CHAMPION ROAD: An Interview With Actor And Filmmaker Vincent Soberano
It’s been roughly a couple of years since I was made aware by Facebook friend and stunt performer Eulver Presto of actor and martial artist Vincent Soberano‘s endeavors in film. His 2016 action horror proof, Blood Hunters, won Best Short Film at the Urban Action Showcase that year, and ultimately drew a turning point for the martial arts journeyman, MMA trailblazer and filmmaker whose directing career now brings a fully-loaded schedule.
He has at least two trailers already running; His first release is still forthcoming next month with martial arts tournanent thriller, The Trigonal. Ironically, his narrative directing debut advancing his shortfilm concept into feature film fruition for Aswang action horror, Blood Hunters: Rise Of The Hybrids, came prior just last year with its production and with its trailer came hopes of release. As such, questions followed for anyone wondering what’s been procuring the long wait period.
This week, Soberano leaves no stone unturned as he takes to Film Combat Syndicate in an exclusive Q&A to share his insight, as well as details about The Trigonal, the Blood Hunters feature film, and other projects in bound. The following interview is but one of a two-parter between Soberano, and fellow rising star, Asian-American actress, fight choreographer and action director Sarah Chang – the latter which will publish later this week.
Greetings Vincent and thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. How has the year been for you thusfar?
It has been a very busy, very stressful year. Much different from last year. I spent this past year dealing with post-production, distribution and marketing for the three films I directed last year. The past six months has also been fraught with politics and conflict between my executive producers for The Trigonal, which has caused delays and additional costs in the release of the movie. Although the movie premiered in Cannes earlier this year, it will finally get its first nationwide theatrical release on September 26. International releases will follow right after.
You’ve been a practitioner of martial arts for more than forty years. Tell us how you got started.
I started training in Karate and Tang Soo Do at age 8 but quit after a year. Then when I was 10, I watched my first Muay Thai fights and I fell in love. It was exactly the kind of martial art I was looking for. I urged my dad to help me find a place to learn it, and the rest is history. I have not stopped ever since.
You also studied in America and eventually worked in the IT field before becoming more prominent in establishing MMA in Beijing. Talk about that transition for us. And are you still active in MMA?
I studied Film in the US, worked in the industry for a few years before jumping on the IT/Internet bandwagon in the mid to late 90s. I came to Beijing in 2005 hoping to revive my filmmaking career in Asia, started teaching MMA on the side and ended up uncovering an MMA/Muay Thai gold mine as one of pioneers in Beijing at that time. I’m no longer active in MMA since my film career took off the past few years, although I coached my last UFC fight in Singapore last year.
I imagine you take your cues as a director from certain cinematic inspirations. What influenced you to get into filmmaking?
I’ve always been an artist since I was a kid. I spent most of my free time story boarding scenes and stories that I’d envision. Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez films are some of my biggest influences and inspirations. Those guys make films that are fun, badass and artistic. When I moved to San Diego, California, I met a friend who was a film school student. He asked me to co-produce and action direct his student film. That experience was an epiphany for me. I then decided to go to film school and make this my career.
Your current resumé as a director lists a lot of action projects. Prior to this, your first directing credit, On The Brink: Uncharted Waters, focused on whale shark tourism. Is that still a subject you pay attention to?
No, I did enjoy doing that conservation-based documentary, but I prefer narratives where I could really put my imagination and creativity to play.
Your next film is martial arts tournament thriller, The Trigonal. It’s finally out next month with actor Ian T. Ignacio, and it turns out that you have a role in the film as well. Tell us about the film and the character you portray.
The film is about a Filipino American martial arts champion Jacob Casa (Ian Ignacio) who comes back to his hometown with his young wife Annie (Rhian Ramos) to settle down and raise a family. Unbeknownst to him, the town has become a stronghold for a crime syndicate that develops and manufactures illegal street drugs, particularly ones that gives users crazy strength. To test the drugs, the kingpin Henry Tan (Gus Liem) holds underground fights, pitting international pros against his own drug-induced fighters. When Jacob Casa turns down an invitation to fight, the drug lord sends his goons to teach him a lesson. Things go awry when the goons kill Jacob’s best friend, brutally assault his wife and destroy his dojo – while he is out actually negotiating with a fight promoter! His life turns upside down and he loses everything after that. Eventually, aided by a visiting Wushu champion, Mei Li (Sarah Chang), he seeks the help of his former sensei Mike Vasquez (Monsour Del Rosario) and cooperates with Detective Tony Pascual (Vincent Soberano) in a police sting operation that would bring down the syndicate. The plan: Jacob has to fight in the deadly Trigonal where the best of the best are pitted against each other in fights to the death.
Apart from your principal cast, how did you go about filling the roster of fighting characters per the film’s tournament line-up.
