Filipina filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura’s journey to becoming an internationally-acclaimed director, writer, and producer has been anything but linear. Armed with incredible perseverance and unparalleled passion, she has skillfully navigated the challenges of the music and film industries in the relentless pursuit of what she loves.
Despite film being her “first love”, Ventura embraced her entry into the world of entertainment through music. From her beginnings as a young, high school graduate with a “learn as I go mindset” and an eagerness to gain as much insight as possible, Ventura has established her name in the music industry, producing award winning music videos and sold-out arena shows.
Her latest project as the managing director of DVent Productions is the much-anticipated “Huling El Bimbo” concert of the iconic Filipino rock band Eraserheads, co-produced with Francis Lumen of WEU and Ant Savvy. The sold out concert, expected to bring together a crowd of over 50,000 fans, is scheduled for December 22, 2022.
“Their previous concert in 2008 was the most attended concert in Philippine history, besting out international acts. We are anticipating another historic event unprecedented in caliber and execution in the country,” Ventura shares with excitement over what is set to be the band’s last reunion in the Philippines and the subject of a Netflix documentary she is simultaneously filming.
The chronicle of the Eraserheads’ monumental reunion concert from an exclusive behind the scenes perspective is projected to be released in 2023. It is undeniably a fitting way to bring together Ventura’s passion in both music and film.
“I owe my trajectory, career even my filmmaking path to music,” Ventura says reflecting on her roots in the music industry, “Not only did it prepare me to collaborate with immensely talented creatives, it gave me practical understanding and sensibilities in navigating the business of entertainment and of course funded my university and elective studies in film, which I badly needed to survive amongst better talents.”
Using her unique voice to write meaningful stories, Ventura humbly brings something new to the table. Her body of work masterly showcases the universality of emotional experiences, tackling real life dilemmas with a “predilection towards trauma and tragedy”.
“I’ve previously shared in some interviews my lofty ideals of uniting people through storytelling… ideally, but truth be told, the intentions behind writing a screenplay aren’t always thoroughly premeditated. Otherwise, it affects the flow of writing,” Ventura says. “Perhaps subconsciously I want to bring to light taboo topics to encourage discourse and lessen the stigma behind human struggles and vice we tend to not want to talk about but are nevertheless present and sometimes inescapable as none of us is without sin. Repression is lethal and I am a strong believer that mere articulation of our thoughts and feelings is in and of itself therapeutic.”
Ventura’s latest work, “Deine Farbe” (“Your Color”), a socio-political drama of two young men whose friendship is tested during their ambitious pursuit of freer lives, is a testament to this conviction.
“I wrote ‘Deine Farbe’ (‘Your Color’) when I moved from Manila to New York thinking that things were going to change magically once I was in a new place. The story of Albert and Karl moving to a new city was a reflection of my own feelings of displacement and loneliness as I was adapting to a new environment where I came to realize that it is not necessarily just the outside world that needs changing for a better experience,” Ventura shares.
“Discovering this as this tale took a life of its own, unraveling and surprising me as I wrote it was both enlightening and cathartic. Shooting it in another country where the characters reminded me once more of this truth as I was yet again immersed in a different culture was a different level of meta that I didn’t know I needed to experience until I did.”
“Deine Farbe”, Ventura’s official international directorial debut, has won 22 awards globally from prestigious film festivals in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia including Best Director at the International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM) and Best German Feature at Filmhaus Berlin. The film further highlights her talents and range as a writer, director, and producer through being drastically different from her previous films—Filipino psychological thrillers “TheRapist” and “Awaken” (“Mulat”).
“It was a deeply humbling experience to have been around better filmmakers and have our work acknowledged by industry veterans. Though I never really do these things for the accolades, it was nevertheless fulfilling and moving. More than that it was an affirmation. That a film written by a Filipina woman about German adolescent men living in Spain resonated with different nationalities was a testimony of the very belief that got me into filmmaking in the first place, that regardless of our differences we are essentially the same,” Ventura recalls.
