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ITINANGHAL na Best Picture at Best Producer ang pelikulang Vampariah ni Direk Matthew Abaya sa nagdaang 2017 International Film Festival-Hong Kong. Ang Vampariah ay isang horror movie na first full length movie ni Direk Matthew. Sina Abe Pagtama at Direk Matthew ay kabilang sa producers ng pelikulang ito.
Ang naturang director na naka-base sa Amerika ay isang Fil-Am na horror enthusiast at proud sa kanyang pinag-ugatang bansa, ang Pilipinas. “I been studying film since I was 8 and was formerly trained in the SF Bay Area. I am a graduate of the Asian American studies department at San Francisco State University, with a focus on cinema. Vampariah is my first feature film and it has been picking up many international awards at film festivals,” esplika ni Direk Matthew.
Paano niya ide-describe ang pelikulang Vampariah at paano nabuo ang idea na gawing tema ito ng kanyang debut movie?
Sagot niya, “Vampariah is an action packed vampire film that uses the aswang as a vehicle to discuss identity and social issues. We follow a hunter by the name of Mahal as she sweeps the city of San Francisco in search of a rogue aswang. Her faith intertwines with the creature in this surprising way to change the balance of how she felt about the aswang.”
Nabanggit din niyang nabighani siya sa unang horror movie na napanood sa Pilipinas. “I got the idea to make the film out of the love of the vampire movie genre. I wanted something unique that many people had not seen before. Naturally I found the aswang very unique as it was a vampire legend that many had not heard up outside the Philippines. My grandmother took me to go see the movie Shake Rattle and Roll a long time ago in Manila and she challenged me to make a movie like it. I took it to heart. As I grew older and take many Asian American studies, I have come to recognize the aswang as a symbol of our colonial history. This film is fun and exciting to watch but addresses our past with historical context.”
Ilan pa sa nakuhang awards ng Vampariah ay Best visual effects for Central Coast filmmakers sa San Luis Obispo International filmfest 2017, Best Local Feature sa Another Hole in the Head filmfest-San Francisco, Best Visual Effects sa Disorient Asian American Filmfest sa Eugene, Oregon, Best Feature Film and Visual Effects sa New York Urban Action Filmfest sa HBO Centre sa Times Square. Nominado rin ito bilang Best Feature Film sa The international Vampire Film Festival sa Transylvania.
Gusto mo bang maging trademark ang pagiging horror direktor? “I really hope so, but I would like to be remembered as director who makes memorable films.”
Bida sa Vampariah sina Kelly Lou Dennis as Mahal, Aureen Almario as Bampinay, Scott Mathison as Kilmore, Arlene Boado as Michele Kilman, Jeffrey Lei as Mr. Fang, at iba pa. Umaasa si Direk Matthew na maipapalabas ang Vampariah sa Pilipinas at makakagawa siya ng pelikula sa bansa.
ALAM MO NA! – Nonie V. Nicasio
