The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
He might not be directly a chip off the old block but John Ad. Castillo has inherited a myriad of cinema wisdom and filmic styles from his late older brother, the award-winning director Celso Ad. Castillo (“Asedillo,” “Nympha,” “Daluyong at Habagat,” “Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa,” “Burlesk Queen,” “Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak,” “Ang Alamat ni Julian Makabayan,” “Uhaw na Dagat,” “Virgin People,” among many others).
“Matagal akong naging assistant director at production manager ng kuya ko kaya marami akong natutunan sa kanya sa paggawa ng pelikula (I was an assistant director and production manager of my brother for the longest time so that I learned a lot from him in filmmaking),” said John in a recent online interview.
The younger Ad. Castillo took the reins of writing, directing and producing local films right after Celso died although John had to streamline all aspects of movie production before he ventured into a solo stint.
John never says die.
“Marami na rin akong nagawang pelikula na ako lang lahat (I have already done many films by myself),” he said.
“At hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas ipinalalabas kundi sa ibang bansa rin (And they aren’t only shown in the Philippines but overseas as well),” he beamed.
One of John’s newest films is “Umbag,” a female boxing film that has taken the US market by storm.
“Nang ipalabas ko ito sa Golden State Film Festival sa Los Angeles, California at sa Vegas Indie Film Festival sa Las Vegas, maraming nagandahan (Many were impressed when I showed it there),” he smiled.
This month, John will again fly to the US to screen “Umbag.”
“Sa Marina del Bay Film Festival ko naman siya ipapalabas (This time, it will be shown in Culver City, California from June 20 to 26, 2025…),” Ad. Castillo announced.
At the LA and Las Vegas film events, the tentpole was awarded the Best Action Feature Film and the Audience Award, respectively.
Meanwhile, one of Celso’s legacies John has collected is connectivity with film artists all over the world.
When Da Kid (Celso’s moniker) did co-production ventures with Asian filmmaking capitals like Kuala Lumpur for “Pikoy Goes to Malaysia,” John was around to collaborate with his sibling and foreign co-investors.
Recently, John and Malaysian filmmaker Z Lokman have produced and filmed “A Man Called Kabayo (Horse)” with actor Xyrus Imperial in the title role.
We haven’t seen any of John’s outings so we don’t have basis of comparison with his genius brother.
Let’s see what he can offer to the public. (Boy Villasanta)