CEBUANO CHILD ACTOR JERALD KERVIN STARS IN INTERNAT’L FILM

By Richard Allan Uy

 

Cebu recently became the location of a movie shoot that is scheduled to hit cinemas worldwide in a few months. An inspirational film written by Ross Campbell, 100 Yards is a must watch movie in 2017 that will surely touch the hearts of everyone. 100 Yards is produced by Chan Gin Khai, Ross Campbell, Justin Deimen and Sherman Ng.

I happen to be involved in this film after my 12-year-old son Jerald Kervin Enriquez Uy got the part of supporting lead role as 10-year-old Darrell Nunez.  He may be the first Cebuano child actor to be included as a main cast in a full length international film.

100 Yards is a film about faith, inspiration, friendship, and love. It is a young football player’s journey in finding honor and courage to face the challenges of life. After a family tragedy in the United States, he travels to the Philippines to search for his missing mother but finds out that he has cancer. In the hospital, he meets a 10-year-old boy Darrell Nunez who teaches him things about life through a game he made called 100 Yards.

Jerald acts in many scenes with Hollywood actor and model Steven Brewis, who plays the lead role as Richard “Rich” Porter. I too had a small part in the film when I was asked to replace an actor who failed to arrive for the shoot.

For Jerald and I, being in 100 Yards started out as a dream last year.  It was a dream where I saw him doing a movie in Hollywood. Waking up excited, reality then dawned on me. How can my son be an actor in Hollywood when we are just living here in Cebu.

Meanwhile, Ross Campbell already got the nod of Silver Media Group based in Singapore who agreed to co-produce the film. Dale Fabrigar, who is also an American like Ross, gave his yes to co-direct the movie with him. In the Philippines, Above The Line Productions was invited as the production partner.

Initially, they were thinking of doing the film in Manila but changed their minds to do it in Cebu instead. Casting calls were made for the different roles and that included the part of Darrell. Many kids submitted their head shots but Ross and company couldn’t find the right boy to play Darrell among the submissions.

In May this year, I got a message from a friend, Cebuano director Clanch Dayve Belleza if I would be interested to submit Jerald’s head shots and some details about him. Clanch is the casting director of 100 Yards, who directed me in one of his acclaimed films titled Julie. After sending him what he asked, we were surprised to know a few days later that the directors would like to audition my kid at Quest Hotel Cebu.

In a closed door room where I was requested to wait outside, Jerald along with another boy were made to read lines from the script. A few minutes later, they came out of the room and I was told to wait for further developments whether Jerald got the part or not.

After a few days, I was informed that Jerald has to undergo another round of audition at the Lewis Hall of Quest Hotel. It was an afternoon that for me was a make or break for him. I drove my son to the hotel and took him to the room and waited outside.

He joined me after a few minutes and again, I was told to wait for the decision. Finally, the day we were waiting for arrived. Clanch broke the news that Jerald got the part of Darrell and shooting will start soon in June! In the movie, Jerald has to shave his head twice to give realism to his role as a cancer patient undergoing treatment.

I see Jerald’s getting the role of Darrell as a blessing from God. He exactly fits the character in most aspects.  Most of the people involved in the film are Cebuanos, including the production crew and background actors. Other international actors aside from Steven Brewis are R.C. Ormond, Sean Patrick Flanery, Ross Campbell, Joseph Rich, Rebecca Lim, Melissa Paulo, and Sherman Ng.

Cebuano actors Alore Tojong and Noel Espinosa are also in the cast. 80 percent of the film is shot in Cebu while the remaining scenes are done in Los Angeles, California. Shooting in Cebu began on June 9, 2016 and ended on the 30th.

 

Visit the 100 Yards facebook page. #100yardsmovie

 

 

Richard Allan Baz Uy is a writer, actor and short film director. He is also a life coach who specializes in Orgonites and Twin Flames.