More at home behind the camera

In person, director Giuseppe Bede “GB” Sampedro looks nothing at all from the “controversial” image the media has portrayed of him. And aware of the stories surrounding him, he goes straight to the point saying he’d prefer the conversation does not dwell on the string of nasty rumors constantly thrown at him by mostly tabloids and blog sites.

After less than two hours of Q&A with the director of the internationally-acclaimed movie Astig, it becomes fairly easy to find the man more interesting than the web of tales spun around his persona.

Sampedro is not only a multi-awarded director but he is also a father, businessman, car enthusiast, workaholic, and one-time That’s Entertainment artist.

Sampedro, 34, is an alumnus of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, graduating with a degree in BS Accountancy. How he ended up as a director can only be explained by a series of fortunate events he describes as fate.

“I was doing theater and pag-aartista in That’s Entertainment back in college so I can earn extra income,” recalls Sampedro. “At first, I just wanted to do something different because theater has become routine for me. Then, I got my break. (I realized) I can do it. I was given this task of writing and directing for a theater group in 1996 at age 20. It was my first directorial job with pay. I fell in love with the work.”

Sampedro eventually quit That’s as he felt acting was not for him. He has always preferred being behind the scenes. He started as an assistant director in 1998, doing commercials, concerts, music videos and TV specials. It was in late 2002 when he officially took over the reins of director in corporate events. The next year, he was back to music videos and concerts only this time he was the man on top.

He has since directed ABS-CBN morning shows like Home Boy, Boy and Kris and Ruffa and Ai. It was directing the first major concerts of Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Mark Bautista, Kyla, Toni Gonzaga and Vice Ganda that got the attention of his peers. He actually won his very first Best Concert Stage Director award back in 2006 for his Sarah Geronimo...The Other Side stint.

His most recent projects included the 23rd Awit Awards, Erik Santos: The Power of One concert, and Mutya ng Pilipinas TV special. Sampedro is set to direct Metro Manila Film Festival Parade of Stars and the Awards Night itself.

Sampedro says directing live shows will always be a thrill for him, giving him a certain kind of adrenaline rush he does not get anywhere else. “Iba ang high ng live na nangyayari,” explains Sampedro, who loves watching taped foreign concerts in his DVD player. “Things happen simultaneously. The presence of stress and the instant fulfillment you get is different in concerts.”

Always the man who wants to try different things, Sampedro soon debuted in Indie filmmaking via Astig. The film won Special Mention Award at the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea. It has toured Osaka, Japan; Geneva, Switzerland; Rome, Italy and Barcelona. Sampedro, meantime, won Best Director at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in 2009.

Critics have applauded the film as being somewhat following in the style of legendary film director Lino Brocka. Surprisingly, Sampedro has never seen any of the works of the great director, has yet even to watch an indie film prior to Astig. The young director quickly adds that it was not out of sheer arrogance that he had not seen a single Brocka, explaining his style and influences have always come from gut feel since he started in the industry. His inspirations, on the other hand, usually come from the scenes themselves.

“I think it’s better if I don’t have any influences because I was able to bring out what I wanted to show without copying anybody,” confesses Sampedro. “I just follow the story. I follow my instincts. I give vent to my feelings. Gut feel kumbaga. Kung saan ako tatamaan ng pelikula, ‘yun ang gagawin ko. I have no pattern. I want variety. No particular group of directors who influenced me.”

More amazingly, the father of three is actually a chick flick buff, deeply contrasting with the dark tone of his first Indie film. “I enjoy watching love stories, feel-good movies. I should be relaxed when watching movies. I don’t like action films,” says Sampedro.

Sampedro follows the same rule when it comes to working on set. He prefers a more relaxed, happy vibe especially when he is working with his actors.

“I try not to be hot-tempered at work,” he reveals. “I don’t hurl chairs. I crack jokes instead of blowing my top. I believe that a person’s passion for his work disappears when you shout at him. I believe the set should be a happy place.” GB, as he is otherwise known by close friends, is also admired for his very disciplined and meticulous work ethic.

Currently, Sampedro is one of the in-house directors at TV5, having left ABS-CBN after working with the Kapamilya network for more than four years. He directs Paparazzi and has just finished one season of Celebrity Cook Off. GB is also reviewing several projects that have landed on his lap. Hopefully, one of them is another big-screen collaboration that will help him break into the mainstream.