Lou Diamond Phillips
PARK CITY, UTAH – Six years ago, Filipino director Auraeus Solito’s film, “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” (“The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros”) made waves here at the Sundance Film Festival.
It was the first time we met the humble and quiet Auraeus and we were excited for him for making it here.
This year, that excitement came back as we watched our very own Lou Diamond Phillips in the indie film, “Filly Brown,” as the father of the talented Gina Rodriguez in the title role. Co-directed by Youssef Delara and Michael D. Olmos, “Filly Brown” is about “Majo” Tonorio a.k.a. Filly Brown, a raw, young Los Angeles hip-hop artist who discovers that it is not easy to fulfill one’s dream especially when there are some dark secrets in one’s own family.
Lou, portraying a Latino father of two girls, is outstanding as he showcases his talent as an ex-gang member who feels guilty about his junkie wife being in jail and having his rapper-composer daughter, Filly Brown, try to solve the family’s problems.
Upcoming Latina actress, Gina Rodriguez, who can easily be mistaken as a Filipina, makes her presence strongly felt in this movie as she lights up the screen and probably soon even the airwaves as well.
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Another Fil-Am who made us proud was the lovely and talented Shannyn Sossamon who is in the Mark Webber-helmed movie, “The End of Love,” which is also loosely based on the life of the actor-director-producer.
Born Shannon Marie Kahololani Sossamon in Honolulu, Hawaii, Shannyn is the daughter of Fil-Am nurse Sherry Sossamon and Todd Lindberg. She is of Filipino, Hawaiian, Dutch, English, Irish, German and French descent.
“The End of Love” is about the story of Mark who is a struggling actor struck between the life he once knew and the one waiting for him. When the mother of his two-year-old son suddenly passes away, Mark is suddenly forced to face his shortcomings until he meets the lovely Lydia (Shannyn), a young single mom who owns a daycare center.
Shannyn (“A Knight’s Tale,” “40 Days and 40 Nights”), who grew up in Reno, Nevada but is now based in Los Angeles, steals the scenes especially when the camera is doing extreme close-ups of her very lovely and photogenic face. As the love interest of Mark, Shannyn emits tenderness, love, and compassion just by a mere look or move of her head.
We predict that Shannyn, who beat Kate Hudson for the lead female role in “A Knight’s Tale” opposite Heath Ledger, will surely be a household name this year. Celebrity photographer Sthanlee B. Mirador, who has met Shannyn last year at the HBO party of the Golden Globes, agree. “We miss Shannyn. I am glad she is back doing movies,” Sthanlee said.
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Also here at Sundance are publicists David Magdael and Winston Emano. “This is my 12th year being at Sundance!” exclaimed David who is the president of David Magdael & Associates, Inc., a Los Angeles-based publicity firm specializing in documentaries and independent films.
According to David, “We have some amazing documentaries this year at both Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals. In U.S. Documentary Competition, we have ‘The United States of America,’ a film by Sheena Joyce and Don Argott. In World Documentary Competition, we have ‘5 Broken Cameras,’ ‘Big Boys Gone Bananas!*’ and ‘China Heavyweight.’ In Shorts Competition, we have ‘The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom.’ And at Slamdance, we have ‘We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists.’”
“Each of these films is so amazing,” David exclaimed. “I am proud to be working on these films here in Sundance and Slamdance! I am also in the film ‘Big Boys Gone Bananas!*’”
David admitted that he has not seen “Filly Brown” yet “but it is on my radar screen. A friend of mine, Reza, did the music. I really want to support all of these filmmakers of color because we need to get more of our people to tell their stories. This year, there are a record number of films by black and brown filmmakers. It’s very exciting. I am still waiting for another Filipino film to be at Sundance. Maybe next year?”
Other Filipinos here in Park City, Utah are Oscar-winning “God of Love” Fil-Am producer Stephen Dypiangco who just co-founded the National Film Society with filmmaker Patrick Mendoza Epino. Stephen and Patrick are shooting YouTube videos and have teamed up with comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.”
We also have indie filmmaker and cinematographer PJ Raval and The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival programmer Abraham Ferrer who are watching the latest indie films and documentaries here in Snow Country.
Formerly a Manila journalist, Los Angeles-based Janet Susan R. Nepales is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
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