REEL LIFE
“Kung ‘di mo sisimulan, kailan?” – This is the premise of Crushmate The Movie, a romantic comedy film featuring freshmen college students discovering a world full of exciting firsts and new experiences. It highlights the beauty in taking risks, being brave, and striving to become a better version of yourself for love and personal growth.
Sans complex characters and complicated plot twists, the film follows the story of Evan, an introverted and timid young man who struggles to confess his feelings of admiration for Chloe, his outgoing classmate. Though it simply captures a situation that most college students could relate to, the film also presents how the characters face challenges head-on, muster up the courage to take chances, and gain fun experiences with peers along the way.
The official poster of Crushmate The Movie.
REAL LIFE
In real life, the actors in the film took a leap of faith when they decided to join the production of Crushmate The Movie, as it was their first time creating a full-length film while attending classes at FEU Tech.
With the lead and supporting characters of the film portrayed by students, the film becomes a representation of the acting prowess and production knowledge students can gain from the program. Further, their Multimedia Arts instructor Ken Leviste as the film’s Director supports the fact that FEU Tech can expose students to opportunities in the filmmaking industry.
From a 20-minute film project as a requirement for their course, the original cast and crew of Crushmate The Movie was able to progress to a full-length movie where they could practice their script writing, acting, and production skills.
Jasmine Tan and Anthony Arcilla shared the lessons they gained from their first acting experience for a mainstream film.
But their filming journey was not free from challenges. Since the cast members are currently studying, they had to balance their time for filming and school – ensuring that they can pursue their passion while also maintaining good academic performance. Often, this resulted in conflicts in the production team’s shooting schedule.
Despite this, Jasmine Tan, a third-year Multimedia Arts student who portrayed Chloe, the female lead in the film, described her filming experience with the team in a positive light.
“Masaya po kasi talaga siya. Kahit nung school project pa lang po siya, na-enjoy ko na ‘yung filming ng Crushmate, lalo na po ‘yung mga crew. Nakita ko rin po ‘yung dedication nila sa work nila.”
Jasmine Tan portrays the role of Chloe in Crushmate The Movie
Meanwhile, Anthony Arcilla, also a third-year student who played the role of Evan, the male lead in the film, saw being a part of Crushmate The Movie as an advantageous experience for his future career in Multimedia Arts.
“Inisip ko din kasi na opportunity siya. Hindi lang naman sa acting ‘yung naging opportunity kasi may ibang roles din ako na kinuha so naging training ground ko na rin siya for future use.”
Anthony Arcilla plays the role of Evan in Crushmate The Movie
For Leviste, it was truly his students’ passion and determination to learn about the media production industry that served as their main motivation to push through with the film.
“Kahit na most of them wala pang experience sa pagfi-film bukod sa school, they are eager to learn, and ginagawa talaga nila ‘yung natutunan nila mula sa classes namin.”
After all, FEU Tech’s Multimedia Arts program aims to develop students who can communicate effectively, critically, and creatively across a wide range of media forms. Through the theoretical knowledge and practical opportunities that the Department offers, students are set to gain the capabilities to create multimedia projects such as Crushmate The Movie.
PRODUCT OF FEU TECH’S EDUCATION
No one knows better what FEU Tech can do for its students than Leviste. A few years ago, he was a scholar for his undergraduate degree in B.S. Entertainment and Multimedia Computing. As a student, he spent his time productively by participating in various film competitions outside the university where he gained several awards and recognition.
Ken Leviste, director of Crushmate The Movie and instructor at FEU Tech.
Fueled by his passion and determination to establish a name in the filmmaking industry, he pursued becoming a Director as a profession after he graduated. Currently, he is the Managing Director of Arkos Digital, the production company behind Crushmate The Movie.
Beyond filmmaking, the 24-year-old instructor also enjoys the opportunity to teach and inspire young minds, although this is not what he had expected to do before.
“Masaya ‘yung pagtuturo ko dito. I come from a family of teachers… and akala ko talaga makakaiwas na ko kasi nasa Multimedia Arts ako. Pero ang saya kasi na nagtuturo ka and at the same time ‘yung tinuturo mo is ‘yung expertise and passion mo. It’s very fulfilling.”
