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Pinoy Abroad

Sweet Oscar victory for Fil-Am producer in LA


LOS ANGELES — It was sweet victory for Filipino-American producer Stephen Dypiangco whose movie “God of Love," won the Best Live Action Short category in the recently concluded 83rd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre here in Los Angeles. A day after the Oscars on Sunday (Monday Manila time), we interviewed the boyish-looking Stephen at his apartment in Burbank where he moved in last year with his wife Ann and daughter Miriam. “I slept at 4:00 a.m. last night after the parties and then woke up at 6:00 a.m. today because my five-month old baby girl woke up early," he said, smiling.

Writer-director Luke Matheny (left) shares his Oscar statuette with his "God of Love" Fil-Am producers (L-R) Gigi Dement, Stefanie Walmsely and Stephen Dypiangco. Photo by Stephen Dypiangco
Obviously, the New York University MFA graduate was not really complaining about his lack of sleep today but sharing his excitement because the film he produced won an Oscar. “It was fun riding the limo and going to the parties," Stephen said. “There were 13 of us and 12 were from New York. I was the only one who was based in LA." Of course, their ticket to the glamorous Hollywood parties --- the golden Oscar trophy! “Every time somebody asked who we were, we just opened the window in the limo and show the Oscar trophy," he said. “Plus, everybody already recognizes our director-actor-writer of ‘God of Love,’ Luke Matheny especially after his memorable speech about how he should have gotten a haircut and his mom taking care of the craft services!" he said. When he arrived home from the Oscar awards and parties, Stephen recalled that he had almost 200 emails in his inbox. “I just had to answer first the people whom I knew!" he said. Stephen admitted that he watched the proceedings again on YouTube and became teary-eyed again. “I have to admit that I was teary-eyed again when I watched that part where they called ‘God of Love’ as the winner in the Best Live Action Short category. It is, indeed, a dream come true for me, Stephen said." Gigi Dement and Stefanie Walmsely, the New York-based Filipino-American producers of “God of Love," left for New York the day after the Oscars. On being Filipino The Los Angeles-based Stephen is the son of Filipino immigrant Oscar of Laguna and Lucila of Pampanga. Stephen said his being a Filipino definitely influenced him in his craft. “Being Filipino has instilled within me a deep commitment to family and a joyful sense of humor, which both impact the films I craft and the filmmakers I choose to work with," he said. “Making audiences laugh and collaborating with dependable and witty friends are how I hope to develop my career," he added. He revealed that he has been exposed to a few Filipino filmmakers. He said, “Over the past few years, I have been exposed to a few directors from the Philippines such as Brillante Mendoza, Auraeus Solito and Lino Brocka. I’d love to see more of their work as well as discover other Filipino filmmakers. “Fil-Am filmmaker Gene Cajayon’s ‘The Debut’ greatly influenced me because it so faithfully reflected my own story of growing up as a Filipino in Los Angeles," Stephen said. "I remember watching it at a sold-out screening, hugely impressed by the number of Pinoys on the screen and in the audience. It has been quite a while since a Filipino film has energized American audiences like ‘The Debut,’ but I am hoping to help change that," he said. From foreign service to film production He earned a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and proceeded to NYU for an MFA in film production. Stephen’s short documentary, “Made in the Bronx," was a regional finalist for the Student Academy Awards and won the Best Documentary prize at the Starz First Look Student Film Festival. His narrative short “Clean," screened at the Asian American International Film Festival, the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, and many others. Mentored by Jon Reiss, author of Think Outside the Box Office, Stephen is currently exploring cutting edge methods of audience engagement and development as a producer of marketing and distribution. His other current marketing and distributing project is “How to Live Forever," the new documentary of acclaimed Mark Wexler. His latest project is a documentary on his search for his Filipino identity, “Home Unknown" (www.homeunknown.com). “I am currently looking for funding for this movie and I am looking for a good editor," he said. “So if you know one or there is a Filipino here in the States or in the Philippines who thinks he can help me, please contact me!" We watched a trailer of the said movie and we found it very interesting, funny and honest. It showed Stephen going home to the Philippines with his parents and in the end, getting to know his parents better. “I went home to the Philippines with my parents thinking I would know their homeland better. I filmed that homecoming. What I discovered, though, was that home is where my family is. The journey showed me that I was actually yearning to get to know my parents better and I did," he said. Aside from filmmaking, in his spare time, Stephen also teaches English as a second language at a homeless shelter and works closely with other Filipino-American artists through Fil-Am Creative. "God of Love" movie Stephen revealed how he became involved in the “God of Love" project. Luke and I were classmates at NYU, and we worked on many different projects together including his earlier film ‘Earano,’ which I produced," he said. “Although I helped him on ‘God of Love’ during the screenwriting and editing stages, I was not able to formally participate in the actual shoot because I live in LA and he is in NY," Stephen said. "However, several months ago, I officially joined the team as the producer of marketing and distribution, offering guidance, organization and leadership on everything from social media and direct DVD sales to publicity and Oscar-week planning," Stephen explained. “By the time I joined the ‘God of Love’ team, Gigi and Stefanie were already onboard. It was so exciting to realize that there was now a trio of Pinoys on the project. With the three of us working together, I was confident that we could accomplish anything," he added. Stephen said he was lucky that his parents supported his career choice. He disclosed, “In college at Georgetown University, I met many smart Filipinos who were focused on professional careers in law, medicine and politics. But there were no aspiring Filipino filmmakers like me." "I think this has to do with Filipino parents, who understandably don’t want their kids to become starving artists. I know that the reason I have been able to devote so much time and energy to my less-traditionally Filipino career path is my parents. They have supported me all of my life, encouraging me to follow my heart and find my own happiness. Their love and support is a huge reason for my success," he said. Oscars parties “We met all these stars from Tom Hanks to Justin Timberlake to Gwyneth Paltrow to Mark Ruffalo," Stephen narrated. “I am not a fan of Justin Timberlake but I am surrounded by his fans. So suddenly, I became a fan too," Stephen disclosed, beaming at his confession. “He was great! He was excited to meet us!" “Tom Hanks was awesome because he was thrilled to meet our director-writer-actor Luke Matheny and he told him, ‘A star is born!’" Stephen related. "When Luke told him that he had a huge poster of Tom’s movie “Joe versus the Volcano" in his bedroom wall, Tom was actually surprised about it. Tom said, ‘You mean that movie with the steamer trunks!’" Stephen added. Stephen also recalled how Jake Gyllenhaal teased Luke when he was having his photo taken at the media room after the awards. According to Stephen, Jake told Luke, ‘Look at all these photographers. They are all your new friends!’" Stephen recalled that at one of the parties they went to, Luke saw Jake again. As Luke wanted to talk to Jake again, he followed him. "Since we, his entourage, were all following him, we followed Luke too. It turned out that Jake went to the men’s room. So suddenly, there was a long bee line outside the men’s room!" Stephen recalled, laughing. Advice to young filmmakers “My advice to aspiring Filipino filmmakers is to find hard-working and dependable friends to work with," Stephen said. “Making a film is not a solo endeavor. It takes a team of close collaborators to get everything done and do them well. I have learned the hard way that if you try to do everything by yourself, you will never succeed," he said. "By helping each other and forming a close community of collaborators, you can really start to produce incredible work and begin to build everyone’s careers," he added. Asked what he would tell his daughter if she tells him she would like to be a filmmaker like her dad, Stephen replied, “That is a good question! I would let her do what she wants because my parents let me do what I wanted and fulfill my dream!" – VVP, GMA News
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