PH movie at LA comedy filmfest
Director John Paul Su’s feature film “Toto” continues to make waves in the US. After having its west coast premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the film will be screened at the Los Angeles Comedy Festival today.
The film, starring Sid Lucero, is about a young Filipino service attendant who is willing to do whatever it takes to attain a US visa and live the American dream.
In an interview with ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Yong Chavez, John Paul shared, “Whoever watches it, especially the OFWs and immigrants from all over the world, they would see themselves probably reflecting on how it was when they first stepped in a foreign land.”
John Paul came to America dreaming of becoming a movie director. While studying at New York University, he worked various jobs including as cameraman for The Filipino Channel.
The director shot “Toto” in the Philippines. He described his experience as challenging yet fun. “I was fortunate to work with a very, very talented cast and crew,” he said.
The director shared he and his co-producers are meeting with Hollywood executives about the possibility of releasing the film in other parts of the US.
The movie also stars Thou Reyes, who recalled how different it is working with director John Paul.
“It was very challenging because the director, his approach is very different from that of the local directors. Mas western, even the schedules. Iba ’yung pagka-witty.
Iba ’yung situational comedy. Iba ’yung drama,” he said. Reyes won the Best Supporting Actor Award in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival’s New Wave Competition for his performance in “Toto.”