No influence peddling, says director

MEGAN Young and Xian Lim

Frasco Santos Mortiz insists he never used his unique position as son of actor-director Edgar Mortiz and nephew of ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio to get to where he is now as a film and TV director.

“I admit that this is an advantage, but it’s not the reason that I’m here,” Frasco said during a media gathering for his latest project, “The Reunion,” at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

He added: “I always make sure I do my job well. I don’t think I would be hired if the producers had not been impressed with my work.”

Frasco is convinced that the Kapamilya network gave him the opportunity to create shows and movies “because they

ENRIQUE Gil and Julia Montes

know what I’m capable of. I’ve been directing in television for seven years.”

He continued: “That I have relatives here doesn’t mean I have a sure-ball career. I never abuse their name. I do my best. The bottom line is, I deliver.”

Frasco’s dad is married to Concio’s sister Millet Santos—which also makes him the nephew of Malou Santos, managing director of Star Cinema, movie production arm of ABS-CBN.

Frasco said he was “very careful” when he first joined the network “because I knew what people might say.” Thus, he made sure to rise from the ranks.

KEAN Cipriano

“I had my on-the-job training on ABS-CBN,” Frasco related. “From there I joined the rank-and-file until I was given a break to direct ‘Goin’ Bulilit,’ which my dad conceptualized. That’s when it all began for me.”

Frasco has directed the top-rating gag show “Banana Split” for four years now.

“The Reunion” is a coming-of-age movie about four male best friends, played by Kean Cipriano, Enrique Gil, Enchong Dee and Xian Lim.

“It’s about true friendship, about believing in one’s self. Kids today are very different. They constantly want to be heard, to be the center of attention. They want all their opinions expressed. My generation didn’t have social networking sites as venues to do those things,” Frasco pointed out.

ENCHONG Dee

Also in the cast of “The Reunion” are Jessy Mendiola, Bangs Garcia, Megan Young, Julia Montes, Matt Evans, Tom Rodriguez, Joseph Marco, Gina Pareño, Ivan Dorshner, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Cacai Bautista and Luis Abuel. The film opens in theaters nationwide on Aug. 15.