5Q's w/Andrew Acedo "Sing (To Me) Director

#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it in less than 140 characters?

My film is about a man who's insecure about singing everything he says, and people should see it to remember those who let us "sing."

#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?

That there's comedy inherent in the film's concept, and it's okay to laugh despite some of the more serious themes explored in it.

#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.

My parents were filmmakers in the Philippines. My mom was a screenwriter and director, my dad a cinematographer. So filmmaking already had a special place in my heart since I was born because they fell in love through it. And growing up, I was constantly surrounded by movies. They have a real love for Spielberg, and being exposed to his work at an early age, I got a little sense of what it meant for a movie to be made by a visionary filmmaker.

And from that point on, I went to explore a laundry list of other directors and binged each one's movies (with Paul Thomas Anderson, the Coen brothers and Alfonso Cauron being my favorites). And sooner or later, I fell in love with film, and decided that I want to take part in creating them. And as a 1st generation Filipino American, I'm lucky to have the support of my parents in pursuing my film dreams. Sing (to me) is my 2nd short film going through the festival circuit, and I look forward to making films for the rest of my life!

#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?

That everything is a compromise, and filmmaking is nothing but adjusting your vision to fit what's possible. It's difficult, but ultimately, I came away from this experience believing that the film you end up making - regardless of how different it is from your original conception - is the film that was meant to be made. And that's the most beautiful thing.

#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?

I hope it continues to screen at other great festivals like BSFF, and it stimulates emotions, thoughts and questions about oneself and the way we treat the people around us.