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| (From left): Anton Arcilla, Jasmine Tan and Ken Leviste |
We didn't realize Ken Leviste is the director of the movie we were about to watch when we met him at the lobby of the Far Eastern University Institute of Technology few days ago.
In fact, if we weren't told earlier that the 20 something man in front of us is a Multimedia Arts Instructor, we would have thought he's just some college kid; a senior, likely.
Well, that impression changed the moment he started talking about "Crushmate." Suddenly, Ken came across as so self-assured, so knowledgeable of his product, definitely crystal with his vision.
"'Crushmate' is a light-hearted romantic comedy that captures the essence of young love and the excitement of starting a new chapter in life," he said. "As a director, I wanted to create a simple movie experience that is fun and relatable to the audience."
He continued: "The film explores universal themes of first love, self-discovery, and taking risks. "The cinematography is stunning, with every shot carefully crafted to resemble a beautiful picture. The music is heartwarming and playful, setting the tone for a feel-good film that will leave the audience feeling 'kilig' and in good spirits.
"Overall, the film is a celebration of youth and the endless possibilities that come with it. It's a film that captures the excitement, fun, and challenges of the first days of college and the thrill of falling in love for the first time. "
"Crushmate" follows the story of 18-year-old Evan Castro, an ambitious college freshman who’s usually late – especially on his first day in college. After going and asking around the campus looking for his classroom, his world slowed down when he met the charming Chloe Magnaye. In their first semester, the two along with their newfound friends share experiences, fun, bad days, love, and laughter. Evan and Chloe also find their mutual interests that make their time and feelings aligned. As the semester ends, though, will Evan run out of confidence or chase his feelings for Chloe?
"Inspired by my own, and the writers’ personal college love experiences, I wanted to tell a story that would resonate with viewers and bring back college nostalgia," Ken explained.
The movie had already won several awards, including Best Story, Best Trailer, Best Actor (for Anton Arcilla, a newbie actor), and Best Actress (Jasmine Tan, also a greenhorn) at the CineGoma:RK Rubber Film Festival 2023.
Beginner's luck? Nope. The film also won 2nd Best Film, People's Choice Award, Best Director for Ken Leviste , Best Screenplay, Best Film Poster, Best Actor at Gawad Sining Film Festival 2023.
Cinematographers are Reigneth Serrano, John Joshua Sarmiento, JC Bocalbos, Dave Bosito, Lawrence Latombo. "Crushmate" was written by Cyril Sucayan, Bernie Quiñones, and Ken Leviste; while editing and direction is by Ken Leviste. Also in the cast are Zach Diwa, Deniell Rivera, Jhustine Ricafranca Carla Hilario, Rainier Berzabal, and Sharmaine Tumamao.
But this is what really blew our mind: Ken disclosed the movie cost just less than a hundred thousand pesos to make!
Here's the video of our interview with Ken, Jasmine and Anton:
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