Cathy Garcia-Sampana and her new directions

The mere mention of box office wonders One More Chance, You Changed My Life, Hello, Love, Again and Hello, Love, Goodbye, and the film director comes to mind – she, with the critical acclaim and word of mouth that further boosted their stock, is Cathy Garcia-Sampano.

During a conversation with the director, held at the Uhaw Café in Antipolo for the contract signing of the roster of talents for KLINIK, the artist management arm of her own production NICKL Entertainment, she was all smiles, visibly proud of the new direction she had embarked on.

“NICKL Entrlertainment is the mother company and we branched out, made a talent agency arm, and we named it KLINIK,” said Sampano. “We just interchanged the letters of the mother company.”

She added, “The name of NICKL came from Ni, my production designer Niko; the L came from Louie, my husband. The C, of course, came from my name, and K was from Kizzy, my assistant, There is also J and N, for Jethro Maniego. But, really, we wanted the name (because, it’s like, to be) boss or president (of a) company (of something)? (I am not used to) formality. All I know is to direct and become a mother.”

To teach

Sampano is clear about their intentions – not just to manage talent, “to teach them not just to act and to perform, but to become good people,” said the film director. “I like working with good people. I learn from good people. It feels great and intellectually stimulating to be surrounded by good people. From good people you learn from discussion and observation. Doon ako (That’s how I am) trained.”

She added: “Bawal po lumaki ang ulo (We won’t allow egos to bloat). I will get a spanking from my mentors, directors Olivia Lamasan and the late great film master who was posthumously declared as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Marilou Diaz-Abaya.”

What moved her to this new direction, the exorbitant fees of a K-pop group her company wanted to bring in Manila to perform. She said: “When I found out the astronomical fees and production costs of the said K-pop group, it hit me hard. My thought balloon then was sana man lang ganun kataas ang fees ng mga Filipino talent (that Filipino talent would be paid the same kind of fees). Talented ang mga Pinoy, pero bakit palaging binabarat (Filipinos are talented, but why are they being shortchanged)? Bakit ganon (Why is it like that)? Bakit iilan lang ang nakakaalagwa lalo na sa (Why are there so few who make it big, especially in the) international arena of performing? Thus, (our) quest at Klinik and Nickl is to love our own. To hone our own. To harness the Pinoy talent and potential. To make them diamonds.”

She also said: “As a director, it always frustrates me when ang dumadating sa set, mga artistang gusto mong pauwiin (actors who come to the set are those you want to send home). Because they lack the basic requirement of being an actor, which is to act and to act well. That is why, sabi ko, ako na nga lang ang maglalagay ng mga aarte para di uminit ang aking head (I told myself I’d better be the one to choose the actors so my head won’t ache).”

“Yes, we’re starting small. Lahat naman nagsisimula sa maliit (Everything starts small anyway),” Sampano said, “But with the help of the entertainment press, prayers to God, hard work, discipline, the genuine love for the craft, loving what you do, we will be able to show to all that Filipino talents are truly world-class.”

Announcing that they have partnered with Star Magic upon the advice of Cory Vidanes, Sampano explained, “We partnered with them because I asked permission with regard to forming and developing my own talent. Alam n’yo naman po na mahal ko ang (You know very well that I love) ABS-CBN and I had to magpasantabi sa kanila (talk to them beforehand).”

KathDen part 3?

Of cours,e no conversation with Sampano would be complete without discussing about the success of Hello, Love, Again.

She said: “Whoever is spreading word that there will be a part three, that is fake news. It’s not happening anytime soon. Baka sa farthest future pa. I want them to grow personally, collectively and separately. Part of the success of Hello, Love, Again is due to the fact that they gave have matured, emotionally, intellectually and personally. Gusto ko sana bago man masusundan, patandain pa sila. Huwag naman lola ‘noh. Mga tito, tita (I want the next part to happen when they have both matured some more – not to grandma levels, maybe uncle-auntie),” she guffawed.

As for a Daniel Padilla-Kathryn Bernardo movie, is it even possible? The director’s quick reply: “Sorry, no comment.” She followed her statement with a laughter. “I know that many are pinning their hopes that they get back together for a movie, yung iba pa nga sa (some even) personal. Of course, di mawawala yun (that’s perfectly understandable). Valid naman ang wishes and hopes na iyan lalo na nga’t (especially since) they have been together for decades. I do not have a definite answer, when and how. Only time can tell and only God knows.”