry.
26:26.5
Kasi mo, kung may tsunami, good luck.
26:29.5
Pero maganda sa Catalina.
26:31.5
We had a good life.
26:32.5
Yeah, every summer, we nag-work kami.
26:38.5
You know, babysit in the stores.
26:42.5
Our parents are like, go, go, go, go.
26:45.5
So when did the movie bug bite you?
26:49.5
Well, I've always been in drama since I was little.
26:52.5
Since I was six years old, I was always on stage.
26:55.5
I was always performing.
26:57.5
That was my first thing.
26:59.5
I won awards in school.
27:01.5
I was always in drama.
27:02.5
I went to CalArts for theater.
27:04.5
And then when I was in CalArts,
27:08.5
I think I got mentally exhausted from being in theater and drama.
27:12.5
And then I looked at the film students,
27:14.5
and I was like, wow, that looks amazing.
27:17.5
So I pursued that instead.
27:20.5
And then after that, I went to Occidental.
27:23.5
I interned at a big production company.
27:26.5
And then after that, I worked in music videos.
27:28.5
Tapos after that, I worked in big producers.
27:31.5
And that's how I got into the industry.
27:34.5
How hard is it to get into Hollywood?
27:43.5
Like to our community, to our audience, right?
27:47.5
Because your story is very inspiring.
27:51.5
Tell them what you had to go through to get to where you are.
27:56.5
I think that you have to be prepared almost
28:05.5
To get to where I am, I can't even articulate it because...
28:11.5
It's painful, right?
28:12.5
I went through a lot of stuff.
28:13.5
A lot of painful moments.
28:15.5
Because at that time, there were still no...
28:18.5
When I started in the industry,
28:20.5
there wasn't any Me Too movement.
28:24.5
I mean, good thing I was safe, right?
28:27.5
Compared to other people that I know.
28:30.5
They're just afraid of you. What's your height?
28:38.5
Yeah, but it's really...
28:41.5
You have to have thick skin.
28:44.5
You have very thick skin.
28:45.5
I had Augie Max on the podcast.
28:48.5
And like Augie Max, he produces for the Oscars and all.
28:55.5
And Augie's story, for the longest time,
28:58.5
as an intern, intern, intern,
29:01.5
you really had to pay your dues big time.
29:05.5
I was an assistant.
29:06.5
And then after as an assistant, creative exec.
29:09.5
After creative exec.
29:10.5
But you make it sound easy.
29:11.5
How long were you an assistant?
29:14.5
I think two years?
29:16.5
Two years, guys. Take note.
29:18.5
After being an assistant...
29:20.5
How did you get the promotion to creative exec?
29:24.5
They just decided that you deserve it.
29:28.5
All of a sudden, they just wake up and go,
29:31.5
Right? It's like when their brains are stuck,
29:35.5
it's like, hey, it's my turn!
29:37.5
So you really have to be patient.
29:39.5
But you also have to stand your ground.
29:42.5
Because I'm not...
29:43.5
You don't push over.
29:44.5
I don't push over.
29:45.5
And also, I'm not a suck up.
29:50.5
I grew up with really strong Filipino women.
29:53.5
Like really strong Filipino women.
29:55.5
My mom, my aunties.
29:56.5
Let's finish with your mom.
30:01.5
We grew up that honesty and integrity
30:05.5
is the number one thing.
30:07.5
And they always tell us,
30:08.5
If you have that, you will never go, right?
30:13.5
So I used to die.
30:14.5
So whenever I see something wrong,
30:15.5
I call off my bosses.
30:17.5
Say, I don't think that's right.
30:20.5
So I never get intimidated.
30:21.5
And you're not afraid that you might get slapped?
30:26.5
And I think that's why they like me.
30:27.5
Because a lot of people suck up to them
30:29.5
because they're big producers and stuff.
30:31.5
And I was always really honest.
30:32.5
So they really trusted me.
30:33.5
They took me everywhere with them.
30:35.5
So two years, right?
30:38.5
And then after that...
30:39.5
Creative executive.
30:40.5
So what was your role as creative executive?
30:44.5
You know, you look at me, I mean...
30:46.5
Actually, almost the same.
30:49.5
But now more responsibility.
30:52.5
You can get an assistant.
30:57.5
Really, I had interns.
30:58.5
Who are my interns now?
31:00.5
Our big executives, actually.
31:06.5
But then I got to give a say on the scripts.
31:11.5
I got to identify projects that we can finance.
31:16.5
What was the potential?
31:19.5
I had a little bit more say.
31:22.5
But it's still...
31:23.5
I mean, they treat you to still the same thing, right?
31:26.5
So how long did you do that gig?
31:34.5
And then after that,
31:35.5
it became just development exec.
31:40.5
It's all the same, really.
31:42.5
I mean, it really is just the same thing.
