John Prats, Angelica Panganiban, Sam Milby are now business partners

MANILA, Philippines – Actor John Prats has maintained a steady career over the years as a Kapamilya talent. Among his recent screen credits are roles in some of ABS-CBN’s longest running shows — the teleserye FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and gag show Banana Sundae.

John has credentials any actor would be proud of, but the 33-year-old Kapamilya star wants in on the behind-the-scenes action as well. John has taken a keen interest in directing, and has been under the tutelage of directors from his home studio. He tested his guns by directing episodes of late night shows Gandang Gabi Vice and Tonight with Boy Abunda.

His latest project as a director is the music video for songstress Moira dela Torre’s “Malaya,” which he co-produced with friends and colleagues Angelica Panganiban and Sam Milby. Angelica and Sam – who also star in the music video – are John’s partners in his business venture, Bright Bulb Productions.

The idea for putting up Bright Bulb came when John and Sam began discussions for Moira and Sam’s concert for next year, which John is supposed to direct. The two gentlemen have decided to go all-in and invest in a full-service production company, and have invited Angelica to be their 3rd partner.

The 3 friends-turned-business-partners take on different roles in their new venture. Angelica is the one who comes up with the creative concepts; Sam oversees the technical and editing side; and John directs. Since Bright Bulb is a start-up, they are forced to come out of their comfort zones and probably move more muscle than they do on the set as TV or movie stars.

Being good friends with John since they started their careers, Angelica found it easy to work with him as her director. She even offered to assist John when it came to preparing for the shoot, but the latter refused.

“Hindi ako nahirapan kasi siguro, sobrang close namin. Siguro kasi most of the directors na nakatrabaho ko, kaibigan ko din. Kaya alam ko kung paano mag-put up ng wall kapag trabaho na and kapag tapos na yung trabaho. So hindi ako nahirapan.”

(I did not have hard time, I guess because we’re very close. I guess because most of the directors I’ve worked with are also my friends. So that’s why I know how to put a wall between when it’s time to work and after the job is done. So I did not really have a hard time.)

“Alam ko nung araw na yun, director ko siya and susundin ko yung mga sinasabi niya (I knew that on that day, he was my director and I should follow what he tells me),” Angelica said in an media interview during the press launch of Bright Bulb Productions and the “Malaya” music video at Victorino’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

Sam, on the other hand, admits that he had to adjust when it came to working with John.

“Para sa akin, honestly, medyo awkward sa akin sa umpisa. It’s a music video so it’s supposed to be easier, but never pa kami naging magka-trabaho before, not like sila, magkasama sila sa Banana Split [now Banana Sundae]. Hindi ko alam kung ano itatatawag ko sa kanya, kung Praty ba o Direk,” Sam said.

(For me, to be honest, it was a bit awkward in the beginning. It’s a music video so it’s supposed to be be easier, but we’ve never worked together before, not like them, they worked together on Banana Split [now Banana Sundae]. I don’t know what I should call him, Praty or Direk.) 

In the music video, Sam and Angelica star as lovers with a doomed relationship. Moira’s single “Malaya” was used in the sound track of the film Camp Sawi. The music video then provides a back story for Sam’s character, who played the Camp Master in the film.

When asked why he chose Angelica and Sam to star in the music video, John answered in jest, “Kasi alam kong makaka-relate sila doon sa song.” (Because I know they can relate to the song.)

Kidding aside, John was happy to find a natural chemistry between the two during the shoot. He shared, “While editing it, we felt that talagang tama yung nilabas nila na emotion dun sa music video. Talagang I felt yung lines, yung ‘Tama na, ayoko na, gusto ko nang maging masaya’ – it’s very Angelica.”

(While editing it, we felt that they showed the right emotions in the music video. I really felt the lines, ‘Enough, I don’t want this anymore, I want to be happy now’ – it’s very Angelica.)  

John, Angelica, and Sam hope that they will be able to produce commercials, short films and hopefully, their dream project at the moment – a full-length feature film. – Rappler.com