Bryan Dy with Piolo Pascual and Vilma Santos
Wanted: More producers like Bryan Dy
THERE should be more new film producers like Mentorque Productions’ Bryan Dy (John Bryan Diamante) in the industry. He truly knows his trade. From a small collaboration with Vivamax (Tahan) two years ago, the youthful Bryan now belongs to the league of rising producers, after hitting it big with the horror-thriller , “Mallari,”at the box office, and later, making it land on Netflix.
The film, with Filipino heartthrob Piolo Pascual as lead actor (in an unconventional role), is the first Filipino mainstream movie to be distributed by Warner Brothers, and which has won several awards (acting and technical) in different award giving bodies, including The Eddys.
“We like what we have achieved with ‘Mallari’ and we will continue doing that,” he said in an interview. “That’s our main thing – to provide quality films that will pique huge interest not only here, among local audiences, but the global stage as well.”
Bryan’s participation in the Cinemalaya entry, “Kono Basho (This Place)” as producer only supports his statement. The film has won for little less known actress Gabby Padilla a best actress trophy, which she shared with the more popular choice Marian Rivera (for “Balota”).
“Kono Basho” likewise earned for its (first time) director Jaime Pacena II a best director trophy, best cinematography for Dan Villegas and best production design for Eero Yves Francisco.
Meanwhile, in the Mentorque pipeline is a (suspense-thriller) film starring Vilma Santos (with whom Bryan has worked with when the Star for All Seasons was enmeshed in Batangas politics), under the reliable team of Dan Villegas and Antoinette Jadaone, plus a project called “Biringan” which he hopes could be in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 running.
“The most important thing for us is to create significant films of the highest quality and bring these out there,” Bryan enthuses.
