‘Forgotten Island’ directors tells Hollywood: Filipino films not just for Filipinos

Hollywood still has a tendency to view Filipino stories as something made primarily for Filipino audiences, according to “Forgotten Island” directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado.

Mercado, a Filipino-American filmmaker, said one misconception about Filipino storytelling is that stories rooted in the culture can only resonate with Filipinos.

“The fact that we’re telling personal Filipino stories, the misconception that this is just for Filipinos, but it’s not,” Mercado said in a one-on-one interview with Inquirer Entertainment.

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Mercado pointed out that many themes found in Filipino culture are universal, citing friendship and making memories with loved ones as examples.

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“We have so many things in our culture that relate to everyone around the world,” he said.

READ: Liza Soberano, H.E.R. embrace Filipino roots in ‘Forgotten Island’

Crawford said the production gave them the opportunity to work with Filipino talents who brought their own experiences and perspectives to the film.

“In doing so, we hope that ‘Forgotten Island’ is a massive success that shows the world and the studios that these stories are not only wanted but essential,” he said.

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Crawford, who is married to a Filipina, hopes the film’s success can help create opportunities for more Filipino stories and filmmakers.

“The hope is that more of these stories can be told from other people that can be celebrating Filipino folklore,” he explained. “Just I think bringing everybody up would be the hope.”

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Mercado added that it also means making space for more Filipino voices to tell their own stories.

“We’re always saying that every song has been sung, but it hasn’t been sung in your voice,” he said. “So we want to hear more voices.”

Finding pride in Filipino identity

Working on “Forgotten Island” also prompted the directors to reflect on their own relationship with Filipino identity.

“I think it taught me that I could be an honorary Filipino,” Crawford said, who’s full blooded American. “So many people were very kind and welcomed me in.”

Mercado, meanwhile, said the project made him confront some of his own insecurities as a Filipino-American.

“Every time I come back here, I would have this insecurity like, am I Filipino enough?” he said citing the reason because he is not fluent in Tagalog.

The Filipino director said his family, however, never made him feel disconnected from the culture, which he later gained confidence in.

“They reminded me that the Filipino culture is like, you’re our family. We welcome you here. Come, you’re a part of it,” he said.

As the filmmakers developed the story, Crawford said its meaning evolved beyond the initial concept and eventually became a story about recognizing one’s own value and the people who helped shape one’s identity.

“To me, that was like the big journey of there’s pride in your identity and knowing you have a story to tell,” he said.

“Forgotten Island” features the voices of Liza Soberano, H.E.R, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga. The film is set during the 1990s in the Philippines and draws inspiration from Philippine mythology.

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The animated film premieres in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 23. /edv