Jade Castro

Not to be confused with Jane Castro.
Jade Castro
Castro on August 20, 2011
Born
Jade Francis Castro

(1978-08-21) August 21, 1978 (age 46)
NationalityFilipino
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines (B.A.)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Notable work

Jade Francis Castro (born August 21, 1978)[1] is a Filipino film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for writing and directing Endo (2007), and Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington (2011).

Early and personal life

Jade Castro was born on August 21, 1978. His mother Ruby, whose name takes after the gemstone of the same name, also named him and his brother Jasper after precious rocks: Jade and Jasper.[1] He studied high school at Elizabeth Seton School in Las Piñas, and graduated with a degree in film from the University of the Philippines in 2000.[1]

In February 2024, Castro and three other individuals were arrested and charged for destructive arson in Catanauan, Quezon. Prosecutors said Castro and his companions set an e-jeepney on fire, citing Castro's social media posts opposing the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program as a motive.[2] Castro and company maintained they were vacationing in Mulanay, Quezon at the time the alleged crime took place.[3]

Senator Risa Hontiveros called for a probe of the local police's handling of the incident, citing statements of local official from Mulanay who testified they saw the four suspects in their town at the time of the incident.[4] Congressman Bonifacio Bosita, a former police officer, said the arrest was illegal because he found procedural lapses by the police.[5]

On March 11, Castro and his companions were released from prison after a judge in Catanauan dismissed the case against them due to lack of jurisdiction and the invalidity of their arrest.[6] In a 16-page order, Catanauan Regional Trial Court, Branch 96 Presiding Judge Julius Francis Galvez granted counsel for all the accused Chel Diokno's Motion to quash under Rule 117 of the Revised Rule of Criminal Procedure. “[T]he motion(s) to Quash the Information… is partially granted, and the said Information is hereby quashed, on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of this Court over the persons of accused Castro, Ernesto Orcine, Noel Mariano, and Dominic Ramos as members of the Catanauan Municipal Police Station arrested them not in accordance with Section 5(b), Rule 113 of the Rules of Court” it ordered. Castro, Ernesto, 50, of Bacoor City, Cavite, Noel, 54, civil engineer, from Binangonan, Rizal, and Dominic, 28, also a civil engineer, of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija – had been incarcerated for almost 40 days in Catanauan Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.[7]

Career

Castro began his career as a script researcher for ABS-CBN, where he also served as second unit director in the network's soap opera television series Mula sa Puso (1999). He worked as a script supervisor for director Uro de la Cruz.[1] Castro's directorial debut was the short film titled Hopya Love Me Too.[8] He was reportedly involved in the production of the film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005). Castro wrote the screenplays for comedy films D' Anothers (2005) and First Day High (2006). He made his breakthrough success with Endo (2007), a romantic independent film starring Jason Abalos and Ina Feleo.[8] The film—which he wrote, directed and produced—won the Jury Prize at the 3rd Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, and Best Screenplay at the 2007 Gawad Urian.[9] Castro's direction of the romantic comedy My Big Love (2008) marked his transition to mainstream Philippine cinema.[10] He co-wrote the screenplay with Raymond Lee and Michiko Yamamoto, and directed Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington (2011), a gay-themed zombie comedy horror film starring Martin Escudero.[11] Castro went on to direct My Kontrabida Girl (2012),[12] Juana C. The Movie and My Lady Boss (2013),[13][14] another gay-themed TV series Beki Boxer (2014),[15] and LSS (Last Song Syndrome) (2019), a musically-driven film starring Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos and Filipino indie folk/folk pop band Ben&Ben wherein Castro is also responsible for its story and screenplay.[16]

In October 2015, it was announced by director Jerrold Tarog that he and Castro are working on a screenplay of the film adaptation of Arnold Arre's graphic novel The Mythology Class.[17] [18]

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Title Year Credited as Notes Refs.
Director Producer Writer
D' Anothers 2005 Yes Co-written with Raymond Lee and Adolfo Alix Jr. [8]
First Day High 2006 Yes [8]
Endo 2007 Yes Yes Yes [8]
My Big Love 2008 Yes [10]
Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington 2011 Yes Yes Co-written with Raymond Lee and Michiko Yamamoto [11]
My Kontrabida Girl 2012 Yes Yes [12]
Juana C. The Movie 2013 Yes [13]
My Lady Boss 2013 Yes [14]
Beki Boxer 2014 Yes Co-directed with Monti L. Parungao [15]
LSS (Last Song Syndrome) 2019 Yes Also responsible for movie's story and screenplay. [16]

Awards and nominations

Film Award Date of Ceremony Category Outcome Note Ref.
Endo Young Critics Circle August 11, 2008 Best Screenplay Won Shared with Raymond Lee and Michiko Yamamoto [19]
Gawad Urian October 1, 2008 Won [20]
LSS (Last Song Syndrome) Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino September 15, 2019 Best Director Nominated [21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bautista, Mario E. (March 12, 2012). "Direk Jade Castro enjoys first Kapuso film". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Estacio, Danny (February 17, 2024). "Film director, 3 companions face destructive arson raps over torching of modern jeep". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  3. ^ Estacio, Danny (February 2, 2024). "4 suspects in torching of modern jeepney in Quezon nabbed". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Chi, Cristina (February 13, 2024). "Senator seeks probe into warrantless arrest of film director Jade Castro". Philstar Online. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Lalu, Gabriel (February 19, 2024). "Bosita says filmmaker Jade Castro's arrest is illegal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Filmmaker Jade Castro, friends freed after arson complaint trashed". Rappler. March 11, 2024. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Estacio, Danny (March 12, 2024). "Court orders release of film director, 3 pals". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Endo". Cinemalaya. cinemalaya.org. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jade Castro: Prioritize the story". Rappler. August 4, 2012. Archived from the original on August 7, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Erece, Dinno (February 14, 2008). "Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby star in their third romance comedy My Big Love" (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Catsoulis, Jeanette (October 24, 2013). "Murder, Mayhem and Cross-Dressing Zombies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  12. ^ a b San Diego, Jr., Bayani (March 29, 2012). "Director looks back on Kontrabida". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Losorata, Yugel (June 6, 2013). "Film review: Juana C., The Movie Election-stress reliever". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Asilo, Rito P. (July 5, 2013). "Forced whimsy, insufficient stellar chemistry mar My Lady Boss". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Policarpio, Alan (April 6, 2014). "Brutal training primed Beki lead star". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Paredes, Andrew (September 17, 2019). "Review: 'LSS' will hook you with its sharp take on love (and also make you want to sing)". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  17. ^ Densing, Gia (October 4, 2015). "Heneral Luna director set to tackle Philippine mythology". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  18. ^ "Directors Guild Of The Philippines Calls For "Immediate Release" Of Filmmaker Jade Castro After Arrest". Deadline. 6 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  19. ^ Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (August 11, 2008). "Young Critics Circle honors winners of 18th Annual Circle Citations". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "Indie film Tirador wins big in 31st Urian awards". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. October 1, 2008. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "And the winners of the 2019 Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino are..." PEP.ph. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-02-13.