31:44.5
Except that, you know,
31:45.5
you get a better seat at the table in the meetings.
31:48.5
You get a better title.
31:51.5
And, you know, respect, I guess.
31:59.5
How do you say it?
32:08.5
Anyway, seniority.
32:15.5
Seniority talaga.
32:18.5
So, was it hard to let go?
32:21.5
To say, bye guys?
32:24.5
No, kasi I let go when I had a daughter.
32:28.5
I took a break when I had a daughter.
32:30.5
So you just took a break?
32:33.5
I took a break when definitely,
32:34.5
because when I found out I was pregnant
32:36.5
and I fell in love with her right away,
32:40.5
I call her Peanut.
32:43.5
How old is she now?
32:46.5
Yeah, I took a break at that time.
32:50.5
And I took like two years off or something like that.
32:54.5
And I wanted to spend time with her
32:59.5
because I couldn't travel anymore.
33:02.5
Because I used to travel a lot.
33:03.5
I used to travel to New York.
33:05.5
I used to travel to Louisiana and Shreveport, all of that.
33:09.5
And then festivals and all of that.
33:12.5
And it was really, I mean,
33:14.5
I can't emphasize this enough,
33:15.5
like being in that film industry
33:17.5
was very mentally and physically exhausting.
33:20.5
And they own you.
33:23.5
They own your time.
33:24.5
They own your time, correct.
33:25.5
And you're young and you will do anything.
33:28.5
I think that's the thing.
33:29.5
You will do anything.
33:30.5
And that's what I've learned is to,
33:33.5
I mean, I had my boundaries
33:34.5
but now I had a bit more boundaries.
33:36.5
Especially me, you're being protected.
33:41.5
you know, Peanut is my angel.
33:44.5
And I just love her so much even now.
33:49.5
Do you play golf?
33:51.5
No, she plays golf.
33:56.5
And then after that,
33:57.5
and then I just now have my own company
33:59.5
so that's better.
34:01.5
I can spend time with her.
34:04.5
I still am in it.
34:06.5
But you're kind of like adjacent to it now
34:10.5
because you're doing your own thing, right?
34:13.5
You're not in a big company anymore.
34:16.5
You started your own.
34:20.5
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
34:21.5
Do I miss it? No.
34:22.5
Because I'm still friends with them.
34:24.5
I can still pitch them projects.
34:26.5
And what if they say come back?
34:29.5
and I said no as a VP.
34:35.5
because I think people grow, right?
34:37.5
You just want to grow as a person.
34:41.5
You've been there, done that.
34:42.5
So what else is next?
34:45.5
Let's talk about that
34:46.5
because that's what I'm picking up from you.
34:48.5
And saying no is a powerful thing.
34:52.5
How did you develop it?
34:56.5
How do you maintain doing it?
34:59.5
And how do you detach yourself
35:01.5
from the outcome of the risk of saying no?
35:06.5
Because it hurts Filipinos, right?
35:08.5
You can't say no.
35:10.5
I was one of those people
35:12.5
who couldn't say no before.
35:14.5
I did everything to please people.
35:18.5
Not to please, but to...
35:21.5
I had a goal and I would just...
35:23.5
Every opportunity that came to me,
35:27.5
I always looked at that as a one step to my goal.
35:32.5
But then as you grow older,
35:34.5
especially with Peanut being a daughter
35:36.5
because now your time is limited, right?
35:38.5
When I had Peanut, everything changed.
35:40.5
It was easier to say no.
35:43.5
Because your priority changed.
35:45.5
Because she's your daughter.
35:47.5
And then my mom and my parents are like,
35:51.5
you will never get your time back
35:54.5
from your daughter.
35:55.5
And I really love her so much.
35:57.5
When she was little, I was always...
35:59.5
I was just happy.
36:00.5
Before, I was always with the A-list celebrities.
36:03.5
I was always in the red carpet.
36:05.5
And I never thought I was going to have a child
36:08.5
because I was there.
36:10.5
I was already living the dream, right?
36:12.5
I was working in big movies.
36:14.5
I was around the biggest producers in Hollywood.
36:18.5
I thought it was a good life.
36:22.5
But then it wasn't the life
36:24.5
that you really need in life to be happy.
36:29.5
And then when I met Peanut,
36:31.5
your priorities really changed.
36:33.5
All of a sudden, I'm like,
36:35.5
there's more to life than this.
36:37.5
You know, you'll have to let her go when she gets older.
36:41.5
I'm nervous about Peanut now.
36:43.5
I feel like when she has a boyfriend,
36:45.5
she'll be like...
36:46.5
No, no, yeah, I know.
36:47.5
I'm like, no, I'm not a protective mother.
36:51.5
But also, you know, I had cancer.
36:54.5
Yeah, two years ago, I was diagnosed stage 4.
36:59.5
What kind of cancer?
