EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. Whether it’s formal education or not, we must always try to strive to learn. But along with learning through proper education, talents whichever form it may be, can also shape a person and help him or her along the way, in reaching our full potential as a person.
That is the ultimate message of the advocacy film ‘The Special Gift.’
The Special Gift is the initial offering of RC Gomez Entertainment Productions. The film stars Franchesco Maafi, Mike Lloren, Migui Moreno, BJ Forbes, and featuring a special appearance by Soliman Cruz. The cast also includes Malou Canzana, Ella Sheen, Angelo Gomez, and Romina Cauilan.
We were invited to the advance screening of the film last September 24, 2023. The film tackles multi-generational issues, parenting, bullying, how being special can be ignored by even your loved ones, and more.
The film follows the story of a child, Liam (Franchesco Maafi), with exceptional thinking and talent in drawing along with his brother and sister who have talents of their own. But they need to keep it to themselves because their father doesn’t support anything that relates to the arts.
“Napakaganda at bagay po siya sa mga bata, pang-pasko. Educational film po siya, marami pong makaka-relate,” The Special Gift lead star Franchesco Maafi on why people should see their advocacy film.
“Exciting tsaka kinakabahan din at the same time. Pero siyempre, masaya po,” The Special Gift actor Angelo Gomez on his first red carpet experience of his movie.
“Challenge po is ‘yung pag-iyak kasi hindi po talaga ako iyaking tao,” Angelo shares as he answers the most challenging part of doing The Special Gift.
The Special Gift is about Liam (Maafi), a gifted child, loved by his mother and siblings and admired by his teachers, is longing for the affection of his own father.
Though loved by his mother and two siblings, ten year old Liam often finds it hard to fit in – bullied in school and scolded by his grouchy father. It is his passionate teachers who discover the truth about him. Liam is a gifted child. Quite genius in most school subjects but bored in Math, Liam excels in the visual arts. Forbidding him and his two siblings to get involved in any artistic talents, his father even controls every decision in the family. But a series of family issues culminates when his father discovers that Liam has joined in an art competition. When his father furiously confronts Liam, he defends himself and breaks down. That night, Liam leaves home, nowhere to go. Will they ever find Liam? The revelation of their grandfather about their dad’s past will shock them all.
The film also stars Soliman Cruz, Mike Lloren, Malou Canzana, Migui Moreno, Ella Sheen, BJ Forbes, Romina Cauilan and Angelo Gomez. The film is written and directed by Lawrence Roxas. Hailed from Mindoro Oriental, Direk Lawrence began his journey in the movie industry as a movie talent from 1993 to 1995 at ABS-CBN and GMA 7. In 1996, he was a talent coordinator and art department staff at Television and Production Exponents. From 1997 to 1999, he was a regular script writer in Carlo J. Caparaz’s television show Ang Pangarap Kong Jackpot under Golden Lion Productions. Venturing into theater productions in 1999, he became a free-lance stage director doing musical and straight plays. As a playwright and artistic director of Dramatis Personae and Stephanus Arts Theater, he was a musical composer as well. In 2000, he became a voice talent dubbing tagalized versions of Koreanovela, HBO movies and animation shows.
The film is produced by RC Gomez Entertainment Productions, before pandemic, friends and brothers-in-Christ, Roy Gomez and Lawrence Roxas, both film enthusiasts, envisioned making inspirational movies. They attempted to start producing a movie about true-to-life heroism of teachers in the barrios. After a period of pre-production, they already planned to shoot the film in Mindoro. But the lockdown was implemented and the movie’s principal photography was cancelled. Since the pandemic restrictions have eased up this year, they revisited their vision and pushed through with their initial plan. Thus, the RCGOMEZ ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTIONS was born. The Special Gift is the maiden film offering of RCGEP.
Watch our coverage of the premiere below: