00:25.7
And not just that presentation.
00:27.2
If it's going to be like, whatever it is, they do.
00:30.0
I don't want my panels for events to be that.
00:34.9
Yeah, you said it, I didn't.
00:36.9
So, that's okay, I'll take it.
00:40.6
Welcome to the Pakas Plays Podcast.
00:44.9
Visit abateservices.com for fast medical transcription service.
00:49.7
This episode is brought to you by Leo Bato and Associates.
00:52.6
And the podcast will begin in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
00:59.0
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:59.7
live at Pakas Plays, big round of applause,
01:02.0
Mr. Edwin Santos.
01:08.2
I love the audience.
01:09.9
Oh, believe me, during post-production,
01:12.4
twice as much audience in the studio.
01:15.3
You'll never know that they're all here.
01:18.1
So, Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel.
01:23.7
How long has it been?
01:25.9
What's your participation in it?
01:29.4
Why does it even exist?
01:32.0
The Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel began in,
01:35.1
well, the concept began in 1998 when I became an actor.
01:39.7
I did that because the workshops I went to,
01:44.8
how to become an actor and how to do this,
01:48.5
how to do that, and how to avoid,
01:50.0
didn't really speak for me.
01:52.1
It only spoke for those who I feel has an advantage to,
01:56.7
with the information to go forward.
01:59.4
as an Asian-American,
02:02.8
but specifically as a Filipino-American,
02:04.6
which we're not even represented at all,
02:06.3
I felt that I should maybe start a panel of some sort.
02:11.8
I don't know what it was at the time,
02:13.6
but I knew what the idea is.
02:17.0
So, you had a memo in your head.
02:19.3
I had a memo in my head.
02:20.9
The thing is, is that I had the idea in 98.
02:24.0
I implemented it in 2015 because of three reasons.
02:28.3
That was going to ask you.
02:29.2
I was going to ask you.
02:30.5
Number one, Jerry Maguire.
02:31.8
And what happened to Nojito?
02:34.7
In 98, when I became an actor,
02:37.4
I was a nobody, unknown.
02:38.9
So, no one knew who I was.
02:41.2
Second, so I didn't have a reputation.
02:43.1
Like, for people to trust me, right?
02:45.6
I have to gain trust.
02:47.3
You know, like if I had to get Dante Bosco, for example,
02:50.3
Not maybe, maybe he could,
02:52.9
but I feel that he should know.
02:55.0
That was your opinion.
02:56.8
That's my, you know, because like I know how,
02:59.2
the industry works sometimes because I worked at,
03:01.9
before I became an actor, I was a PA and all that stuff.
03:04.6
And I knew how, you know, you can't want to, you know,
03:08.3
eggshells on the, on the floor and you want to, you know,
03:11.1
you have to say yes to everything, whatever.
03:13.8
But because I was an actor, I was unknown.
03:16.7
Second reason is that, there were, there were that many Filipino,
03:21.5
American actors during that time.
03:23.8
Abe, Abe was around, right?
03:25.5
You familiar with Abe?
03:26.5
I'm familiar with Abe, but I didn't know him at the time.
03:30.5
But, but, but, I wanted to get, and I'm,
03:37.5
I have to agree with Ted in this sense because I saw his interview.
03:40.6
Um, if I were to put the panel together,
03:43.5
it has to be those who already broke the ceiling,
03:47.5
those who are working and those you can see on TV and film on a weekly or whatever basis.
03:53.1
I can't, I've been, I've been requested by other actors who I don't know,
03:57.0
who are, who are as unknown as I am, or currently I am, or whatever,
04:01.4
um, that want to be part of the panel.
04:03.5
I said, well, I'm really gonna have to turn you down.
04:07.0
So you threw people down?
04:10.0
Nothing personal?
04:10.9
Nothing personal.
04:12.0
I just, if you saw my last panels, you would see who you're going to be with.
04:17.0
Unless I do, at some point I did something where like, I would have three actors who are well-known
04:23.7
and I have one actor who was just starting out.
04:27.0
Get away with that.
04:27.8
So Ruben's one of them, no?
04:29.8
Ruben I haven't had in the panel yet.
04:34.0
Rob Schneider, would he be considered in the panel?
04:36.0
I don't know about him.
04:39.0
So what would the criteria be, Edwin?
04:43.0
So, mainstream, ceiling broken.
04:46.0
To people who don't understand what that meant,
04:48.0
it, it actually means that you've made your mark or tapped the board somehow,
04:52.0
or have gotten, or have done something significant, so to speak.
04:60.0
So the Bosco brothers would be there.
05:01.0
I was hoping to get them this year, but I didn't.
05:04.0
So what do you do in the panel?
05:06.0
In the panel, or in the beginning, it was two Filipino-American actors on TV and film,
05:14.0
and it will always be four spots.
05:16.0
So two Filipino-American actors, and the other two will be either an agent or director,
05:20.0
agent, cast director, or a talent rep.
05:23.0
And they don't have to be Filipino.
05:24.0
It can just be any.
05:26.0
And I was able, so the first panel in 2015, I had like, I had Eugene Godero before he became,
05:33.0
before he did Kong.
05:35.0
I had Tess Paras, and I had a agent from, yeah, an agent from, I forgot the name of the agency.
05:44.0
I had Janet Cha, that's her, that's the agent.
05:47.0
And then I had Billy DeMoto, casting director.
05:51.0
And that went well.
05:52.0
So what do you do?
05:53.0
So you invite people to, so what do they do?
05:55.0
What do you mean?
05:56.0
Like people in the panel.
05:57.0
So now they're there.
05:58.0
So you have these two.
05:59.0
And this started in 2015, right?
05:60.0
That, yeah, it started, and that's the other reason, because the reason it took so long
06:01.0
for me to do it in 2015, because I couldn't find a non-profit that was matching my mission
06:04.0
And at that time, by 2015, I met the folks at Philham Creative.
06:05.0
This is with Rex Zampaga, Walter.
06:28.0
Walter Boho and Edward J. Malynin, Philham Creative.
06:30.9
And I checked the other places and it wasn't really matching, but when I checked them out,
06:34.8
I'm like, oh it will be, it's gonna be a beautiful relationship, I feel.
06:39.9
So you approached them.
06:42.2
Well, they approached me.
06:44.5
Because they approached me not because of the panel, because they had no idea what I
06:47.3
had in the plan, but they asked me like, how would you like to be a part of the leadership
06:53.4
And I was not really listening.
06:54.0
really looking at even at that time i was looking as an actor and i'd done so many you know really
07:00.3
strange roles and roles that doesn't i i don't play filipino i play kiwi alaskan asian chinese
07:07.2
waiter or whatever never a filipino never a filipino and i feel like identity crisis here
07:12.7
so i feel like i'm i want to work on something like a filipino as anything and i worked on a
07:18.0
film called brown soup thing in 2008 edward ed millen and direct rodent directed it he cast
07:24.9
everyone he knew which included john jim briones and jason rogel you know
07:30.6
everybody that was there and i was play i played one of the many uncles of the main lead actress
07:35.3
anyway because of our working together and we also did did a magazine show on youtube together
07:41.0
he was put you know we interviewed different people but because of that he i think he sensed
07:45.3
that i had this leadership quality i guess
07:48.0
yes and i was a producer before so maybe that's maybe that's it too um he asked me
07:52.3
to join film creative i said great i i thought about it two days like because i wasn't sure
07:57.7
but i had this idea and i approached him like hey listen i will join
08:01.5
if i can implement my actress panel with your organization and they said yes they said yes
08:08.6
okay so now now okay they said yes now the actors panel was about to begin in 2015
08:18.2
what was the goal for 2015. so you got your two films you got your agent and casting directors
08:25.8
what was the goal now to to empower to inform to yeah those two things and also to i felt also to
08:36.6
if mainstream were to watch this and youtube whatever is to show the them that there are
08:43.7
us out there who've been working our butts off in the last
08:48.0
decade or so or like dante so for so many years not maybe i don't want to date him but i'm like
08:53.6
like uh but we haven't gotten we still haven't gotten our bigger breaks and or opportunities
09:01.3
or more opportunities than what we usually get that's that was the goal also the other goal is
09:06.9
for me really i'm selfish because i wanted to learn from them how they were able to break
09:10.9
through so i sit there like behind the panel i'm like taking notes for me as well because i'm also
09:18.0
learning from now is there a live audience yeah it goes yeah uh live audience um
09:26.1
foreign creative members would go or i i for me i would rather focus not just the membership but
09:30.9
also focus people from outside yeah yeah to come in which is great for feeling creative because
09:35.3
they could have you could have them join the non-profit as well but for me it's like i want
09:40.8
outside people who are like like especially like maybe filipino immigrants or uh
09:48.4
philippine americans who are who's here who doesn't know what to do how about filipino
09:52.9
filipino canadians not included no oh no in the in because um kovid i continued on using zoom so i did
10:01.3
three years of the actors panel on zoom not with film creative but with the philippine american
10:05.3
chamber of commerce of hollywood and then uh i had the cool thing about zoom is that you can get
10:10.7
anybody outside the us outside la like like jason assuncion are you familiar with the guy he did um
10:18.0
man in the uh uh highcast high castle high tower or something like that that thing on amazon
10:24.1
of oppression that was another oh nice movie he played a japanese anyway if jason jason watches
10:29.7
the podcast he's a he's a better mate of jj in the philippines and he's a filipino canadian actor
10:37.4
and who knew like we were like oh my god
10:40.8
yeah i was watching i was watching it on prine and i'm like is that free jason i mean we had we had
10:49.2
She played the grandmother
10:50.5
for Blue's Clues and You.
10:54.2
How about Reggie Lee?
10:55.3
We had Reggie Lee.
10:58.9
Have you heard the guy speak Tagalog?
11:01.0
Yeah, he's so good.
11:02.9
Like when he speaks,
11:04.0
when he speaks like you,
11:05.8
like just English,
11:06.8
you wouldn't think that
11:08.2
he knows how to speak Tagalog fluently.
11:12.5
that neutral accent,
11:14.3
neutral American accent
11:18.6
you speak Tagalog?
11:21.4
And it's not even like a,
11:23.1
an exaggerated thing.
11:32.2
Yeah, it is a word.
11:33.1
Who else did you have on,
11:40.0
when she was in LA in 2018,
11:41.6
I asked her to be part of it,
11:43.4
I'm living in Hawaii.
11:46.0
that's the other thing.
11:48.0
in the film creative,
11:49.0
any non-profit I'm with,
11:50.2
they can't afford
11:52.8
I understand that.
11:53.8
I would rather have them be local.
11:55.4
Unless we go Zoom,
11:56.7
but at that time.
11:59.5
an interesting thing.
12:02.9
I'm in a Filipino band,
12:04.3
Filipino-American band.
12:05.5
it's a very popular band
12:07.1
in the Philippines
12:08.2
and we do projects here,
12:11.0
And there was a time
12:12.8
there were all these benefit shows
12:17.6
to generate income
12:20.2
for the non-profit.
12:23.2
And we would do it for free
12:24.6
until we started understanding
12:26.4
and maybe this could be
12:27.5
something that you guys do
12:28.4
if you haven't done it.
12:30.8
We started charging
12:40.3
Does that make sense?
12:41.8
it does make sense.
12:42.7
Because you guys are a non-profit,
12:46.0
if I was from Hawaii,
12:49.1
buy my own plane ticket
12:50.8
and be at the panel
12:53.5
and that plane ticket
12:55.8
will be compensated
12:57.0
in the form of a gift receipt
13:01.8
I think we did that
13:02.9
the first time this year
13:07.6
she's an actress for,
13:12.6
It's not my project.
13:13.5
I hope I'm not crossing,
13:15.8
it's not my project,
13:17.7
I'm confused with SAG.
13:18.7
I don't know what to say.
13:19.3
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
13:23.4
she's a regular on that show
13:24.9
and she was a part of the panel
13:26.6
and I think she wanted,
13:29.8
should I even talk about this?
13:32.2
she wanted something
13:33.3
and we gave her a gift.
13:38.5
because we gotta take advantage
13:42.5
what's holding back
13:46.2
to be on the panel,
13:47.9
Well, here's the thing,
13:48.8
I always pitch it in a way
13:51.3
and I learned this
13:52.0
when I was a producer
13:53.8
I pitch it in a way
13:55.0
like do it for the community.
13:57.7
you guys are getting paid already
14:01.2
This is just a community thing.
14:03.6
so a majority of them
14:05.6
and that's awesome.
14:08.6
the satisfaction,
14:20.8
That's the cool thing
14:22.7
only once a year.
14:26.5
or I've been advised,
14:28.1
it's been suggested
14:29.0
I do this every month.
14:30.6
you gotta be kidding.
14:31.9
it's not so much my time,
14:33.5
it's the actors' time
14:35.0
because they have projects to do
14:37.2
or vacations to take,
14:43.5
I'll play devil's advocate.
14:46.6
Just like the way you,
14:48.5
just like the way you placed your project
14:51.6
on the back burner
14:52.4
because you thought that
14:53.5
you weren't influential enough.
14:58.4
assuming that these actors
15:01.0
wouldn't give you the time
15:02.8
there is momentum,
15:04.4
there has been momentum
15:07.5
Maybe every six months?
15:09.3
Maybe every quarter?
15:10.4
It's been suggested
15:11.3
I could do a podcast.
15:13.6
I could help you.
15:16.5
Look at this place.
15:18.6
but maybe you should
15:19.7
because the same way
15:21.1
you're learning from the actors' panel
15:23.0
which you created,
15:25.1
can definitely benefit.
15:27.6
I hope we're not crossing.
15:29.5
My wife is a nurse
15:31.3
we would really laugh
15:42.0
Let's see how many Filipino nurses
15:45.6
there's been a few.
15:49.6
that's a good idea.
15:55.8
I just have to figure things out.
15:58.4
where do you find fulfillment?
16:02.0
Is it in producing,
16:04.6
community service
16:07.1
I think each one of those things
16:08.8
fill different voids.
16:13.0
Who were you growing up as?
16:14.9
never getting to that.
16:17.0
Time for the reveal.
16:22.7
why did you even pursue acting?
16:25.4
who was Edwin growing up?
16:27.4
And the reason why
16:28.1
I want to ask you this
16:29.2
is because I want,
16:32.7
JJ and I and Michael,
16:34.8
when people watch this podcast,
16:39.9
to actually think
16:41.7
that guy can do it,
16:43.2
what's stopping me
16:44.9
Pursuing my dream.
16:56.9
both my parents worked
16:59.9
My father was an accountant.
17:11.0
I always would see
17:12.6
at certain times.
17:16.3
my TV was my babysitter.
17:19.7
How many siblings
17:23.4
Your middle child?
17:28.8
growing up as a kid
17:31.6
watch TV all the time.
17:35.8
a lot of the TV shows
17:37.8
I was kind of like,
17:38.7
can I be part of that world?
17:40.4
Can I just jump into it too?
17:43.3
when you had this
17:44.3
rhetoric in your head?
17:45.4
I was six or seven,
17:49.5
so when you went to school,
17:50.9
did you join plays,
17:52.3
those extracurriculars?
17:53.6
That's the other thing.
17:55.1
there was such a thing
17:56.9
for us to go into.
17:59.4
into the TV set instead?
18:01.4
I didn't know that.
18:02.5
the other thing is that
18:03.4
when Star Wars came out,
18:05.1
that totally turned
18:10.5
there's two instances.
18:12.6
when it came out,
18:22.4
and he was shooting
18:27.1
a filming take place
18:30.6
we saw a stuntman
18:31.4
jump from one roof
18:34.1
I met Steve McQueen.
18:48.8
I didn't really pursue it.
18:50.7
because you still have
18:51.4
your parents going like,
18:52.9
you're a Catholic boy,
18:53.8
stay in Catholic school.
18:55.3
when you got to high school
18:58.1
or something like that.
19:01.8
dinner table conversation.
19:04.9
get the courage to say,
19:06.2
I want to be an actor?
19:08.0
I think I said that
19:09.6
when I finally said something,
19:11.8
I'm going to make this part short,
19:15.8
after high school,
19:16.6
when I was struggling
19:17.7
because I couldn't pass
19:18.6
this particular math test
19:20.2
to get into college,
19:22.6
to repeat a grade,
19:23.7
I finally passed it.
19:28.6
and all these other
19:29.5
universities I wanted to go to
19:31.7
qualified to get in.
19:34.2
You were still in Chicago
19:35.6
I was here already.
19:37.5
I went to a community college.
19:39.2
I went to Santa Monica College.
19:41.1
I think it's the best
19:41.7
community college,
19:44.5
But because I was still
19:45.3
thinking as a high school kid,
19:48.1
not being serious
19:49.7
about being in college.
19:52.0
this is embarrassing, folks,
19:54.3
from a community college
19:58.5
I didn't tell my parents,
19:59.6
why are you out of college?
20:00.5
I decided to take a job.
20:03.1
I can't afford college now.
20:04.9
It was a community college.
20:06.8
Get out of my face.
20:08.0
I'm going to work.
20:09.2
Didn't really tell them
20:13.1
working at a Kmart
20:14.0
on 3rd and Fairfax
20:16.1
discipline, maturity,
20:17.1
right over like that.
20:17.9
And then I went back to college.
20:20.7
I was more prepared.
20:21.6
I was more matured.
20:23.5
I knew what I want.
20:24.8
I don't want to take
20:27.8
you knew what you want.
20:29.3
during your four-year stint
20:36.8
I think the last one
20:42.2
until before the pandemic.
20:45.5
did you figure that,
20:48.0
I'm going to pursue acting.
20:49.4
Was it during your Kmart stint
20:50.6
that you figured out?
20:52.7
Because I decided like
20:54.2
I've been kind of saying yes
20:56.7
It's not their future.
21:00.9
to think that way?
21:05.4
you don't speak Filipino.
21:08.8
the mentality of,
21:17.1
this is what they want for me
21:18.2
and this is what I have to do
21:19.5
because this is what they want for me.
21:21.1
That's a Filipino cultural thing.
21:23.4
It took you a while
21:24.8
away from that mold,
21:27.6
this is not their future.
21:31.5
How long was that
21:40.0
I think it started
21:42.0
when I got into college
21:42.9
because they were still
21:44.1
wanting me to be a nurse.
21:45.5
They wanted to be a nurse
21:46.7
by the time I got into college.
21:48.5
So that was one, two,
21:51.9
then got suspended
21:52.6
and then four years.
21:56.8
finally went back,
22:01.4
I'm gonna do what I want to do.
22:07.8
I was afraid to say acting.
22:09.5
I figured producing
22:10.5
is a much more stable job,
22:12.9
So this is you talking
22:14.5
trying to run their numbers
22:16.2
and assess the risk.
22:22.5
would always have a job.
22:24.0
And here you are.
22:30.2
That would be a safer bet
22:32.6
because it sounds more stable
22:34.0
than just an acting job.
22:37.4
I kind of prepared myself
22:39.5
because I had actor friends
22:41.7
and they would tell me
22:42.2
all these crazy stories.
22:43.7
So I decided in college,
22:45.4
I can still pursue acting
22:46.4
but I'm gonna have to get
22:47.7
when I get out of here.
22:49.7
a television producing job
22:51.5
because that's a much
22:54.3
We don't go seasonal at all.
22:55.7
We just get a job.
22:57.9
When I graduated from,
23:00.5
after San Joaquin College,
23:02.0
Cal State Northridge
23:04.7
television production,
23:07.1
everything I can think of.
23:08.9
Even the business part of it, too.
23:11.3
And a little bit.
23:11.5
So how many years
23:17.0
It sounds like eight to me.
23:18.1
It sounds like eight, right?
23:18.8
Because I did two years
23:20.6
I can't continue.
23:21.7
Oh, you did CSUN, too?
23:23.5
because I had to get
23:24.0
that bachelor's degree.
23:24.7
Michael Abad did CSUN.
23:26.0
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:27.2
So I didn't want to hit
23:28.1
10 years of college.
23:31.1
And those grants.
23:33.8
so I graduated from CSUN
23:36.7
and then I went out
23:41.2
I did an internship
23:42.6
at the Highway Patrol.
23:45.7
It doesn't matter.
23:56.1
The reason why I'm saying
23:58.1
is because people think
23:59.8
just because you studied
24:04.2
and even got major
24:05.3
subjects under your belt,
24:07.3
when you go to Hollywood,
24:09.6
you still have to go
24:15.0
Or a production assistant.
24:17.4
And then those two things.
24:18.9
Like if you figured
24:19.9
you survived high school,
24:21.7
becoming an intern
24:25.4
and you don't know anybody
24:28.2
it's like you have to start over again
24:29.8
with this mindset.
24:32.3
I don't want to say that,
24:36.5
the closest people
24:38.2
that you can call your friends
24:39.5
that will support you
24:40.8
no matter what happens to you.
24:42.9
That's also difficult
24:44.4
who your real friends are.
24:45.1
Is it really a dog eat dog world
24:50.2
if you don't have,
24:53.3
Like from the bottom
24:54.5
all the way to the top,
24:56.5
it's really dog eat dog.
24:58.7
At least from my experience,
25:00.2
it was dog eat dog.
25:02.7
Someone will just take it.
25:04.2
like someone that you knew
25:06.0
since that you have found
25:08.3
some kind of success,
25:12.0
he found out that I
25:13.4
had some kind of success.
25:15.6
I also got married to,
25:16.9
this is years later,
25:17.8
so I got married also,
25:18.8
so he came back around
25:23.4
put this check in your,
25:24.8
I don't know why.
25:26.0
Because I trusted him.
25:27.1
You could be eight years
25:27.9
between each other
25:29.5
two films together,
25:30.3
so I didn't have any doubts.
25:34.1
He gave me a check
25:35.1
or something for me
25:36.0
to put in my account
25:37.4
to take it out real fast.
25:38.2
And I didn't think
25:39.0
of anything wrong.
25:41.2
and then my bank said,
25:42.6
oh we're closing your account,
25:46.0
during that time,
25:46.8
like maybe three months
25:47.5
trying to save my name
25:50.3
and whatever like that.
25:55.9
I found out that he was,
25:57.3
he was in on this
26:00.8
because he gave me
26:01.4
like fake company names.
26:03.1
He used a letterhead
26:04.2
from a distributor
26:07.0
on a fake person's name.
26:08.7
It's a whole crazy mess.
26:10.4
To the point that
26:11.2
it cost my marriage as well.
26:13.9
because we started,
26:14.8
we were just starting.
26:16.5
it was only two months in
26:17.4
and then all of a sudden.
26:23.0
when I have to warn people,
26:24.2
like when people talk at panels
26:25.6
and I hear that it's,
26:28.1
they make it rosy,
26:30.9
I was part of a panel,
26:34.8
I was the last one up.
26:36.2
Everybody had this conversation
26:37.5
where kind of like,
26:41.5
you'll find this,
26:42.6
you'll meet that.
26:45.2
By the time I came up,
26:46.8
if you don't have a thick skin
26:48.7
in this business,
26:50.5
That was my first intro.
26:57.2
who hate each other
26:59.0
but when the camera starts rolling,
27:02.3
you think they're the best of friends?
27:10.3
I think I mainly,
27:11.0
because my experience
27:11.7
has been with producers.
27:13.7
One producer took advantage
27:14.9
of my kindness and...
27:17.3
So, it does happen, huh?
27:21.0
in the low end of things
27:23.0
or non-union productions.
27:25.1
in union productions as well.
27:26.8
I've seen this happen.
27:28.0
Oh, Jesus Christ,
27:29.1
what's happening right now
27:30.3
when you have studios
27:31.5
giving union background actors
27:35.3
to scan their faces
27:38.0
and they'll use it
27:42.2
without any thing.
27:45.6
is supposed to be your IP,
27:48.7
It's not like that right now?
27:51.4
if I'm part of the studio,
27:55.8
let's pretend you're
27:56.9
a background actor.
27:59.3
and now I own your likeness?
28:02.4
you only get paid one time
28:04.6
but you won't be,
28:05.9
you won't get paid
28:06.6
when they use it.
28:07.7
No recurring royalty?
28:08.5
no recurring royalty.
28:10.1
we're fighting against.
28:18.5
because I do voiceover auditions too
28:20.4
and I'm kind of like,
28:21.7
they could do high-speech
28:22.6
voice for anything
28:25.0
Especially with AI chat GPT,
28:26.5
all that stuff coming out,
28:28.4
they could write full
28:29.3
synopsis or that.
28:31.7
I had a friend do that
28:35.7
pitches for the actress panel
28:37.8
and I read it and like,
28:45.7
it doesn't have a lot of,
28:49.6
you just grab words
28:50.6
and like a puzzle.
28:52.2
That's all it was to me.
28:55.2
I don't know what the question was.
28:56.9
I'm just intrigued
29:02.6
that was advantageous
29:04.7
in the movie industry
29:07.5
is now taking over
29:11.1
in the movie industry.
29:14.5
like dead actors.
29:21.2
I admit that it was kind of cool
29:24.7
if you got the permission
29:25.9
from their state,
29:27.2
then I guess that's fine
29:29.7
Where do you draw the line
29:30.7
with regard to that?
29:32.6
intellectual property?
29:34.6
there should be regulations,
29:36.0
There are no regulations,
29:37.5
no government regulations
29:38.4
at this point right now
29:48.6
Also on keystrokes,
29:49.8
what I read about Zoom.
29:52.8
Have you saw that report yesterday
29:55.2
when you're typing
29:55.9
on your Mac keyboard,
30:01.3
Since there's a mic,
30:04.4
the pattern you type
30:06.7
you're typing your password
30:07.6
the way you usually do it.
30:10.1
this is the pattern
30:11.7
and they can input
30:13.5
what the keyword,
30:16.1
each letter or number is
30:17.8
and then they get
30:18.7
the password that way.
30:19.9
At least that's what
30:20.6
was my understanding
30:21.3
when I was freaking out
30:22.3
when I was reading the article.
30:26.5
you gotta be kidding.
30:28.3
I'm already covering my
30:32.3
and then now this is.
30:34.0
Where is the movie industry headed
30:38.4
Is it going to be
30:41.5
like with the rise of YouTube,
30:46.2
with the rise of TikTok,
30:52.7
and union members
30:54.7
competing with the independents,
30:56.4
the influencers and all?
30:60.0
We didn't even know
31:01.6
this was happening when,
31:05.7
I saw it like when
31:08.4
broadcast TV would put
31:10.2
their shows on streamers
31:11.3
sometimes a week later
31:13.6
or even at the same time
31:14.7
or the day later.
31:16.3
maybe that's normal.
31:17.3
But then I thought like,
31:19.4
so many people are watching streamers
31:22.2
so we should get residual checks.
31:25.7
but it's like either one cent
31:27.2
or this guy had zero
31:32.5
when DVD was a thing,
31:33.8
I used to get checks
31:35.1
it was still little,
31:36.0
but it was like more than that.
31:41.7
I'm gonna paraphrase.
31:45.3
I don't understand,
31:46.5
I want to understand
31:48.3
how people like me
31:53.5
Because back in the day,
31:55.2
if I sold a million records,
31:58.6
I know that I will make
32:02.2
from the sale of a million records.
32:06.6
So what's the difference?
32:12.5
The difference now is
32:15.5
they're keeping all the money
32:17.7
and keeping secrets
32:19.5
how many streams are out there.
32:21.5
So I really don't know.
32:22.8
I can't really give you an answer
32:23.8
because they are hiding
32:25.3
a lot of the numbers from us.
32:29.8
this conversation we're having,
32:31.6
this is very intelligent
32:35.4
let's go back to the Filipino
32:36.6
Hollywood actors past.
32:38.4
This conversation we're having,
32:42.7
do these type of topics
32:45.5
during the panel discussion?
32:47.3
Because right now,
32:49.0
I would say an actor
32:51.4
and his own business, right?
32:52.8
He has to know this.
32:54.6
AI can rip you off.
32:57.0
be careful how you speak
32:58.9
because that could be used
33:03.4
your intellectual property
33:06.7
if you're not careful about it,
33:09.3
take advantage of it.
33:11.1
Is this something
33:11.7
that you guys talk about
33:17.7
I inform my panelists,
33:22.3
anything you want
33:23.1
because that's what I want.
33:26.3
if there's some things
33:27.1
you don't want to talk about,
33:29.3
And if you don't want to talk about it,
33:32.7
because if I'm in the back
33:35.6
and you start saying something
33:36.8
or maybe you don't want to say it
33:39.2
I'm not going to stop you
33:40.0
or whatever like that.
33:41.0
But if you start saying it,
33:42.5
I'm not going to stop you
33:43.4
because you're giving yourself
33:44.5
free will to say it.
33:46.2
But if you don't want to talk about it,
33:47.5
then censor yourself
33:49.9
it's like what we do,
33:52.4
I'll tell you what we can't talk about
33:54.7
but if you start talking about it,
33:56.5
I am not going to stop you.
34:02.5
as we're taping this episode.
34:04.9
What's the plan for,
34:08.4
how is it going to grow?
34:08.8
We mentioned podcast a while ago
34:10.2
which I think you should
34:11.5
so that way people will have content
34:13.8
wherever they are
34:15.3
you have to monetize that,
34:17.5
but how do you envision this?
34:22.1
I like to see it go bigger.
34:26.6
it has the potential to go bigger.
34:30.2
or are you willing to pass it on
34:34.0
see that's the thing like,
34:34.9
that's a nice question,
34:39.8
going back to the Ted question.
34:46.1
You want to swear, Jar?
34:48.4
He was playing checkers with that thing.
34:55.0
as long as I'm still alive,
34:56.9
I'm going to not,
34:58.4
in the beginning,
34:59.1
I didn't want to share,
35:02.1
at least the name producer
35:05.6
producing the actors,
35:11.6
when I did the panel,
35:12.4
I had two other partners
35:14.3
I've never worked with before
35:15.5
and they became producers as well
35:17.5
in their own right
35:18.4
because they gave me ideas
35:20.2
that I didn't think of
35:21.7
or I was too stubborn to accept.
35:27.5
because we did two panel events
35:31.5
in a little night,
35:33.9
less than 99 seat theater.
35:40.9
it's like the actors workshop
35:47.1
I like it better.
35:49.8
because of the Zoom stuff
35:51.1
we did the last three years,
35:52.0
my plan for the 10th edition
35:54.2
to where it started
35:55.0
which was this place
35:56.5
called the Clubhouse
35:57.3
which is in East Hollywood area
35:59.8
which is less than 99 seats.
36:02.6
it's a black box theater
36:05.7
actor performance
36:07.1
like you sit there
36:08.2
and it's an old stage
36:17.9
No casting director?
36:20.2
because later in the years
36:29.5
and it was decided
36:30.2
that the second panel
36:31.2
would be about actors.
36:34.4
there were casting directors,
36:35.7
lucky there's a Filipino
36:37.5
I just finally met
36:38.9
because I have three years
36:39.6
of trying to find him.
36:42.5
the Clint Eastwood films.
36:47.0
which I had in 2016
36:48.1
but we also had actors
36:51.1
who became directors,
36:52.4
producers themselves
36:53.3
take it to another level
36:56.9
as part of the second panel
36:58.5
which is the producer,
37:02.4
for that producer panel.
37:04.5
And that was also interesting.
37:06.3
So we had two different panels
37:07.4
and I figured like,
37:08.7
that successfully
37:12.0
but I'm going to do this
37:13.4
every five or ten years
37:14.4
and I'm not going to do this
37:15.4
because it's just
37:20.2
when I prepare the actors panel
37:22.2
I start around late January
37:27.2
So that's like five,
37:31.0
Including marketing.
37:37.3
tweeting the actors.
37:43.6
And then talking to the reps
37:49.6
and we did pretty well.
37:53.6
where would I see it?
38:00.7
do it at a bigger stage
38:02.6
and we could do two panels
38:06.9
What's holding you back?
38:15.8
the other question
38:17.7
that Ted kind of mentioned
38:20.3
where he was coming from
38:22.4
the same way too.
38:23.9
I too have been to,
38:28.8
where should I start this?
38:31.5
maybe because I was influenced
38:32.5
by a lot of the parties
38:33.6
that my mom would take me to
38:36.2
I was kind of like,
38:37.1
this is so corny.
38:39.2
Maybe that mindset
38:40.3
when I went to some,
38:41.8
I'm not going to say
38:44.3
Filipino events before
38:45.4
where it doesn't look,
38:47.8
it's not up to my
38:50.6
or industry standard,
38:53.5
And not just that presentation.
38:55.4
If it's going to be like
38:56.3
whatever it is they do
38:58.7
and I know what they do
39:01.1
but I don't want my panels
39:03.1
or events to be that
39:15.8
I don't want to put you
39:19.7
I wanted to go bigger
39:23.4
and my understanding
39:24.8
and my expectations.
39:27.0
And you know what?
39:27.9
It's a reflection
39:29.2
and what is in your mind.
39:41.3
you want to present to them.
39:42.9
And the medium is the message,
39:44.5
That's what I learned
39:50.5
it's a very, very simple statement
39:52.0
but it's true though.
40:08.3
I don't know what that means
40:10.9
but it'll be like,
40:14.0
that's the best I can say it.
40:15.2
we can do a big stage
40:16.9
minimalistic presentation.
40:19.5
And still intimate.
40:23.2
whatever like that.
40:29.8
I wanted to continue.
40:31.4
in terms of me sharing
40:34.6
As long as I'm still alive.
40:39.5
when I'm ready to retire
40:41.9
I'll give it to somebody
40:46.9
to the next level,
40:48.2
And we'll work hard doing it.
40:49.6
Are your folks still around?
40:56.1
in the Philippines
41:00.2
the hurricane hit.
41:06.8
celebrating Halloween here.
41:08.4
But he survived that
41:11.8
like November 8th.
41:14.7
in the Philippines.
41:15.2
He was still in the Philippines.
41:16.5
that was not good.
41:19.3
pretty much you were already
41:21.8
What did your mom and dad
41:24.2
penetrated Hollywood?
41:31.5
they would say like,
41:37.4
Is that what matters
41:41.6
I have it in my account.
41:42.6
You're never gonna see it.
41:44.9
I'll pay the electric bill
41:49.7
Filipino parents are like.
41:53.4
a major television show
41:54.7
and they see your face
41:57.9
like throughout the whole thing.
42:02.9
But I never show them
42:04.2
I don't want another.
42:05.3
I think it's sad.
42:06.8
the reason why I'm,
42:07.5
the reason why I'm asking you
42:14.8
are probably going through
42:18.4
the one thing that they want
42:19.4
from their parents
42:23.4
just support that,
42:28.7
and this is later on
42:29.6
because I realized
42:30.6
the responses I would have
42:34.2
I think they want the best
42:39.3
Whereas when they get older
42:40.6
or if they're not around
42:42.1
that I'm able to survive
42:43.5
whatever career I've chosen.
42:49.6
that's subjective though.
42:50.8
That is very subjective.
42:54.3
should strike a chord
42:58.6
because when you said
42:59.9
you're able to pay
43:01.0
your electric bill,
43:04.2
as long as you have
43:05.1
a roof over your head,
43:06.5
you're able to eat,
43:08.0
you're able to do
43:13.8
a middle class life.
43:17.0
if I get to the point
43:17.9
where I'm living,
43:20.7
I'm living pretty,
43:22.2
like highly successful
43:23.2
and stuff like that,
43:23.9
I'm still gonna probably
43:24.7
be living in a middle class life.
43:28.7
fall into any traps.
43:30.4
But I love living
43:31.2
a middle class life.
43:32.4
I think my parents
43:33.0
was kind of like happy
43:36.8
Someone had to do it.
43:38.0
someone had to do it.
43:42.3
I just got this like,
43:46.6
I was going to be here
43:47.4
and she said something like,
43:49.8
the strike's happening,
43:50.5
you can still go back to,
43:51.9
you can still become a nurse.
43:55.2
whatever my age is,
44:01.4
I'll pay a patient
44:04.8
I'm not gonna be.
44:05.6
Where does your family
44:25.4
Something like that.
44:26.9
university graduates.
44:29.0
I forgot my mom and dad
44:32.6
Far Eastern University.
44:33.9
He had an accounting degree
44:35.4
and my mom's from UP.
44:37.1
Went to high school,
44:43.5
and then UP Del Monte
44:45.9
And she got a nursing degree there.
44:49.7
they never met in the Philippines.
44:51.1
So they both separately
44:53.4
without knowing each other
44:55.1
to start a new life
44:56.6
and they met there
45:00.3
or something like that.
45:01.1
Did you ever go back
45:02.1
to the Philippines?
45:02.7
Did you go to the Philippines
45:03.7
to see what it was like?
45:06.6
for summer vacations
45:08.6
all the way to 96
45:10.8
but my dad decided
45:12.4
to take all of us
45:13.9
to the Philippines
45:16.1
like settle there
45:17.5
for one entire year.
45:20.3
was to live there forever
45:21.3
but that one year
45:22.8
that we did stay,
45:26.9
What was it like?
45:27.6
how old were you?
45:28.2
How old were you?
45:34.6
called ethnocentrism
45:39.5
in the personality stage
45:41.9
which is not good
45:43.8
and it's also tough
45:45.7
because I don't know
45:48.7
I have loving cousins
45:49.5
who were supportive
45:50.9
and playing pranks.
45:51.5
So the year that you were there
45:52.4
did you go to school?
45:54.5
Did you go to school there
45:55.3
when you were there?
46:00.2
we stayed at two places
46:05.1
my dad's sister's home
46:07.1
San Francisco del Monte
46:13.3
grandparents' home
46:14.1
in Amparo Village.
46:18.5
when you write a letter
46:19.3
to the Philippines
46:19.8
you have long things to say
46:26.0
whatever subdivision,
46:30.7
but I was mainly there
46:31.5
because it was kind of,
46:32.7
it was countryside,
46:33.5
it was countryside at the time.
46:34.3
I'm sure it's all
46:37.1
there's all the malls
46:37.9
and all that stuff.
46:39.7
So you were in Novaliches.
46:42.9
where you went to school?
46:44.2
St. Anthony Novaliches
46:47.6
Which everybody goes to.
46:49.4
Shout out to everybody
46:50.9
watching who is from
46:56.7
I think I have friends
46:57.5
who went to St. Anthony's
46:58.7
also in Novaliches.
47:00.6
So you didn't like the experience?
47:03.5
First year high school,
47:11.0
I was seventh grade
47:11.7
in Chicago and then.
47:13.7
there's no eighth grade,
47:14.6
there's no ninth.
47:16.7
every student was mature.
47:18.6
I was still a kid.
47:25.0
I had a lot of growing up
47:27.0
It was kind of hard too
47:29.2
like that whole year there,
47:30.4
the first six months,
47:31.4
my siblings and I
47:32.2
were celebrities.
47:34.2
like celebrities.
47:35.7
and at that time.
47:36.9
Edwin has an accent.
47:41.9
let's enjoy this ride.
47:43.9
And then the next six months,
47:48.4
I'm reciting Shakespeare,
47:53.9
it was an awesome,
47:54.6
like looking back,
47:55.4
even as an adult,
47:57.7
I thought I had a miserable time,
47:59.1
but looking back now,
48:00.7
I'm glad I stayed there.
48:03.5
I learned about my culture.
48:04.6
I learned about the Philippines.
48:06.2
I learned about the,
48:08.7
how much pop culture has influenced,
48:10.7
not just America,
48:11.5
but also Europe and Japan and Asia,
48:13.5
especially music and film.
48:15.9
I understood a little bit of politics,
48:20.4
just a little bit,
48:21.4
just a little bit,
48:23.8
but I learned also the socioeconomic side of things.
48:26.8
When you're driving,
48:27.7
like I'm in a jeepney,
48:29.8
and driving through a road,
48:31.2
where on one side,
48:32.2
there's beautiful buildings,
48:34.2
which by the way,
48:34.8
it's my favorite place to go.
48:38.0
and then this other side,
48:43.5
Just by looking left and right.
48:46.5
Totally different.
48:49.1
But it's a division,
48:50.6
developed by one road.
48:52.5
I don't know what that means.
48:53.3
But you know what,
48:53.9
the reason why I asked
48:55.7
maybe that could have been the catalyst
48:58.7
that when you went into Hollywood,
49:02.4
as much as you did,
49:03.4
as much as you love-hated
49:06.1
that one year in the Philippines,
49:08.8
it probably rubbed off
49:10.3
to the fact that,
49:12.7
there's no actual representation
49:14.6
of Filipino-Americans in Hollywood
49:17.1
that probably compelled you to think of
49:19.3
building the panel back in 98 in your head.
49:25.1
Like the things that led you there,
49:27.5
the things that you think did not have meaning,
49:30.8
as we're talking,
49:31.4
I'm trying to piece it up
49:33.4
with your history,
49:34.9
with your culture at home,
49:36.6
that one year exposure
49:37.7
to the actual culture in the Philippines
49:41.9
No representation in Hollywood?
49:44.0
see my goosebumps,
49:45.8
Considering that we're like,
49:47.5
in the last census,
49:48.8
we were the second largest group
49:54.9
we dropped down to three
49:56.2
because the Indians took over.
49:58.1
And at that time,
50:00.1
didn't want to take the census.
50:03.4
I don't want to go there.
50:06.5
there's a lot of us
50:07.4
in the United States
50:11.5
I'm beginning to see,
50:16.0
especially when the,
50:16.8
when the panel started,
50:24.6
I'm starting to see
50:25.8
a lot of popping up on,
50:27.8
at least in television.
50:29.4
Not so much in film,
50:30.5
but a lot of it in television,
50:31.6
a lot of it on streamers as well
50:33.9
they give us opportunity
50:34.9
to be represented
50:37.8
in the shows there.
50:39.9
I'm not in the mic.
50:45.3
and even behind the scenes,
50:48.0
Filipino-American filmmakers
50:50.5
in the independent route.
50:52.7
I met a lot of writers
50:54.0
who currently write for shows,
50:55.6
currently now on the air.
51:00.7
but it's a great start,
51:05.4
like, especially with this,
51:07.7
I've done so far,
51:09.1
there's always a new generation
51:11.0
of filams coming up.
51:15.2
it's easy for them
51:17.0
It's considering the ones
51:19.7
previously in the past
51:21.6
have at least opened
51:23.0
those doors for them.
51:24.9
So, I see it coming.
51:29.2
I didn't know she was Filipino,
51:30.2
but she's one of the leads
51:33.9
But I've been introduced
51:35.0
to a lot of new people
51:38.0
and there's another,
51:38.8
there's another thing.
51:43.6
Upright Citizen Brigade Theater,
51:45.4
the improv theater
51:50.9
called Filipino AF
51:51.9
and they had their first show
51:56.6
everyone you know
52:01.2
a new generation,
52:01.7
a new crop of comedians,
52:05.2
and they're all Filipino.
52:09.4
were in their standing room.
52:10.6
That was the largest audience
52:13.0
and it was all Filipinos
52:15.4
for a Filipino show
52:19.3
was all the angst
52:20.3
that you picked up
52:21.9
when you were growing up.
52:24.5
I was laughing in the back.
52:27.2
So, when I see that
52:28.2
and when I see the panel growing,
52:34.3
I'm not sure that's the word
52:35.6
there's this unison
52:38.4
that it was just,
52:40.6
this peak moments
52:41.6
that I felt like it's,
52:43.9
we're gonna rule the world
52:46.9
you mentioned COVID.
52:49.7
stopped a lot of momentum.
52:53.7
but how are you picking up?
52:58.0
we did three Zoom panels
53:01.3
it wasn't really meant for Zoom, right?
53:04.8
live and all that.
53:06.2
you're beginning to go back
53:08.6
doing the whole nine yards
53:11.1
blah, blah, blah.
53:12.0
But how is it picking up now?
53:15.2
I think it's picking up now.
53:19.6
I'm like the new generation
53:21.9
there's a whole crop
53:22.7
that I would like to invite
53:24.2
to the panels next year
53:25.4
and stuff like that
53:26.3
including voice actors as well.
53:33.4
people are suggesting
53:34.2
I should do a podcast
53:35.3
so I can get these people in
53:37.4
not do it every year,
53:38.7
every June of whatever.
53:42.4
I think you should.
53:44.2
Put it in the comments below.
53:50.2
We'll see how it goes.
53:54.6
to take too much of my time
53:55.9
because I'm also an actor myself.
53:57.6
I'm trying to get through as well.
54:00.8
I'm just doing more voice.
54:04.0
I did for live performance.
54:07.9
I'm gonna ask you a sensitive question.
54:10.7
I normally don't ask,
54:12.2
I normally don't give heads up
54:16.9
you mentioned it's taking much of your time.
54:21.3
I do it for the service of the community.
54:25.2
as funny as that sounds,
54:27.1
it could be true,
54:33.4
how can they support you
54:37.3
They meaning people like me,
54:39.3
like the audience
54:40.0
and everybody else.
54:41.8
Is there a way to donate?
54:43.1
Is there a way to?
54:44.4
I don't have any,
54:48.0
I'm currently with Phil and Creative.
54:55.4
if everyone wants to support
54:58.1
you can support Phil and Creative by,
55:01.0
we're planning on going back
55:02.2
to in-person networking,
55:04.7
we haven't done that since COVID.
55:06.5
this way you can meet
55:10.2
that was part of that golden era
55:13.5
And then you can also
55:15.6
other people who've
55:17.5
who've gone through
55:20.0
to get through this business
55:22.0
they feel comfortable,
55:24.9
some kind of success
55:27.1
If you're a Filipino-American
55:28.7
or Filipino-Canadian
55:37.6
very nurturing community
55:39.3
with Phil and Creative
55:44.4
the creative in you,
55:46.4
whether you're an actor,
55:49.4
We have resources
55:53.6
to whatever you want to do.
55:55.9
Could be a lighting,
55:56.7
could be a gaffer,
55:58.7
whatever you want.
56:03.2
a leadership board.
56:09.9
just support the group,
56:11.1
Phil and Creative.
56:13.4
Volunteer, right?
56:15.3
you can volunteer.
56:16.3
we have events too
56:17.2
and we are open for volunteers.
56:18.8
Whatever you could do,
56:21.2
whatever you do at your job,
56:31.9
you can also work on the film,
56:33.2
on the actors panel as well.
56:34.4
I've had people like,
56:38.0
if they can offer something like,
56:39.6
I can do camera work.
56:41.5
Can you do camera,
56:42.7
can you record the entire thing?
56:45.2
If you have three cameras,
56:46.4
record the entire thing,
56:48.1
and then have it for me
56:49.2
and I'll give you credit,
56:52.0
what's inspiring about
56:56.7
and I hope people can latch on to it.
57:03.2
so who is Edwin Santos again?
57:08.4
what kind of actor is he?
57:11.6
Because of the strike,
57:12.6
we can't talk about your projects
57:14.8
but I hope people understand that
57:17.1
you're not waiting
57:24.4
before doing something good
57:26.4
for the community.
57:33.2
big hats off to you.
57:36.5
an ultimate shout out
57:38.4
and I hope it inspires
57:42.6
special and meaningful
57:45.5
and not wait for themselves
57:51.9
That's the one thing
57:52.5
you have to learn, folks.
57:53.3
If you're entering this business
57:54.5
to be rich and famous,
57:56.8
That's the 1%, right?
57:59.2
It doesn't happen
58:05.2
Advice for aspiring
58:10.9
based on your experience
58:12.5
before we land your episode,
58:14.3
what would you advise them?
58:20.1
Because this industry
58:24.6
You gotta be more specific
58:25.9
Now I'm intrigued.
58:31.5
when I got to the industry
58:33.1
but when you're getting
58:34.4
stabbed in the back,
58:38.0
a whole new anger
58:45.0
Here's the one thing
58:47.8
Yeah, your audience.
58:49.5
Make sure you have
58:53.3
great supportive system
58:58.4
that support you,
58:59.4
you're already there.
59:04.6
that support system
59:06.2
whether it's part
59:07.3
of your private life
59:08.5
or people you've met
59:11.2
make sure they're
59:16.0
That kind of thing
59:16.8
or if whatever else happens.
59:23.8
they are priceless,
59:30.0
in this industry.
59:31.0
It's such a lonely thing.
59:34.3
even if you think
59:34.9
you can do it all,
59:42.5
some kind of family
59:44.9
that understands you,
59:46.7
understands your psyche,
59:50.0
your vulnerabilities,
59:54.7
at the same time,
59:55.5
you do the same as well
59:58.1
kind of relationship,
59:59.8
working relationship,
60:00.6
but family relationship
60:02.1
other talented people,
60:07.5
I think that's the,
60:08.4
my answer keeps changing
60:11.0
I think that's important
60:12.0
to have that supportive group.
60:15.9
Do you have that?
60:19.5
It's different with me
60:21.5
different core groups
60:23.5
in different capacities
60:28.7
with your core groups?
60:33.2
sometimes the truth hurts
60:34.5
and you don't want to accept it,
60:36.1
but you gotta like,
60:39.4
I'll make changes.
60:45.0
are you still stubborn?
60:47.3
there's always a stubborn thing
60:48.8
There's always stubborn with me.
60:51.1
it's a trait I can't seem to forget.
60:53.2
It comes up every,
60:54.5
especially the actors panel,
60:57.9
I have to work with,
60:59.7
it's a bad habit.
61:00.4
Here he comes again.
61:02.7
it's a protective thing.
61:04.2
this is the protective guy,
61:05.5
making sure everything's
61:09.1
nothing goes wrong
61:11.3
I think it's fine
61:12.4
to have a stubborn side.
61:16.7
not so much to that
61:20.0
put your career on hold.
61:23.4
You don't want that.
61:25.3
Don't let him in.
61:32.7
before we end this,
61:38.4
I think you and I
61:41.1
have some kind of connection.
61:46.7
I kind of mentioned it
61:51.9
that's in the business
61:53.1
in the Philippines.
61:57.3
His name is Terrence.
61:58.5
He was with a band
61:59.2
called Orphan Lily
62:02.1
His last name is Tevez.
62:11.3
which she's known as
62:15.1
I didn't know anything.
62:16.9
Intravoice before,
62:18.2
in the last decade.
62:19.5
Shout out to Cookie,
62:21.5
So, Cookie is your first,
62:22.6
second cousin or what?
62:25.4
first cousin, I guess.
62:36.0
the other sister's in New York.
62:37.1
The other sister,
62:39.1
That was Cookie's mother.
62:43.6
She has two children.
62:45.1
Miguel and Mackenzie.
62:47.3
Who I met in 2010.
62:51.2
I was working at E! Entertainment
62:52.8
so I took them out.
62:53.7
They were living with me!
62:55.5
I remember a conversation
62:59.7
we're gonna meet again
63:02.6
we have to go somewhere.
63:03.8
we have to go somewhere
63:05.1
like Alhambra or whatever.
63:10.5
she knows people.
63:10.8
she was on video call with you.
63:21.0
that popped my head.
63:23.1
Did you meet Sofia?
63:25.1
Never met Sofia before.
63:27.6
And that's the thing,
63:28.8
that's why I got confused a little bit
63:30.2
because I didn't,
63:31.0
I don't know what happened.
63:32.0
I don't know what happened
63:32.8
at the first house meeting,
63:33.6
but I guess she hooked up
63:35.8
with your brother.
63:38.1
And I guess they got,
63:39.5
they both got married.
63:40.4
This is the information
63:41.2
I get from relatives.
63:43.4
it goes in and out of my ear
63:44.3
because at that time,
63:46.3
I'm concentrating on my actress panel.
63:50.6
I would pick up on things
63:56.0
I guess they got married
63:56.8
and they had Sofia.
63:59.3
I think that she's the only child,
64:02.0
she's coming to the States
64:02.8
because my brother passed away.
64:07.2
And I was telling Sofia
64:08.7
and I was telling Cookie,
64:10.4
I was just on the phone with him
64:12.1
because Sofia got her US visa.
64:20.4
another degree of separation,
64:23.5
Rex was my former bandmate.
64:29.2
he was my bassist.
64:33.5
he was at Bacara Hollywood.
64:36.6
he was playing a guitar
64:37.6
or something like that.
64:38.1
We had a band called
64:39.4
Running Over Cars
64:40.6
here in the States.
64:43.7
I guess degrees of separation,
64:46.6
Not too far at all.
64:49.3
when I research my family history,
64:51.7
like the Agoncillos,
64:53.3
and whatever like that,
64:56.4
it comes to a point
64:57.8
do research on the people
65:01.0
Especially when I met
65:02.8
who are feeling creative
65:03.5
and all those folks,
65:06.1
interconnections here.
65:09.9
I didn't even know.
65:14.5
we were talking about you
65:18.3
and even my wife said,
65:19.9
Both of you said,
65:21.1
maybe you're related to Edwin
65:22.8
because my middle name
65:28.2
and then what the weird part is,
65:31.0
we're not related by blood
65:33.8
because of Cookie.
65:36.2
how the universe works.
65:38.4
it's interesting.
65:41.1
Filipinos have extended families,
65:44.4
my father's side of the family,
65:46.1
I don't know at all.
65:48.0
It's such a mystery.
65:49.6
I can't even impenetrate
65:52.5
I'll find out in some other way.
65:53.8
My mother's side of family,
65:55.7
her father is a Monroy.
65:58.2
I know a little bit of them.
65:59.4
They were kind of like,
66:03.9
or something like that.
66:07.3
and her mother married a Tevez,
66:11.2
who introduced me to wrestling.
66:15.6
and then that's when I met
66:16.5
all the Tevez cousins
66:17.9
and stuff like that
66:18.8
and stayed in the Philippines
66:19.5
and hung out with them all the time
66:21.1
and stuff like that.
66:22.3
And then when I learned,
66:23.5
and then when I got to know
66:25.3
our extended family
66:26.4
within my mother's side,
66:31.5
like I'm more focused on them.
66:33.3
are you related to Teodoro Agoncillo?
66:36.4
Are you related to the historian
66:38.8
Teodoro Agoncillo?
66:43.2
and you know that timeline right there.
66:45.9
Okay, so it's like
66:47.2
my mother's side were related
66:49.0
at least in the directional side.
66:51.2
I'm like fifth generation related to the,
66:54.1
to Marcella who made the flag.
66:56.9
So, that's one thing I found out.
66:58.7
And then I didn't know,
67:00.2
that she's married to Felipe Agoncillo
67:05.3
who was a attorney lawyer
67:07.8
who was part of the negotiations
67:11.3
for the Treaty of Paris.
67:12.3
Which, by the way,
67:12.7
the Treaty of Paris I learned
67:13.5
in high school in the U.S.
67:15.1
So, just to bring that
67:17.2
to the Philippine crowd,
67:20.0
it's a positive Rubik's Cube.
67:21.6
So, yeah, he was a part,
67:22.7
he was the first,
67:23.5
they say he's the first diplomat,
67:26.2
Filipino diplomat of that.
67:28.0
But there are other Filipinos
67:29.5
in that negotiation.
67:30.2
And it seemed like,
67:31.5
Anyway, it doesn't matter.
67:34.8
People like to get titles.
67:40.1
Now it makes perfect sense
67:42.3
when you put context to it.
67:45.6
it's in your DNA.
67:47.6
It's in your DNA.
67:53.7
the one who sold the American flag,
67:55.2
the Filipino flag,
67:57.4
she's not really a true Agoncillo.
67:58.6
She got married into it.
67:59.7
Like, she's still,
68:00.2
okay, fine, whatever.
68:01.8
But Maria Agoncillo,
68:04.3
because she's born in there,
68:06.7
Emilio Aguinaldo.
68:10.6
Emilio Aguinaldo, yeah.
68:11.4
So, he's the first president
68:12.5
of the Philippines.
68:13.7
I was blown away yesterday
68:15.3
when I heard that part.
68:17.3
Yeah, because I didn't,
68:17.9
because I was so concentrated
68:18.8
on the Marcello one
68:19.8
that I didn't know about Maria,
68:21.6
who was married to him.
68:26.9
I'm going to just delve
68:28.0
into more of their history.
68:29.7
And you're related to that?
68:33.3
who's the wife of him,
68:35.5
is connected to Marcello,
68:37.4
that same timeline
68:38.2
which is connected to my mom
68:40.8
and my grandmother.
68:41.3
So, that's your bloodline?
68:45.0
Oh, I found out about a new one
68:46.8
I'm like, what the hell?
68:48.9
Like, eventually,
68:50.4
but you're Santos
68:51.3
because of your dad, right?
68:53.2
Which I don't know anything about.
68:56.5
What's your middle name?
68:58.1
What's your mom's last name?
69:09.4
You don't use it there, no?
69:13.2
My middle name is Andrew.
69:15.9
You don't use your,
69:16.6
that's how it is in the States.
69:17.9
You don't use your mom's last name
69:19.2
as your middle name.
69:22.7
his mom's last name is D-Y-D.
69:36.7
Something like that.
69:39.6
I mean, obviously,
69:40.6
I have four names,
69:42.3
Oh, four of them.
69:43.7
except when your mom's mad at you.
69:45.5
Then she starts calling all your names.
69:46.4
Oh, if she's mad at me,
69:48.2
if she's calling me out,
69:51.0
she starts out my brother's name.
69:56.2
who are you mad at?
70:00.3
we just come out,
70:00.8
who are you mad at?
70:06.7
Damn, small world.
70:12.5
it wasn't really the plan.
70:15.1
when Ted kind of introduced us
70:16.9
and I'm kind of like,
70:21.3
spring this up on him.
70:24.0
his team didn't do any research yet.
70:29.6
because you like it fresh
70:33.2
you can be witness to this
70:34.4
that this is all organic.
70:36.1
This conversation
70:36.9
was never planted
70:38.4
and that's how we want it
70:40.8
because the reason why we started this
70:45.7
and the rest of the band
70:46.5
would be interviewed
70:49.1
the hypocrisy of whoever's interviewing us
70:51.9
really isn't really,
70:53.5
really isn't interested
70:59.6
to give you the impression
71:00.5
that I am genuinely interested
71:03.6
and what you're doing
71:04.5
based on the conversation
71:06.2
that we're having
71:06.9
because there are no bullet points.
71:09.2
There's no one sheet,
71:11.7
This is just an organic conversation
71:13.5
that we're having right now.
71:15.0
Right in front of everybody.
71:20.3
So what's next for you?
71:26.1
is very patriotic.
71:28.4
Did it ever occur to you
71:35.6
is really in your DNA?
71:37.2
That's why you have
71:43.4
in your own little way
71:45.4
contributing to what you think
71:53.5
Maybe after the fact.
71:55.1
Because I didn't know about my,
72:02.5
I wrote a blog about it
72:03.5
in 2018 or something.
72:07.0
I don't know when I wrote that blog.
72:09.4
it was before the actors panel
72:10.4
and that's kind of weird.
72:15.2
but I didn't really
72:16.0
think it was really important.
72:18.4
I just wrote like
72:19.0
what I discovered.
72:21.4
your favorite album
72:22.5
and you just write it out
72:23.6
and then you forget about it.
72:25.7
would hear more things
72:28.4
that I didn't cover in my blog,
72:32.8
How come no one said
72:34.5
when I was growing up?
72:35.9
But you know what?
72:36.5
I could have avoided
72:41.6
the person you are.
72:48.0
my being a producer
72:49.9
on different five,
72:54.8
and I'm still doing that.
72:56.2
because I wanted to create
72:58.4
I wanted something
73:01.6
And then I led on to,
73:03.0
and then I did the actors panel
73:04.0
because I wanted to do
73:04.7
something different
73:05.2
and give back to the community
73:07.0
and increase representation.
73:09.2
But I never thought
73:15.5
of what I'm doing now.
73:18.6
Come to think of it,
73:20.0
So there really wasn't,
73:20.9
there really was an itch.
73:22.0
There really was a conviction,
73:23.5
Without you knowing your lineage,
73:25.2
there really was a conviction
73:28.4
or create representation
73:30.1
for our community.
73:37.3
Ladies and gentlemen,
73:40.2
See you in the accent.
73:46.2
We're gonna put links
73:47.4
in the description
73:48.1
so that if you want to support
73:50.1
the Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel
73:53.8
and whatever Edwin's doing,
73:56.1
you guys can actually
73:59.2
and be brought there.
74:02.2
celebrate each other
74:04.0
so that we can all grow
74:07.6
Thank you for having me.