I wanted to make a martial arts drama filled with real, legit martial artists. So I cast a lineup of real-deal martial artists and pro fighters. Among them are Li Jingliang (China’s top UFC contender), Zhang Tie Quan (China’s first UFC fighter), Gus Liem (high-level BJJ instructor), Monsour Del Rosario (Olympic Taekwondo medalist and Taekwondo’s Man-of-the-Year awardee), Sarah Chang (US Wushu team and champion), Ian Ignacio (Taekwondo black belt and MMA practicioner), Levy Ignacio (former national Karate champion), and several local martial arts choreographers, performers and stunt men. Being on the set of The Trigonal was like being in a martial arts convention.
The film is your latest pairing with actress and martial artist, Sarah Chang, who co-stars and choreographs the action. Prior to this, she also worked on your feature film Blood Hunters: Rise Of The Hybrids. How did you two meet prior to developing this lucrative partnership?
We were looking for female lead for Blood Hunters and we wanted someone who was a legitimate high-level martial artist who is also an experienced actress. We were casting in Manila for more than three months but could not find anyone suitable. I met Sarah while training with the Jackie Chan Stunt Team and she also came to my gym in Beijing once while she was preparing to shoot a film. She’d given me her demo reel “just in case” I needed someone like her. I showed her demo reel to the producers and our Director of Photography and they were instantly, “That’s it! She’s it! Let’s get her in!” I had to change the script to portray a Chinese character instead of Filipino for Sarah’s role but it worked out great!
The Trigonal also marks a starring debut for Ian Ignacio who shares entertainment lineage being the son of local action star favorite, Levy Ignacio. Talk about working with Ian and being at the forefront of his first leading movie role.
I believed in Ian from the first time I met him. I was determined to make him the Philippines’ next martial arts action star. He embodies everything that a martial arts action star is. He is a great actor (theater background), a legitimate martial artist (black belt), a handsome guy (featured in magazines as model/actor), and very very dedicated to his craft.
What was your biggest challenge while making The Trigonal?
Budget was the biggest challenge, hands down. That, and the bickering between the executive producers made the production difficult. Of course, we had torrential rainstorms that brought down our set right before we were about to shoot one day. Then we had personnel issues. Plus we had so many exotic locations, from islands to mountain villages. We even had to halt production one day because of a terrorist threat. The list goes on. It was one of the hardest productions I’ve ever worked in. And probably one of the most memorable.
You’ve directed several films in your career and have even earned some acclaim in the process. What are some of the biggest and most important lessons you now take with you going forward as a director?
I learn so many new things in every film I make. It’s amazing. The biggest lesson for me is accepting that every project brings a new lesson that must be learned to get better for the next one. Paying attention to those lessons are important. Many filmmakers are unwilling to go outside their vision of what their film will look like or how it will be made. I’ve learned to be flexible and willing to learn from experience and advice. I’ve also learned how important it is to be prepared for the final stages (Marketing and Distribution) as early as during pre-production of the movie. At the end of the day, film is business. Many directors forget that and just focus on whatever their mind envisions. The business of film must balance with the creativity of the movie.
Are there any current issues in the film industry that you hope to see change or improve in due time?
Aside from racial preferences and politics? I don’t know. This industry has so many problems. From financing to piracy, its just such an overwhelming and daunting world. I just try to focus on my projects and my agenda to promote the action genre, martial arts and Filipinos. So far, I’ve been given many opportunities and film projects that keep me busy. That’s good enough for me for now, to just focus on what I can do.
A lot of us are still waiting to see Blood Hunters: Rise Of The Hybrids. I have a few friends who I’ve privately spoken to and who’ve expressed interest in Aswang film lore, and they are strongly looking forward to this film. Can you give us an update on its release?
We had to freeze post-production efforts on Blood Hunters to focus on the issues on The Trigonal. Now that The Trigonal is ready for theatrical release, we’re back to working on Blood Hunters now with a release target of late November or early December. In fact, this movie can also be a great candidate for a series pilot for Netflix or the like.
You also spoke with me earlier this year prior to a report I wrote on your plans for high-seas military/naval techno-thriller, No Man’s Waters, and romantic action comedy, Three Poles. How soon can we hear more about those projects? And are there any others you can publicly confirm for us?
I had to put those projects on hold because I’m currently overwhelmed with so many things: The Trigonal’s commercial release in September, completing Blood Hunters for release later this year, shooting my upcoming horror-action flick Circle of Bones, a short film in Beijing this October, a new action feature project in Manila around December… No Man’s Waters and Three Poles will have to wait until around summer next year when my schedule clears up.
Do you have any final words to add about The Trigonal before we close this interview?
The Trigonal was a blood, sweat and tears project – literally. But it is definitely worth it. It’s epic and spectacular, showcasing a plethora of martial arts systems, boasting of never-before-seen fight choreography and cinematography, and featuring unique exotic locations for the first time in film. And on top of that, its a drama and a love story, and a bit of comedy as well. There’s a solid, sincere story that weaves through the entire film, supporting the non-stop action and making the characters unforgettable. It’s a film you have to see to experience. Everyone that has seen the film really liked it. It is very different, satisfying and inspiring.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!