Tirso Cruz III
“I’m a sadist. I like taking on difficult challenges,” quipped Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Tirso Cruz lll when Inquirer Entertainment asked him what he liked most about his new job.
“Actually, the major challenge we are facing now, the COVID-19 pandemic, is also a worldwide problem. Its effect is making it hard for the industry to recover, but at least, everybody is positive and is forward-looking,” said Cruz. “Right now, the Council is trying to come up with new programs and ways to improve the system, as well as improvements on the skills of our technical people. We are also currently educating a new breed of people behind the camera.”
He shared: “We have young people studying to become cinematographers or scriptwriters. We also have people involved in story development and research about anything and everything related to films. We refer to this as our ‘Filipino-first’ policy. This means we will first try to come up with quality films that we can bring to the global market.”
Cruz’s recent announcement that the FDCP would be giving a cash grant of P1 million each to the 10 finalists of the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is connected to this goal. “It’s a start. This will be a big help to the kids,” said Cruz. “According to Direk Joey (Reyes, Cinemalaya monitoring committee head and FDCP consultant), with the FDCP’s pledge, the number of applicants to the next edition of the festival has doubled. Nakakataba ng puso! At least interest in film production is slowly returning. Hopefully, we’ll still be able to help these young artists in other ways possible.”
When asked to describe the kind of leader that he is, Cruz said: “I’m very malleable. I always ask for advice. I have consultants—these are people who really care for the industry. When we sit down to make decisions, it’s like a multiple choice process. There are many minds helping me choose the best answer.”
Priorities
Cruz, who has been working as an actor since the 1970s, promised to continue doing so even while he leads the agency. “I will still work, but the FDCP will take priority. If schedules would clash then, unfortunately, my acting schedule will have to bend a little. I will probably ask for tapings or shootings to be scheduled on weekends. The FDCP comes first. Luckily, my daily schedule at the office isn’t as hectic yet.”
The FDCP chief continued: “It’s been three months since I’ve assumed office, and so far, so good. It’s exciting, scary, unnerving and enlightening all at the same time. I’m enjoying my job, so far. I’m blessed with a very efficient staff and consultants.”
During the closing ceremony of the Philippine Film Industry Month recently, we noticed that Cruz’s wife, Lyn and daughter, Djanin, were present to show support. Even his eldest, Bodie, led the ceremony’s opening prayer through a video recording.
“They are very critical of me. They don’t try to sugarcoat the facts. If they see something they don’t like, they tell me right away,” the FDCP chief said when we asked why he values the support and blessing of his family as he leads this particular film-related agency.
“I asked my daughter to be my secretary. She’s a tough one. She really takes her job seriously. In fact, she recently took the civil service eligibility test and passed. My wife, she doesn’t want to be part of anything, but she helps out during events like this. She would check our guest list to make sure all sectors are well-represented,” Cruz pointed out.