‘The Special Gift’ is a special film from new filmmakers

Philippine cinema has yet to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, but thankfully, there are new producers who are willing to gamble on new projects that try to reach the audience in a different way.

RC Gomez Entertainment Productions, for instance, will tour its maiden film, The Special Gift, in schools after the special screening on 9 September and before the release, later on, in theaters and other platforms.

The start-up's founder, Roy C. Gomez, said during the recent press conference for The Special Gift that he's a film enthusiast who has long been dreaming of putting up his own film production. He finally found the right time when, after establishing his real estate and mining businesses, he met and became friends with showbiz stalwart Lawrence Roxas.

In March 2020, Gomez and Roxas — as producer and director, respectively

— were set to film their first movie, which tackles the real-life heroism of teachers in the barrios, but had to change course because of the pandemic lockdown. When restrictions eased, they decided to push through with their plan, though with a different movie.

The Special Gift tells the story of 10-year-old Liam Castrillo (Franchesco Maafi, nicknamed Choco), whose disinterest in studying infuriates his strict father Fernan (Mike Lloren) but is actually due to mild autism. With the help of his teachers Nico Ignacio (Migui Moreno) and Marga Castello (Ella Sheen), the misunderstood boy finds his true talent, which causes more conflict with his father. He then makes a decision that eventually leads to their reconciliation and the rebuilding of their family.

Roxas, who's making his feature film directorial debut, said he handpicked everybody in the cast because he had worked with them in various TV, movie and theater productions. Meanwhile, he found his lead actor through the recommendation of his assistant director on GMA 7.

"Pag-present ng picture, 'Ah, eto na! Pak!' Kinuha na namin agad si Choco," the director said, referring to the child actor who has appeared in several TV commercials (Alaska, Del Monte, Surf) and drama series (Beautiful Justice, Nakarehas na Puso, Hearts on Ice).

Choco's reaction: "Sobrang saya, very proud. Kasi nabigyan ako ng opportunity na ma-ano ko po ang role nang maayos" (Very happy, because I was given the opportunity to do my role well).

Gomez happily reported that a follow-up project under his production company is already in the works with the help of other investors. It's going to be another advocacy movie, he said.

"Ganyan ang gusto kong gawin, mga family-oriented, pang-school. May mga moral values na talagang matututunan" (These are the kinds of movies I really want to make — family oriented, for schools, and with moral values to be learned).