Actor John Prats is taking a long break from acting as he concentrates on his new found love: directing. Celebrating his 30th year in show business this year, John reveals he has found his purpose as a concert director.
"Hindi ibig sabihin namimiss ko ang acting. I'm super happy sa ginagawa ko ngayon. Feeling ko parang mas may purpose ako ngayon bilang direktor kesa artista. Mas nae-enjoy ko talaga siyang gawin. Yung mindset ko talaga now is focused sa mga projects na naka-lineup sa directing. Andun yung utak ko sa path na yun. Pero if there's a good project na acting talaga, siguro naman tatanggapin ko. Pero wala naman magandang offer. So doon muna ako kung saan ako mas kailangan," says John during an interview at SuperSam in Quezon City recently.
(It doesn't mean I miss acting. I'm super happy with what I'm doing now. I feel like I have more purpose now as a director than an actor. I really enjoy doing it more. My mindset now is really focused on the projects that are lined up for directing. My brain is on that path. But if there's a good project that's really acting, maybe I'll accept it. But there is no good offer. So I'll be there first where I'm needed the most.)
John says he also enjoys the freedom to execute his goals as a concert director by collaborating with artists.
"I enjoy my creative freedom because it is not just for myself. I collaborate with my artists. Sinasabi rin ng mga artist ko na nagkakaroon din sila ng freedom. Kapag tumanggap na ako ng isang concert, like halimbawa with Richard Poon, lagi akong may separate meeting with them. Yun ang pinaka importante sa akin. We always collaborate kaya napapansin nila iba-iba yung concert na ginagawa ko hindi pare-pareho, hindi naka-template. Kinikilala ko talaga muna sila kung paano ko sila ipe-present," he says.
(I enjoy my creative freedom because it is not just for myself. I collaborate with my artists. My artists also say that they also have freedom. When I receive a concert, like for example with Richard Poon, I always have separate meetings with them. That’s the most important thing to me. We always collaborate so they notice that the concert I do is different, not consistent, not templated. I really get to know them first and how I will present them.)
John admits that he has no formal training as a director, adding that he just learned the craft from his directors in movies and television series.
"When people asked me saan ako nag aral or nag aral ba ako ng directing, sabi ko hindi. But my experience, as an actor, natuto pala ako sa mga direktor ko. Halos lahat ng mahuhusay na direktor nakatrabaho ko like Gilbert Perez, Ruel Bayani, at marami pang iba.
(When people asked me where I studied or did I study directing, I said no. But my experience, as an actor, I learned from my directors. Almost all the great directors I worked with like Gilbert Perez, Ruel Bayani, and many others.)
"As a concert director naman yun ang frustration ko. Yun ang naging purpose ko. As a dancer, sa production number, meron akong na vi-visualize. Unfortunately, at that time, hindi naibibigay. So frustration ko yun.
(As a concert director, that is my frustration. That was my purpose. As a dancer, in the production number, I have something to visualize. Unfortunately, at that time, it was not provided. So that's my frustration.)
"Ngayon as a director, yung ang binabawi ko sa mga artist ko. Ano yung gusto mo? Ano yung dream concert mo? Ano yung nabi-visualize mo? Yun ang naging purpose ko ngayon kasi yun ang naging frustration ko noon," John says.
(Now as a director, that's what I take back from my artists. What do you want? What is your dream concert? What are you visualizing? That became my purpose now because that was my frustration before.)
John also describes directing as "addictive."
"Sobrang sarap to the point na it's very addictive. Mula sa tissue paper ido-drawing ko yung concept kasi yun lang minsan ang available sa meeting. Tapos makikita mo na lang nasa Araneta Coliseum na ang show. Kung alam lang ng mga tao saan ko na-drawing ang stage na ito. At sobrang sarap ng feeling kapag happy yung artist. It's not about me. Gusto kong pasayahin yung artist and at the same time, kapag bumili ng ticket kahit sa general admission lang, gusto ko yung uuwi sila na parang lugi pa yung producer sa napanood nila dahil sulit yung show."
(It’s so good to the point that it’s very addictive. I’ll draw the concept from tissue paper because that’s the only thing available at the meeting. Then you’ll see that the show is at the Araneta Coliseum. If only people knew where the concept of the stage is drawn. And the feeling is so good when the artist is happy. It’s not about me. I want to make the artist happy and at the same time, when people buy tickets even for general admission, I want them to feel the show was worth it.)
John recalls how he really felt when he directed his first concert dubbed "Tagpuan" in 2018.
"Ibang iba talaga ang taranta ko nun. Overthinker ako. Parang nakasalalay talaga yung buhay ko sa gabing yun. Tapos kinalabit ako nun ni Direk Paolo Valenciano. My God! Lalo akong kinabahan. Batikang direktor na si Direk Pao. Pero sandali lang talaga na kinabahan ako and I focused on my work. After that show, he went up to me because na-amazed siya at gumamit ako ng real elements like tutoong puno, leaves. Sabi niya you changed the concert scene. Sabi niya sino na nagstyle sayo? Sabi ko yung nagstyle po sa kasal namin. Hindi ko alam na ganun ang impact," he says.
