He has directed music videos, TV shows and concerts so it was just a matter of time before Frank Lloyd Mamaril would think of diving into the movies – and here he is now, hoping to make a splash.
“To tell you honestly, when I was starting ang sabi ko sa sarili ko I will never go into film,” he said. “Kasi sabi ko ‘I’m bound to be a TV director, I’m bound to be a video director.’ Pero in the course of directing – I’ve been doing music video for Star Music, also then for MCA – so habang ginagawa ko siya sabi ko bakit ganu’n parang du’n (sa film directing) talaga ako papunta.”
He recalled a conversation he had with Viva Entertainment CEO Vic del Rosario who told him: “Hindi ka magiging kilala hangga’t wala kang ginagawang pelikula.”
Frank revealed he already has material for his first flick.
FRANK LLOYD MAMARIL
“Rom-com siya. Ayoko siyang ma-jinx kasi it’s a story na inaalagaan ko, but it’s very timely. It’s about how technology is evolving,” he hinted. “It’s about how technology has consumed us in finding our right love. Pero isasalalay ba natin sa technology ang pagpili natin sa tama nating mahahalin?”
He intends to shoot it within the year despite that he’s wee tentative about it.
“Meron akong konting fear na what if it’s not the right time.”
Want advice Frank? Just do it.
Background
The 32-year-old filmmaker, who graduated as Communication Arts student at University of the Philippines, started his career as production assistant then promoted to researcher until he became segment producer.
Then five years ago, Frank put up the multimedia company that bears his initials, FLM Creatives and Productions Inc.
Among his works, directing Lani Misalucha’s “Love Catcher” concert is his “biggest break.” It bagged trophies from the PMPC Star Awards for Music 2016 as “Concert Of The Year” and Best Concert Director, his first.
Frank was a professor of Multimedia Arts at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde from 2008 to 2013.
Present
He now wants to impart his knowledge in content production to his hometown, at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela.
“I want to train the students na ‘It’s not about the equipment, it’s about your storytelling and also your talent,’” he said. “And of course on what you put on the table when you’re practitioner na.”
How’s Frank as teacher, we asked.
“I tell my student na ‘If you pass a project to me I won’t treat it as student work so ’wag niyong sasabihin sa akin na dahil estudyante lang kayo,’” he revealed.
Right now, he takes online master classes for film directing. Though he believes experience will always be the best teacher, “ayoko rin sabihin sa akin na hindi ka naman nag-aral (tungkol sa film).”
“Pero Communication Arts graduate ako. I had courses in film and through a practice with a short films that I had done parang sabi ko its a mixture of both – it should be a mixture of experiences and workshops,” he said.
Among Filipino film directors he look up to is Chito S. Roño.
“Kasi ’yung atake niya when he directs, kinukwento niya sa mga artista niya kung bakit ganu’n ’yung ina-arte ng artista niya, so naiintindihan ng artista ’pag inaarte niya,” Frank said.
The actors wants to direct Shaina Magdayao in one of his movies.
“Gusto kong i-direct ’yung mga young actors pero ’yung may laman,” he said.