For my past and current affiliations and production works, you may click on my filmography, curriculum vitae, and portfolio pages.

Visit my film blog containing comprehensive film reviews and photos of classic films, local flavors, Hollywood flicks, independent films and critically-acclaimed films at my film blog Film Works.

For me, film is a magical medium that has the power to combine the many forms of art, science, and even history together (photography and visual arts, sound and music, culture, literature, dance, martial arts, physics, chemistry, and the list goes on…) as it expresses and chronicles bits and pieces of life stories and people’s thoughts, words, and convictions.

You laugh, cry, and feel for a character while in front of a 4-sided screen in front of you… How more magical can that be? You come out of the movie house jaw-dropped in amazement, or pondering about the film’s message, or reacting to what the story has brought upon you.

Filmmakers I admire and my influences

I look up to filmmakers Tim Burton, Stanley Kubrick, Darren Aronofsky, M. Night Shyamalan, Quentin Tarantino, Mike de leon, Lino Brocka, Martin Scorsese, Kidlat Tahimik, Jeffrey Jeturian, Christopher Nolan, Yimou Zhang, Peter Jackson, Alfred Hitchcock, Roxlee, Akira Kurosawa, Francis Ford Copolla, Sofia Copolla, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Wong Kar Wai.

My visions for my films get influences from Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick. When I was a kid, I loved "Edward Scissorhands," and I realized when I was about to shoot my second 35mm short film, Burton’s films were what gotten into me. I get fulfillment watching his films. I can relate to his style. When I was in college, I saw "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Clockwork Orange," and "Eyes Wide Shut." And they totally blew away. And until now, everytime I watch them in DVD, they further convince me how films can bring magic to immortalize stories into celluloid, DVD, and tape – to be seen not just by the people of today, but also by the next generations to come.

I am into visually rich scenes and dark tones. I love magic realism and film noir. I am generally influenced by German Expressionism. Most of my stories yield towards an expressionistic style. But right now, I am quite a minimalist on special effects in such a way that it should still generally blend with realistic stories and/or treatments. Maybe this is because of the fact that I tend to adapt to my limitations in finances and resources as a Pinoy independent filmmaker.

Right now, my greatest dream is to strive to be the best in my field, and on the right time when I am all set, make a warrior's film with the mood and feel of Zack Snyder's "300" with a Filipino theme, flavor, and context. Yeah, it's a big dream, I know. Like when you think about it now, most likely, a possible budget for an entire Pinoy film I am dreaming of just merely equates one day catering budget of "300." But I believe in "self-fulfilling prophecy." It happened to me when I was still a student filmmaker... And as long as one has a pure heart in one's intentions and it's still within the bounds of the possible and probable, it can happen. It's just a matter of doing your part in the struggle... And with this, I continue to work on my dreams... Have yours.

"Remember this day, for it will be yours for all time..."
"...The world will know, a few stood against many..."
- ("300")