Passion, dedication & sheer hard work
Posted By www.BoyAbunda.net on February 7, 2008
Giuseppe Bede Sampedro, GB to his friends in and out of showbiz, should be thanking his lucky stars. Aside from getting big breaks in TV (he directs the lifestyle show, Boy & Kris on ABS-CBN), he’s also become a much sought-after concert, MTV and TV commercial director.
He directs Toni Gonzaga’s first major concert titled Catch Me… Toni Gonzaga that will be held at the Aliw Theater on Feb. 9, 8 p.m. In the show, GB Sampedro is set to unleash the sexier and more mature Toni.
On Toni, GB has this to say, “Her voice is distinct. To me it is very important for a singer to have individuality. Toni is an original.”
According to the award-winning director (he won an Aliw Award as Best Concert Stage Director last year for his work in Sarah Geronimo, The Other Side), the concert will reveal a different Toni. “In terms of look, you will see a sexier (but not sleazy) and more mature performer,” he explains. “It’s her time to shine. Most singers get the chance to have an album, but not everyone can have an opportunity to have a concert. Toni will prove her worth as a performer, singer, dancer, and host.”
Much like Toni, GB’s ascent to success in the topsy-turvy world of showbiz is anchored on passion, dedication and hard work. GB is also a lucky guy. Even though he never had formal studies in directing, he learned the ropes of the trade from one of the best in the industry, director Louie Ignacio, who saw a spark of talent and creativity in GB.
Although opportunity really started to open when GB met direk Louie, GB has been directing stage plays already when he became a member of Villa Teatro where he wrote scripts, acted and directed. Little did he know that this will be the start of something big.
“I consider direk Louie my mentor,” GB shares. “I learned almost 90 percent of what I know from him.” Their tandem first collaborated on a TV commercial of a popular brand of detergent soap. After almost four years of being an assistant director to direk Louie, offers started pouring in for GB.
GB went on to carve a name for himself. He worked with Sis and Daisy Siete then went solo directing various TV commercials and music videos for Star Records, Viva Records, BMG Records and EMI. He directed Rachelle Ann Go’s MTV of If You Walk Away and Panaginip; Mark Bautista’s I Need You; Luke Mejares’ Ulan and Paano Na; Martin Nievera’s Time of Your Life; Kyla’s I Will Be There, and many more.
GB also conquered the concert scene. He directed Rufa Mae Quinto’s birthday show titled Bombshell Unleashed; Ogie Alcasid’s Power of Love at the Music Museum; Kyla’s Not Just Your Ordinary Girl at the Araneta Coliseum; and Up Close at the Music Museum, the Bituing Walang Ningning — Ang Pasasalamat Concert at the Araneta Coliseum, and many others.
As an accountancy graduate from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, GB does not mind not being able to fully apply the things he learned in school to what he does now. “Sa business side naman ng trabaho, nagagamit ko rin yung degree ko,” he says. “Mas na-ha-handle ko ng maayos yung financial aspect kasi may background ako sa accounting.”
As the director of Boy & Kris, he says, “I’m proud to work with the best in town. I learn a lot in every episode of the show.”
GB is always thankful to the people who helped him become the director that he is today. In the future, he would like to direct a movie and a soap opera, but right now he is still enjoying his time directing TV shows, TV commercials, MTVs and concerts.
Source: DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda
Published Friday, February 8, 2008
The Philippine Star
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