DIRECTOR LAWRENCE FAJARDO, ANOTHER ASWANG GIANT FILMMAKER FROM NEGROS

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)   

From my blog “ Manila Showbiz & Lifestyle” farmed out in different versions to www:pmpcstarnews.com, Pilipino Mirror, Remate Online, Scandal, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update, etc.

Director Lawrence Anthony Fajardo

Ang una kong encounter kay Direktor Lawrence Anthony Fajardo ay via his indie film Amok na ne-review namin noon para sa PMPC Star Awards for Movies, meaning ka-award-award nga ang pelikulang ito na incidentally ay nakakuha pa  ng 11 nominations for this year’s Gawad Urian including the top prize at the Detective Fest in Moscow last April.

Julia Montes

        Nasundan ito ng isa pang indie film niya na Posas  sa Cinemalaya Filmfest kung saan nanalo pa ito as Best Film para kay Direk Lawrence sa so-called Director’s Showcase. Big deal if you ask me.

        The third time around was via his latest caper The Strangers na siguradong maging ka-kumpetisyon ito sa isa pang horror genre ng Regal na Shake Rattle and Roll 14: The Invasion sa Metro Manila Filmfest come Dec. 25.

Enchong Dee

        I bumped into this unassuming director/masscom graduate from De La Salle  Bacolod  for the first time sa bookstore ng Dolce Latte, Q.C. and found out na isa pala siya sa mga dating art directors ni Direk Peque Gallaga (Cinema One Originals Lifetime Achievement Awardee 2012)  from Negros. Think film directors from Negros  mentored by Gallaga, namely  Lorrie Reyes,  Eric Matti who in return mentored Richard Somes who just finished his critically-acclaimed and monumental film Supremo with Alfred Vargas in the lead including a cameo role (with dialogue no less)  for one of our entertainment columnists here in PM who goes by the screen name of Zyruz Imperial (marming salamat raw Direk Richard!).

        Out of my inquiry into his resume, nasabi ni Direk Lawrence na nagkasama na pala kami sa isang indie film na ginawa namin noon together with another Cinemalaya award-winning director  na si Ron Bryant kung saan I took the lead role (matuk?) as character in the short story (made into digital film) of novelist Bienvenido Santos playing opposite a homegrown talent (of Angie Ferro and of the theatre company under the National Artist for Theater’s stable Cecile Guidote Alvarez’s Balintataw Film & Theater Arts) turned film actress now you know who Marife Necesito (Mammoth, Graceland, Asawa Ni Meyor, etc.).

Cherry Pie Picache

 I remember, being a digital techie himself Direk Lawrence was behind the camera, lighting, recording and all   in that project of ours. Not one for reminiscing, not too long ago yet dumbo!

        Na-introdyus din niya ako sa kanyang charming and animated wife who comes from the Bautista  clan of showbiz  na si Krisma Maclang, a Business graduate from Meriam who does the business side for  Direk Lawrence. Call it perfect coupling.

        Naturally, Director Lawrence waxes over his recent oeuvre The Strangers  na tungkol skeletons ng pamilya at sa kambal na sina Julia Montes at Enrique Gil bilang anak nila Johnny Revilla at Cherry Pie Picache at ng kanilang lolo na si Jaime Fabregas.

        Sa kamay ng isang another authentic aswang filmmaker preceded by their mentor/ Director Peque Gallaga/ Lorrie Reyes and  followed by Direk Richard Somes,  ang The Strangers ay isa pang pelikula na magbibigay kasiyahan at aliw sa mga manonood na mahihilig sa mga nakakapanindig-balahibong kwento galing sa kanayunan at kayamanan ng kwentong bayan sa syudad ng Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

        And this makes Director Lawrence Anthony Fajardo another film giant from Bacolod City in-progress I bet you.