(My panic was different. I was an overthinker. It was as if my life depended on that night. Then Director Paolo Valenciano approached me. My God! I was even more nervous. Director Pao is an experienced director. But it was only a matter of time. I was nervous and I focused on my work. After that show, he went up to me because he was amazed and I used real elements like real trees, leaves. He said, 'you changed the concert scene.' He said, 'who styled the stage?' I said the one who styled our wedding. I didn't know it had such an impact.)
But the biggest challenge as a director happened later the same year when he was hired to direct the show of K Brosas.
“Ang pinakamatindi ko so far is yung kay K Brosas concert. She’s the first artist who hired me, although it’s not my fault. But at the end of the day, it’s really my failure. It’s about when 90 percent of the LEDs didn’t work. When I designed the whole concert, parang malaking picture frame siya ng LED na hiwa-hiwalay. Ten minutes before the show, lumapit sa’yo yung assistant director telling you the LEDs are not working.
"Hindi naman ako yung director na nagmumura. Then pumunta ako sa system. Then sabi ko kailangan maitawid natin ito. Kinausap ko yung lighting director ko kasi yung LED visual director ko wala na talaga siyang magagawa. Bakit ganito? First concert ko pa naman ito na binayaran ako tapos ganito pa ang nangyari.
"Sabi ko sa isa, punuin mo na lang ng ilaw. Bulagin mo yung mga tao ng ilaw. Binomba ng binomba niya ng ilaw para hindi talaga mapansin yung mga LED. After that hindi talaga ako nakatulog for three days. I was so depressed.
"It was a learning experience for me na dapat inalam ko lahat. Since then, lagi kong tinatanong pwede ba ito or is this possible? Mahihirapan ba tayo rito kasi kung hindi babaguhin ko na lang? Because of that failure, natuto ako. Sometimes in that failure you will rise above. May learnings at thankful ako sa learning na yun," John says.
He adds: "I don't curse (as a director) but I'm hyper. I always feel the concert kasi sometimes I dance. I shout because maingay sa set pero kapag may mga glitches, lagi kong iniisip tayo lang meron nito so let's move forward and do something else."
One of his dreams is to direct a show featuring American pop sensation Justin Timberlake although he said it's really impossible to do that. But his ultimate dream as a concert director is to come up with a Christmas show.
"It's really impossible with Justin Timberlake but I believe walang imposible. Yung Jessi nga eh parang imposible na makinig sa'yo ang isang Korean artist. So pwede pa rin palang mangarap ako. Sa local, Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo and Sir Gary Valenciano. Maybe I can collaborate with Direk Paolo (Valenciano) also.
"Gusto kong magkaroon ng Christmas concert na at the same time, worship concert. Itong journey ko as a director, si God ang naglatag nito sa akin eh. Very smooth lahat. Itong journey ko as a director nangyayari lang. Dumarating ang mga projects na hindi mo hinihingi. So gusto ko magkaroon ng Christmas concert with Cornerstone artists at maramdaman ko uli talaga yung Pasko na buhay ang Paskong Pilipino," John says.
(I want to have a Christmas concert that is at the same time, a worship concert. This journey of mine as a director, God laid it out for me. Everything is very smooth. This journey of mine as a director is just happening. Projects are coming. I didn't ask for it. So I want to have a Christmas concert with Cornerstone artists so that I can really feel the Filipino Christmas alive again.)
John will celebrate his 39th birth anniversary on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, and he couldn't be happier at this point in life. He's happily married to actress Isabel Oli and they have three beautiful children.
"Wala na akong mahihiling pa. Siguro healthy family. Siguro kuntento lang ako sa nangyayari sa akin ngayon. I'm really at this stage na kuntento ako with my work, so happy with my family, with my kids. I have found my purpose in showbiz. You know when my daughter would ask me, what's your job, papa? Sabi ko I'm a direktor. Sabi niya anong ginagawa ng direktor? So inexplain ko a bahay. Hindi pa naman maintindihan ng six-years-old yun di ba? Hanggang sinama siya sa first concert niya. Nakita niya ako working at nasa tabi ko lang siya the whole time. Ako naman kaya nagpapakahirap magtrabaho is to give my kids a better future," he adds.
Career highlights
2022 was technically the year that marked John's 30th year in showbiz but the gradual lifting of restrictions has spurred an unusually high demand for concerts, events, and specials, quickly filling up the plate of the highly-sought after actor, director, and TV personality for the whole year (a good problem to have given the effects of the pandemic on the industry).
In the field of television, John’s biggest highlight of 2022 would have to be the epic conclusion of the seven-year run of the wildly popular “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” John was not only a cast member, but also one of the directors of the show alongside Coco Martin. He also directed the star-studded 2022 ABS-CBN Christmas Special. When not acting or directing, John could be found showing off his moves on the Showtime stage as a regular judge and mentor for the “Girl on Fire” dance competition.
As a concert director, John got to direct KZ Tandingan and Bamboo Mañalac’s concert in Pampanga (entitled “Rock and Soul Supremacy”) and Klarisse De Guzman’s solo concert at the New Frontier Theater (entitled “Her Time”).
2022 also marked the year when John got the chance to also direct concerts and events for international artists, with the most notable being Jessi’s Zoom in Manila concert (the first-ever solo concert of the Korean hip hop star). He also got to direct the 2-leg Be You 2 concert (featuring K-Pop stars TVXQ!, BoA, Chen and Xiumin of EXO) and the fan meet of Kim Soo-hyun (one of the highest-paid actors in Korea today).