Direk GB Sampedro’s ‘Sinag Maynila’ film depicts search for ‘truth’

Director GB Sampedro has traversed the screen — both small and big — and the stage — for concerts and corporate shows.

- JERRY DONATO

Starting Sept. 24, his knack for putting all the elements together — and being on top of the mise-en-scene — is seen again in the Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival entry, “Selda Tres.” It is told through the action-drama genre, with a tinge of comedy and light moments.

“Yes, parang ayoko siyang maging sobrang serious (I didn’t want it to be very serious),” answered the director, who won the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival Best Director award for “Astig” years ago, to the inquiry of this paper whether it was a conscious effort on his part to present the film that way.

“As it is, when you talk about justice and prisoners, (it’s) very serious. I wanted it to have a little touch of light treatment, especially since my genres are comedy and love story. There was an effort to put (in light moments).”

“Minsan kasi hindi mo rin maiwasan na gusto mong magpatawa ng konti (sometimes you can’t avoid wanting to make people laugh), but the topic is serious,” added he.

Following his train of thought, one could glean that the level of heaviness or seriousness of his films, theme-wise, varies. His film debut, “Astig,” for instance, is about the lives of four individuals who have personal and family issues to deal with, and poverty is the backdrop.

As a filmmaker, GB presents truth that is grounded on research and facts.