37:07.5
So after that, I lost all my hair.
37:09.5
I lost everything, right?
37:11.5
After that, I'm able to say no more.
37:15.5
Except for Mark Labella.
37:20.5
Now you know your time is finite
37:23.5
I must have missed pain.
37:28.5
Kuya, mag-iingat ka dahil
37:31.5
you know for a fact as a cancer survivor
37:33.5
na stress is your number one trigger, diba?
37:38.5
And that could have been...
37:41.5
My mom died of cancer kasi.
37:44.5
And stress yun sa tatay ko.
37:50.5
That's why I'm going to digress in a bit.
37:53.5
Kaya sinasabi ko, nothing is worth the stress of whatever.
38:00.5
If wala kang control, just let it go.
38:03.5
Yeah, I learned to do that.
38:06.5
Can you share it with our audience?
38:08.5
Lalo na yung mga nakakapit sa mga bagay na wala naman talagang bearing.
38:13.5
Like, narealize mo yun when you had cancer, right?
38:16.5
Yeah, narealize ko na your hair, everything can disappear, right?
38:22.5
The only thing you can't...
38:25.5
The only thing that really matters are your family,
38:28.5
your time with your family,
38:30.5
your time with your daughter, your kids.
38:33.5
Those are really the most important things, right?
38:37.5
And sometimes we take for granted the smallest things, right?
38:41.5
Pero when you experience it, you start to realize,
38:45.5
Oh my God, life is really so short.
38:47.5
Tapos yung mga boss natin inutusan tayo pa
38:50.5
para magawa nila yung happiness nila.
38:53.5
Tapos tayo yun ang may problema.
38:56.5
At nasa-stress sa mga bagay na dapat sila nang...
39:01.5
God bless you, Jen.
39:05.5
Pero that's why I think it's important.
39:07.5
Like filmmaking, it's a platform where we can tell compelling stories, right?
39:13.5
Where we can share, where we can tell stories that can be really inspiring.
39:20.5
And so that's really one of the reasons why I said yes to this.
39:24.5
And also, it's funny because before,
39:29.5
we're almost pressured to tell the same stories
39:32.5
because we're representing, right?
39:34.5
So we were very careful on what stories to tell as Filipinos.
39:38.5
But now it's different.
39:39.5
Now we're more free to say whatever, right?
39:43.5
You know, courage is, I mean, it takes courage to be creative.
39:48.5
May kuta ko nakitang ganyan eh.
39:50.5
It takes courage to be creative.
39:55.5
Hindi kasi, no, no, no, no, no.
39:57.5
Not based on what you're saying.
40:02.5
Because what you're saying is solid eh.
40:05.5
Dahil dati, may template ang Filipino movies eh, di ba?
40:10.5
Pero ngayon, hindi na tayo nahihiya mag-voice out sa nalanapin ko.
40:14.5
Yeah, kasi, again, thank you to the Filipinos who paved way for us, right?
40:23.5
Who, we don't have to prove ourselves anymore.
40:27.5
Ba't hindi ka makita yun?
40:29.5
Parang along the lines of, it doesn't matter what other people think of us
40:39.5
as long as our message is precisely what we ought to be saying.
40:45.5
Exactly. Atsaka, it gives us more creative freedom to do whatever we want
40:51.5
in terms of style, in terms of cinematography, in terms of just being an artist.
40:57.5
And not have to prove ourselves and represent.
41:02.5
It's beyond representation.
41:04.5
But now it's really, not proving, but just really presenting ourselves as filmmakers.
41:11.5
Ikaw ba, will there be a time nalalabas ka in front of the camera?
41:15.5
What do you mean?
41:17.5
Ikaw naman magiging artista.
41:19.5
Maybe, because I'm tired of producing. Just kidding.
41:24.5
Maybe, maybe. I mean, that came to my mind kasi again, I started out on stage.
41:31.5
That was the first thing that I really, you know, that I started.
41:36.5
And maybe, maybe, maybe I'll do my own thing.
41:39.5
I always said to myself, you know, when the time is right, I'll just do my, direct my own thing.
41:45.5
And, you know, share a different part.
41:48.5
But like, but yeah, so that, yeah, maybe. Who knows?
41:52.5
Are you happy where you are?
41:54.5
I am very happy because I'm a survivor.
41:58.5
And that's, I'm living.
42:00.5
And thanks for being an inspiration.
42:02.5
Ladies and gentlemen, Jen Abrot!
42:04.5
Salamat! Salamat! Thank you!
42:11.5
Guys, we'll post the link in the description.
42:14.5
And you can reach out to Jen, Jar Entertainment, or Filan Creatives Film Festival.
42:20.5
November 3 to November 5. Support it. Support Local.
42:24.5
And let's keep the community growing.
42:27.5
Like, subscribe, and comment.