“I was chiefly lucky to have worked with my team. I learned so much from their brilliant creativity, generosity and ways of simply being. I could not have done this without them. Chloe Reisen who took this risk of flying to Germany to make this film with me without even knowing anyone was the reason this was even made. Her gamble and willingness to pick up my cat and have this adventure with me in Berlin was both courageous and insane. Hilarion Banks, Jannik Schümann, Hella Wenders, Nyamandi Adrian were not just impressive with their craft but also and even more so as human beings. They took a novice like me under their wings and trusted me enough to see this through.”
Here, Ventura shares more about her filmmaking journey, creative process, and her future projects.
On her inspiration for conceptualizing and creating films: ‘There are no rules’
There are no rules I guess, sometimes I conceive of stories during a random conversation with friends or strangers but typically I write based on subjects that fascinate me most. That way I’m still motivated to keep going on days where I don’t feel like it and most days, discipline takes precedence over inspiration, at least once I decide on the story that I’d make into a screenplay.
On overcoming the challenges of creating films internationally: ‘Find harmony’
The biggest challenge apart from language and cultural barriers would be the independent system, rules, and work ethic distinct to each country. However it is also the most rewarding when the crew is able to not just workaround or adapt to these differences but to actually find harmony within our team of diverse individuals.
Anyway, regardless if we’re from the same country or not, once you try to get to know someone, you are bound to find alignment and commonality, especially when you are working towards the same goal. And even if you realize a fundamental difference in values you would still come to understand why they are the way they are if you try. And it is in learning and understanding different perspectives that I’ve also come to a closer understanding why I am the way I am.
On being a Filipina filmmaker: ‘I just do what needs to be done and move forward”
When I do what I do, I don’t really think about my gender or nationality or that I’m part of the minority and whatnot. I am actually only reminded of this fact when people bring it to my attention otherwise I just do what needs to be done and move forward with a sometimes irrational yet very powerful urge to take the next step necessary to tell the story.
And perhaps it is because of this that I am still here. ‘Cause if I would stop and really think logically I’d probably just give up and take the more sensible route.
On her greatest accomplishment in creative pursuits: ‘Finishing a project’
The greatest achievement would simply be each time I finish a project. Every time I decide to make a new film I am always overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead, so when the team actually makes it to the finish line, It’s already an incredible feeling of accomplishment.
On her advice to aspiring filmmakers: ‘Keep moving towards that which you love’
I never feel like I have any authority to give advice so perhaps I would just share the same thing I tell myself which is to just keep moving towards that which you love. There is a reason for that voice, music, pull, force (or whatever you want to call it) within, listen intently and let it move you. Learn how to trust your gut and don’t be deterred by outside noise and distraction that discourage you.
Maybe this helps too, to keep my sanity, I try not to dwell on the end goal, and just take the practical next step that brings me closer to it. It’s really the small actions you take each time that bring you to that finish line.
On her future projects: ‘“Luz Oscura” (“Dark Light”) and the “Huling El Bimbo” concert’
“A troubled woman is convinced that she is being followed. Unable to verify whether she is a victim of stalking or her own delusions, she sets out to investigate the truth and finds herself confronting a most unlikely perpetrator.”
Above is the logline of the next feature I’m writing: “Luz Oscura” (“Dark Light”), a psychological drama about how trauma affects us in our relationship with others and ourselves.
Most of us go through life unconsciously, subconsciously sabotaging our own happiness because we have not made peace with ourselves, allowing a moment in time to define our whole narrative and life experience. This film follows Ines, a victim of her own past who tries to confront and overcome a threat to her present and future.
Generational trauma, hypocrisy in conservative traditions, mental health, therapy and healing are some of the themes of this movie which is set in a small town in Mexico and in Los Angeles.
I am hoping to embark on this project after the “Huling El Bimbo” concert with the Philippine’s own legendary Eraserheads.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photos by Owen Reyes
