HE’S INTO HER’ DIRECTOR WAS BORN TO BE CREATIVE
IF showbiz acting royalties are aplenty in the industry, there are also but a few creative descendants of crowned geniuses behind the camera in our midst. The young, cutting edge director of today’s much awaited series premiere of “He’s Into Her” (see related feature) happens to be among this small population in the industry that is primed to make SIGNIfiCANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUTURE OF fiLM and television in this country.
Filmmaker Chad Vidanes’ name should sound familiar because his mother is the highly accomplished network executive Cory Vidanes. Presently Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast at ABS-CBN, Tita Cory, as she is fondly and deferentially addressed in the biz, rose from the ranks of production
assistant for many iconic ‘80s TV hits and eventually took her rightful place among the exceptional powerhouse that built ABS-CBN to its renown and magnitude today.
Growing up, it was simply his mom’s job to put together — conceptualize, produce and manage — what he eventually realized comprise the most historic entertainment programs in the country over the past three decades.
His father, Bobet Vidanes, on the other hand, is the noted director of numerous original concept game shows and variety programs at ABS-CBN that have since become classics in Philippine TV history.
Initially downplaying his creative genes, Direk Chad admitted to The T-Zone how he purposely set out to find a different career path from his parents as early as high school. Come college, however, he found himself shifting courses three different times, finally graduating with a degree in Film.
“That was a time in my life when I wanted to veer away from showbiz and try different things because of the pressure that I might not meet people’s expectations if I followed in my parents’ footsteps. In a way kinda looking for myself, but wala eh. Eventually, hindi na ako nagpatalo nung na-feel ko na yung passion ko for this craft,” the inborn creative related.
Conscious all the same of the merit in proving his worth precisely because of his surname, the second generation Vidanes intentionally applied as an apprentice over at Star Cinema, rather than ABS-CBN, which of course is where his mother reigns.
“I guess you can say I was looking to make a fresh start,” he continued. “I knew Star Cinema is part of ABSCBN but it was a different domain that my mom as well as my dad weren’t directly part of.”
A wise move indeed, young Chad was able to completely immerse himself in his work, training under the likes of blockbuster filmmakers Cathy Garcia-Molina, Mae Cruz Alviar and Dan Villegas.
Earning his laurels for his first solo directorial flight, Chad worked his way up gathering priceless experience as Second Assistant Director for “My Ex and Why’s,” “Seven Sundays,” “Unexpectedly Yours” and “Exes Baggage.”
Asked how he’s doing with the premiere of his much-awaited handiwork finally here, Direk Chad acknowledged the pressure of knowing that he has adapted one of WattPad’s most successful fan fictions, and only has a single shot at getting it right.
Then of course, there’s the matter of his prominent showbiz surname. “Hindi din mawawala yung pressure doon,” he chuckled. “But in carrying the name of my parents at this point in my career, I use the pressure in a good way, to push myself to grow.
“I’m super proud of my parents, in what they’ve done in the industry, [but just like any offspring of any industry achiever], I also don’t want to be known as ‘the son of [the Vidaneses].’ I’d like to have my own identity and I’m hoping my work will speak for itself.”
Given early the early crop of feedbacks from He’s into Her’s teasers and trailers, it sure seems that Chad Vidanes, series director, isn’t far from making his own mark in the industry. Especially so because — if he doesn’t mind this mother saying — despite his own unique creative mind, he has carefully lived out the single most important advice of one Cory Vidanes.
“She taught me to always be humble, because no matter how good you get at what you do, there will always be room to learn to get better.”
Wise words indeed from a queen who is only happy to set her heir free, to be.