Fresh from the Cinepride Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, USA, how was the experience?
“Sobrang grateful na we got to represent the Philippines. Sa Cinepride, kami lang ‘yung Filipino film. Very grateful na na-appreciate nila and we were so blessed na na-recognize nila. Hindi namin ine-expect, gusto lang talaga namin na gumawa kami ng pelikula para mapanood ng mga tao. Tapos nakapunta ng Cinepride, tapos na-recognize. Kaya sobra-sobrang grateful,” director Jon Galvez answers.
“Nakakatuwa kasi siyempre, English-an dun eh. Naubos ‘yung baon ko, dalawang maleta. Pero siyempre, ‘yung ma-recognize kaming dalawa, Best Director and Best Lead Performance, bonus lang talaga siya kasi ‘yung mapaligiran ka ng mga napakagaling na filmmakers, napanood kasi namin ‘yung ibang entries. Walo ‘yung napanood ko pero parang thirty-five kami, so, parang nung naga-awards night na, gusto ko magpasikat. Sabi ko kay direk, magsho-show talaga ako. Kaya kung napansin ninyo, wala na akong wig kasi nung nag-perform ako, fifteen minutes na performance. Sabi ko, hindi ako uuwing luhaan dito, kailangan talaga makita nila akong nagpe-perform talaga ako, nagli-lipsync ako sa Pilipinas. Tapos tinawag ako after ko mag-perform. Sabi ko kay direk kung prank ba ‘to? Kasi ang galing, nakakatuwa na hindi namin alam na may makukuha kasi ang galing ng mga kasabayan namin,” Precious Paula Nicole adds.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Lipsync Assassin’?
“Ang main inspiration, gusto ko kasi talaga magkwento about breadwinners. So, ako din, I’m a breadwinner of our family. Kinailangan kong mag-work abroad for fourteen years sa Singapore para ma-suportahan ‘yung family ko. So, nakakalungkot lang na may mga taong katulad ko na kailangan pang mag ibang bansa para masuportahan ang family. Ayan ang kwento ni Sampaguita, but of course, it’s very fictionalized. Gusto ko lang mapakita, ma-represent ‘yung drag excellence and ‘yung drag industry in a very creative way,” direk Jon shares.
Out of all the drag queens in the Philippines, why Precious Paula Nicole?
“When I was writing it, ang nasa isip ko na talaga si Precious. First of all, ‘Lipsync Assassin’ ‘yung title, and of course, who else is the one of the best, if not the best drag artist here in the Philippines, and also the world. ‘Yun pa lang, naisip ko na na maja-justify ni Precious ‘yung pagiging drag artist ni Sampaguita na unbeatable sa lipsyncing. Complex din kasi ‘yung character ni Sampaguita, kailangan puno siya ng puso, kasi ‘yun nga, willing siyang ibigay lahat para sa pamilya and meron akong nakikitang magic kay Precious, even when I was following her career in Drag Race. ‘Yun eh, all heart ang binibigay niya. ‘Yun pa lang, that would justify her character Sampaguita. Nanalo pa ng lead performance. So for me, very well deserved and no one else can play Sampaguita but Precious Paula Nicole,” direk Jon answers.
Cinepride Film Festival winner for Best Director for Jon Galvez and Best Lead Performance for Precious Paula Nicole, ’Lipsync Assassin’ is now showing until September 30 at Gateway Cineplex, Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Antipolo, SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, TriNoma and Market Market as part of the SHORTS SET D of the Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival 2025.
Watch our coverage from the media conference below: