I ♥ 2010!

Truth is, I'm apprehensive to meet 2011 because 2010 just ROCKED! True, there were many life highlights. I got signed as Creative Consultant after being offered a high-paying job by a competing network. (Allow me to be braggadocio just this once, please.) I had the most fantastic Hongkong getaway with work and life friends. My heart got bruised and broken again during summer. There were many more. However, at the end of the year, I would best remember 2010 as the year when I finally achieved my childhood dream. I became a director.

The showing of my short film Ang Asawa Kong Si Nikulet in SM Cine Expo back in August was just the prequel. The main feature happened during the last week of October when the producers of the soap opera Kristine asked me to direct for the show because the main director (also one of my mentors) Direk Rory had to go on a medical leave. To say that I figuratively "jumped" would be an understatement. I found out I'll be directing for Kristine the night before taping day. It would also be my first time directing for television. But I "jumped" and I "swam" and I did it.:)

Of course I wouldn't have done it without years of production training in Star Cinema and studying in a film school. However, I also don't think I could have done it without the support given to me by my bosses (Direk Lauren, Miss Maru, Miss Mavic, Direk Richard and Direk Rory who constantly gave me feedback that helped improve my craft), by Creative who gave me the best scripts, by the Core Production Staff who might be generally young but are one of the best in their field already (Direk Rory and Miss Mavic surely mentored them well), and of course the cast. Biases aside, the Kristine cast is definitely one of the most professional set of actors I've worked with. (I need to mention Cristine Reyes and Zanjoe Marudo for trusting me with their first love scene on television. Thank you, Zantine!) I have nothing but respect and gratitude to all of them. They made everything cool! :)

Doing Kristine for 2 months was also a crash course in directing different genres. I directed love scenes, action scenes, traditional soap breakdown scenes, and many more. Writing about it now, I'm still wondering how I did it but if there’s one thing I’m sure of, the learning will definitely help me in my new projects for 2011. Yes, I'm sad to note that I will not be back to do Kristine in the New Year. The good news though, is that I was offered to direct an exciting TV project and an episode of a film trilogy. It's still uncertain whether both will push through but with the kind of experience 2010 gave me, I say 2011, bring it on!