Using a mini-DV camera, former ABS-CBN talent Hero Angeles was able to produce an 88-minute long digital film entitled Stockroom.
His directorial debut took place last May 1 at the IndieSine in Robinsons Galleria. The one-time screening coincided with the premiere of the Hollywood flick Spiderman 3 but the venue was still packed with Hero's supporters.
Star Circle Quest's first Grand Teen Questor told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) his goal for making the indie film Stockroom. "Gusto ko lang ipakita ito sa mga students ngayon...katulad kong estudyante, na [kayang] makaproduce ng ganoong film. ‘Di na bibili pa ng libo-libong camera."
It took Hero around four months to shoot this digital film since some of his actors were still studying and could not miss their classes. The winner of SCQ Season 1 wrote the script, directed the movie, and starred in the indie horror film about a haunted bodega (stockroom). Hero and his older brother, Henry, produced this film, which cost almost P1 million.
INSPIRATIONS. Hero revealed his motivation for making this film. "Mahilig ako sa computer games. I play horror games kasi so nagka-idea ako. Sabi ko, kung sa games maraming natatakot, i-try ko kaya na i-execute yung ideas ko through a movie. [Sinubukan] ko muna mag-shoot sa cellphone tapos nagsulat na ko ng script."
The young filmmaker also pointed out that he was influenced by the works of the late director Luigi Santiago. Direk Luigi—who died on the 8th of June, 2005—was known for directing Nginiiig Hidden Files on Studio 23 and Nginiiig on ABS-CBN. "Si Direk Luigi Santiago may kakaiba siyang technique sa paggawa ng horror," recalls Hero.
The 22-year old Fine Arts student from the University of the Philippines Diliman says that he made this film "out of love sa sining [art]." Hero describes Stockroom as a film that shows the current employment problem of the Philippines. He focuses on the plight of teachers, especially those who are teaching Japanese and Korean students.
Stockroom will be toured in various schools and universities starting this school year.