As an educator, Leviste equips students with valuable skills and knowledge to prepare them for the demands of the filmmaking industry. In doing so, he allows them to explore their creative and innovative ideas while encouraging them to improve their craft through practical application continuously. The concept of Crushmate The Movie originally came from a 20-minute film project of Leviste’s Multimedia Arts students in 2022. Although he initially did not expect much from the output because it only featured a simple plot, he was the one who suggested developing it as a full-length movie upon realizing that it had its beauty and potential.
“Nag-pitch sila sa akin noon tapos hesitant pa ko kasi masyado akong nasisimplehan sa concept nila. Then noong finals na, akala ko it’s a let down, pero I was really amazed kasi ang ganda ng short film. Nakuha ng finals project ng mga estudyante ko ang puso ko, kaya ginawa namin siyang movie.”
OPPORTUNITIES AND OPEN DOORS
Driven by their aspirations to excel in the field of Multimedia Arts, the film’s writers Cyril Sucayan, Bernie Quiñones, and Vi Aquino expressed their fulfillment in seeing their academic project develop into Crushmate The Movie.
“Malaking tulong siya sa amin na Multimedia Arts [students] lalo na sa mga nagsisimula ng identity nila as an artist,” Aquino explained.
Meanwhile, Sucayan, who took on the role of Director when Crushmate was only a short film project, considers the film a dream come true.
“Dati nasa utak ko lang po ‘to, then naging short film na ginawa namin ng mga kaklase namin, and ngayon supported na po ng FEU Tech ‘yung film. Super taba po ng puso ko na ‘yung lahat ng pagod namin naging worth it.”
Additionally, Quiñones mentioned that she appreciates the new friends she gained from the cast and crew members of the film.
“Hindi naman namin makikilala ‘yung cast in an intimate way kung hindi nag-pursue ‘tong film. Hindi kasi kami lahat nasa iisang year level e. So hindi namin ine-expect na lalawak pa ‘yung circle namin, pero isa ‘yun sa mga best part na na-experience ko sa Crushmate.”
The realization of Crushmate The Movie also lived up to its premise: “Kung ‘di mo sisimulan, kailan?” As the team pursued the chance to turn a simple film idea into a bigger project, they exemplified that there is beauty in risk-taking – it can turn dreams into reality.
MAKING HISTORY
Now, their film makes history as the first mainstream film of FEU Tech in partnership with Arkos Digital, and a Top 10 finalist for the 2023 Gawad Sining Short Film Festival – a national film competition for aspiring filmmakers.
In the recently held Awards Night of the festival, the movie was selected as runner-up in the Best Film category and bagged the following: People’s Choice Award, Best Screenplay, Best Film Poster, Best Actor for Anthony Arcilla, and Best Director for Ken Leviste. They also received nominations in Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Actress for Jasmine Tan.
The cast and production members of Crushmate The Movie during the Awards Night of the 2023 Gawad Sining Short Film Festival at Manila Hotel on October 8, 2023.
With this success, Leviste singles out the invaluable contribution given by the Institution to the production team of Crushmate The Movie – using school facilities, providing necessary resources, and motivating them as they join a national film competition.
“Mas nakaka-fulfill kasi ‘yung emotional support na binibigay nila sa akin. They are really looking forward, binibigyan nila ako ng motivations to do this. Kaya sobrang nakaka-proud to represent our school sa kahit ano mang competitions na sinasalihan ko, kasi alam ko na hindi ako mag-isa every time na lalaban ako.”
The second poster of Crushmate The Movie.
Leviste is quick to encourage students and aspiring filmmakers to trust the potential that they have.
“Hindi porket student ka, hindi mo kayang magawa ‘to. I want Crushmate to be the proof na kaya ng mga estudyante pumalag sa movie industry. Sa mga potential that we have, I believe we can do more and we can do better.”
Crushmate The Movie is now evidence of FEU Tech's commitment to equipping students with competencies that are needed to excel in the real world. By taking risks on valuable opportunities in the industry, students get the necessary exposure to learn and experiment as they pursue their dream careers.
“Ang Crushmate ay ang unang movie na ginawa ng mga Multimedia Arts students from FEU Tech. It will serve as an inspiration sa mga susunod na batch na: ‘Uy, gumagawa pala ng ganito dito, parang gusto ko rin’.”
Watch Crushmate The Movie’s official teaser here.